'High level' horses?

[Kaodi]

Hey... what if you actually used weak intelligent magical items that actually POSSESSED horses, and had their own levels? If you ruthlessly plunder the lycanthrope mechanics, and add together their abilities so that you essentially have itemized " characters " who function like werehorses... sans the shapechanging, and using the possessed creatures physical ability scores...

Give them Int 3, Wis 12, Cha 6... So, basically they are manufactured horse minds of relatively superior intelligence that can be added onto an existing mount...

 

[Loincloth of Armour]

I give mounts 1/2 their rider's hit point total as 'phantom' hp against AoE spells/effects only. No other bonuses.

The biggest problems for mounts (I found) was they were being taken out incidentaly as the party got fireballed. An opening fireball from the enemy that wounded party members would generally drop their mounts, and I wanted to stop that without making the mounts better as combatant.

Between those phantom hp and those who use the Mounted Combat feat for an AC boost, the mounts tend to stay in the fight longer, but without improving attacks like increasing their HD would.

 

[Pbartender]

I think WotC put out a feat on their site like 'Animal Companion' or some such, essentially allowing anyone to have an animal companion. Use that feat except limit it to horses.

Wild Cohort

 

[Stalker0]

I give mounts 1/2 their rider's hit point total as 'phantom' hp against AoE spells/effects only. No other bonuses.

The biggest problems for mounts (I found) was they were being taken out incidentaly as the party got fireballed. An opening fireball from the enemy that wounded party members would generally drop their mounts, and I wanted to stop that without making the mounts better as combatant.

Or you could simply say that like possessed items, a fireball only can hit your mount if you roll a reflex save of 1. I mean, if the fireball doesn't damage your armor, its not that big of a stretch to say it doesn't hurt your horse.

 

[trav_laney]

The biggest problems for mounts (I found) was they were being taken out incidentaly as the party got fireballed. An opening fireball from the enemy that wounded party members would generally drop their mounts, and I wanted to stop that without making the mounts better as combatant.

This can be annoying, I know. But remember that the party already has the means to resist fireballs through magic spells and magic items...and they neglect to share this with their mounts.

It might be heavy-handed of me, but I think that if the party wants to prevent their mounts from getting snuffed out in combat, they should spend the time and money to protect them. The answer isn't creating a fireproof breed of horse...the answer is taking the time to fireproof your existing horse.

Some ideas:
- a wand of resist elements is the perfect saddlebag-stuffer.
- mage armor, cat's grace, bull's strength, etc. all work on mounts too.
- Get creative. Many wonderous items could be reworked into a form that will fit your steed (cloaks and mantles become saddle blankets, amulets could become bridles, etc.). Ask your DM.
- with your DM's permission, horseshoes could be enchanted as magic weapons. A warhorse with holy hooves +1? Oh yeah, baby.
- barding (armor for mounts) can be enchanted with a plethora of special abilities as well.
- Recycle. Outgrown that suit of full plate +1? Hire an armorsmith to fit your warhorse with it. Same thing for rings...if you want your horse to have Evasion, get him a ring of evasion and have a jeweler fit it around his ankle.

 

[Sir Brennen]

Avalanch Press had a product which allowed for advancing horses. It's called "Noble Steeds".

I give it an "eh".

http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=10146

 

[Quartz]

Why not simply give the horses levels of fighter, rogue, barbarian, or monk as appropriate? A horse with 4 levels of fighter and 2 of monk, with WF: Hoof, WS: Hoof, Power Attack, and Combat Reflexes is going to be one nasty b*gg*r.

Gaining such a horse can be an adventure in itself: "Noble Sir Jarvin, I am on a quest to slay the evil dragon of the mountain. Only a steed the quality of Maximus can withstand the presence of such a dire foe. Will you boon me his service?"

 

[maggot]

I don't want something that requires a feat, because I want even the wizards to be able to take advantage of mounts if they so desire.

I don't understand. Wizards get feats just like everyone else.

And I thought you wanted real horses, not wildshaped druids and awakened horse barbarians.

If that design constraint is out, how about a series of magic items that grant bonuses to the mount? The power of the mount is then determined by the amount of gp you invest into it, which dependent on level.

Heroic Saddle +2 (adds +2 to the mount's Str, Dex, Con and gives the mount 2HD)
Heroic Saddle +4 (adds +4 to the mount's Str, Dex, Con and gives the mount 4HD)
etc.

These would only work on non-awakened, non-animal companion animals such as true horses.

 

[Dog Moon]

Wild Cohort

Ah thanks. Was looking for that, but was unable to find it.

 

[Dog Moon]

I don't want something that requires a feat, because I want even the wizards to be able to take advantage of mounts if they so desire.

Well, you could still give benefits of the feat without actually requiring the feat. Or just base the benefits you want off it [such as when to add HD or something].

Personally, I think this may be the best option to deal with horses in general. Having Druids in horse form is neat, but you can't do that for every horse.