Ideas for a high-level fighter's mount

[darthkilmor]

That's a pretty cool concept. I just emailed the player about the option for the Wild Cohort feat and also that he can take the Exalted Mount feat to give the creature the celestial template (even though it requires paladin level 4+ we don't have standard paladins in this game and his character has done the appropriate things in the context of the campaign for me to feel he's entitled). I was wondering, though, if instead of making him burn an extra feat, since he recently acquired a lot gold, if there could be an appropriate (if expensive) magic item that would grant the celestial template to an animal (only) that wears it. Does anyone know of a precedent for such a thing in terms of cost?

He's 13th level, why doesn't he just travel to Celestia and get a mount there, automagically having the celestial template.

 

[Dannyalcatraz]

Check out the various templates that can be placed on an animal (there are lots of them in Savage Species and the various Monster Manuals, and even more in 3rd party books): Warbeast, Legendary, Celestial, Reptillian...

The right combo could result in something really spiffy.

Another option might be to have one made...a Clockwork or other form of construct. A Figurine of Wonderous Power, perhaps.

 

[frankthedm]

Thanks for all these great ideas. Part of what befuddles me is the idea of what you are supposed to be able to do with Handle Animal. There are good potential mounts in the MM that describe training costs, times, etc. but have Ints greater than 2, yet the Handle Animal skill says you can use that skill on creatures other than animals if the intelligence is 1 or 2.

There are Epic usages for the skill too.

Of course like other epic usages for skills, they feel like the DCs were set to prevent non epic characters from doing things one could imagine a reasonably competent fantasy character could do.

Want to train something fancy for a mount? Gotta wait till you can fight gods!

Rear magical beast takes 1 year DC 30 + HD of magical beast
Train magical beast takes 2 months DC 40 + HD of magical beast
Rear vermin takes 6 months DC 35 + HD of vermin
Train vermin takes 2 months DC 50 + HD of vermin
Rear other creature takes Varies DC 40 + HD of creature
Train other creature takes 2 months DC 60 + HD of creature

 

[Dagredhel]

Magebred
(special breeds of animals
that have greater than usual
attributes and abilities, but are
not actually magical)
(Eb p295)
Inherited Template
may be applied to
any Animal.
+2 improvement to Natural
Armor
+4 to either Str, Dex, or Con.
+2 to the other two.
Int 2
Excellent Learner – all Handle Animal check with a Magebred
Animal have a –2 DC. Also, teaching a Magebred Animal a
‘trick’ requires one less week (minimum one week).
Gain one of the following:
- Swift Breed: movement +10’
- Thick-Skinned Breed: additional +2 to Natural Armor
- Tracking Breed: +4 bonus on Survival checks to follow tracks
Gain one of the following feats: Alertness, Athletics, Endurance,
Improved Natural Attack, or Multiattack.

 

[wildstarsreach]

Hi there. I've got a player in my campaign that is a 13th level single-class fighter with max or nearly maxed ranks in both Handle Animal and Ride. He would like to train a mount for himself but he is concerned that it will be too weak and die easily in combat. Does anyone have ideas on a good way to let him realize this aspect of his character, i.e. highly trained in handling animals and riding, and let him have something he can use in combat and use those skills? The rules are not very clear to me but it seems as if creatures more intelligent animals end up calling for things like Diplomacy checks to influence rather than just Handle Animal. He doesn't want a Cohort because that's something where Charisma is better. He really just wants a creature that can move fast and not crumple with a lightning bolt, and like I said let him use those skills. I'm sure he'd be willing to sink a feat into the process if it could help.

Thanks in advance for your thoughts, RAW-based or house rule.

MC

How about going after an axiomatic Dragonne?