Is this Paladin's Mount Broken?

[Rackhir]

If it is getting a +4HD boost, shouldn't that bump it up into the Huge Size category (11+ HD for griffons) from Large with the appropriate adjustments?

 

[jodyjohnson]

That's only for advancing creatures to make them bigger challenges.

Extra HD from class advancement (Druid/Ranger pets, Paladin mounts, class levels) don't increase size.

 

[Diirk]

No, that applies only to creating tougher versions of monsters, not to animal companions/mounts etc

 

[scipio]

Thanks for the input everyone. I think I prefer to allow the rider to select feats, since the paladin's unique circumstances of acquisition of a mount may not always result in the prototypical average creature. In that vein, I'm inclined to let the player roll stats as well, which is theoretically just as likely to be "average," but involves the player more in his mount companion.

Flight typicly uses 2 wings, so being a quadraped [actualy hexa] helps none, just large size increases flying load. DMG covered this.

I agree with this interpretation, and will use the MM stats for loads. It makes no sense to me that additional legs would significantly change load in flight (except maybe for take-off). I suppose I can accept no mounted movement over land, even though the picture of a griffon isn't substantially different from that of a hippogriff with respect to its forelimbs.