[Help!] Paladins - Delayed Special Mount?

[John Crichton]

Re: Re: [Help!] Paladins - Delayed Special Mount?

I would stick to the core rules regarding mount abilities. That is, if your Paladin is level 11 when the mount finally shows up, then the mount is also level 11.

The core rules do a good job of balancing. A level 11 mount in a level 11 party has a reasonable chance of surviving a fireball. A level 5 mount in a level 11 party is likely to die to a fireball.

If you want to give your Paladin extra abilities because he might not get a mount until much later in life that would be ok. An extra feat or maybe a cohort until the mount shows up.

Hmmm, the cohort idea isn't bad as those things (heh) aren't as permanent as say a feat or extra skill points. And I definately see the balance point with the mount being effective at later levels. I was thinking hard on that to start and I think I have been convinced to leave things be in that respect as per your (and others) suggestions.

 

[Sir Whiskers]

Just a thought, but if you already know what/who the paladin's mount will be, consider having the paladin begin to develop the relationship when he starts the quest (or obtains the token, if you go that route).

Maybe it starts with a recurring dream, or he begins to hear a particular voice in head (one he instinctively trusts). As the quest continues, the paladin's contact could grow more definite - perhaps his future mount gives him some minor advice at times, or helps him resolve a moral dilemma. In any case, this would be an excellent opportunity to develop the mount's personality before the paladin actually acquires it.

 

[Moleculo]

Defenders of the faith had an alternate rules format for mounts, being that the mounts CR should be equal to the paladin's level -3 (-4 for flying), and they had alternate progressions for mounts that were acquired at later levels. So i would check that out if you wanted to see what those rules were all about.

Also, i think a cool implementation of mounts would be like the Mercedes Lackey, Valdemar series. Mounts are really reincarnated heroes who have been brought back to help the land they once served.

 

[John Crichton]

Defenders of the faith had an alternate rules format for mounts, being that the mounts CR should be equal to the paladin's level -3 (-4 for flying), and they had alternate progressions for mounts that were acquired at later levels. So i would check that out if you wanted to see what those rules were all about.

Also, i think a cool implementation of mounts would be like the Mercedes Lackey, Valdemar series. Mounts are really reincarnated heroes who have been brought back to help the land they once served.

Not a bad idea. Totally forgot about that section. I should have remembered considering I used it to get a unicorn mount for a paladin I played a while back. heheh

I wish the table for small paladins was a little longer and went past 6th level. Eh, I'll just have to flip through the MM and get something better for him if the quest goes beyond 6th Level.

 

[John Crichton]

Just a thought, but if you already know what/who the paladin's mount will be, consider having the paladin begin to develop the relationship when he starts the quest (or obtains the token, if you go that route).

Maybe it starts with a recurring dream, or he begins to hear a particular voice in head (one he instinctively trusts). As the quest continues, the paladin's contact could grow more definite - perhaps his future mount gives him some minor advice at times, or helps him resolve a moral dilemma. In any case, this would be an excellent opportunity to develop the mount's personality before the paladin actually acquires it.

Ah, that makes sense. Having the mount indirectly helping the PC to make up for the fact that it won't be there for a while. Maybe giving the occassional little boost to a check here and there. Good idea. I'll have to add that to the pile of helpful thoughts posted here.