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<blockquote data-quote="GameDoc" data-source="post: 6372030" data-attributes="member: 53915">My reading of the &quot;Controlling a Mount&quot; section (p. 198) is that you can control an unintelligent mount or let it act independently, but that an intelligent mount is always acting independently.&nbsp; It may follow your commands, but is doing so willingly just like any ally might.&nbsp; So you'd basically just have to communicate your intentions to an intelligent mount without expending an action. But it can always say &quot;no&quot; and force roleplaying or a skill check to get it to comply.In the case of a paladin's steed, the instinctive bond seems to me to be an instance of &quot;specific trumps general&quot; when it comes to rules.&nbsp; The steed will follow your telepathic or verbal commands or otherwise coordinate with whatever course of action you are following.&nbsp; It's an intelligent mount that won't say no.Of course, 5e also emphasizes DM rulings, so it's also possible that an atypical situation may come up where the DM decides you need to make a handle animal or persuasion check.&nbsp; Maybe you're steed is celestial and you seem to be directing it to do something that seems evil, etc.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="GameDoc, post: 6372030, member: 53915"] My reading of the "Controlling a Mount" section (p. 198) is that you can control an unintelligent mount or let it act independently, but that an intelligent mount is always acting independently. It may follow your commands, but is doing so willingly just like any ally might. So you'd basically just have to communicate your intentions to an intelligent mount without expending an action. But it can always say "no" and force roleplaying or a skill check to get it to comply. In the case of a paladin's steed, the instinctive bond seems to me to be an instance of "specific trumps general" when it comes to rules. The steed will follow your telepathic or verbal commands or otherwise coordinate with whatever course of action you are following. It's an intelligent mount that won't say no. Of course, 5e also emphasizes DM rulings, so it's also possible that an atypical situation may come up where the DM decides you need to make a handle animal or persuasion check. Maybe you're steed is celestial and you seem to be directing it to do something that seems evil, etc. [/QUOTE]

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