"Leveling" a warhorse.

[brehobit]

The only more survivable horse with those sources would be a mechanical (horse effigy) or magical one (figurine of wondrous power).

Not quite true.

Some options...

Take leadership and have an awakened mount. Assuming a good backstory and/or CHR stat, you can probably manage an leadership score of 20 or so (great renown doesn't seem unlikely at that level...) giving you a 14th level cohort. Assuming an awakened warhorse is +1 ECL (which is about right) you are looking at a 6HD horse +1 ECL =7. That means it could be a level 7 PC. For max surviablity I'd take all the levels in barbarian or paladin. (What does a warhorse summon for a mount?).

One could easily argue for a +2 ECL, but I'd point out the lack of hands and inability to go useful places. That inability will be a pain in the rear.

You could also consider a unicorn paladin. It would be level 6. And with the gross CHR and WIS of a unicorn it would make a great paladin. (Normally CG, but LG may be an option). That involves less in the way of "DM calls" as the ECL is in the MM.

Don't forget, cohorts generally get something better than 10s and 11s for stats. Assuming the NPCs get something like 23 points, you can make the horse or the unicorn very survivable.

Mark

 

[Sejs]

Im making a 17th level mounted fighter (8th level fighter, 9th cavalier) for a new campaign. Any ideas for a more survivable warhorse?

The ONLY books allowed are :

* Player's Handbook
* Dungeon Master's Guide
* Monster Manual
* Complete Adventurer
* Complete Arcane
* Complete Divine
* Complete Warrior
* Magic of Incarnum

The DM wont take anymore.

How about an item that lets you cast Mount or Phantom Steed?

 

[Sammael]

Assuming an awakened warhorse is +1 ECL (which is about right) you are looking at a 6HD horse +1 ECL =7. That means it could be a level 7 PC. For max surviablity I'd take all the levels in barbarian or paladin. (What does a warhorse summon for a mount?).

One could easily argue for a +2 ECL, but I'd point out the lack of hands and inability to go useful places. That inability will be a pain in the rear.

Advancement of awakened animals is covered in Savage Species, which is not on his list.

You could also consider a unicorn paladin. It would be level 6. And with the gross CHR and WIS of a unicorn it would make a great paladin. (Normally CG, but LG may be an option). That involves less in the way of "DM calls" as the ECL is in the MM.

This idea is more supported by the limited set of rules he can work with.

 

[Klaus]

Heck, there's the Celestial Charger (unicorn cleric) right there in the MM.

 

[brehobit]

Advancement of awakened animals is covered in Savage Species, which is not on his list.

Yeah, but awakened animals come from the PHB and any inteligent creature can take class levels. I'd say the notion is purely PHB and MM.

Mark

 

[boolean]

Yeah, but awakened animals come from the PHB and any inteligent creature can take class levels. I'd say the notion is purely PHB and MM.

The notion might be purely core rules, but it's missing a single detail: What is the Level Adjustment of an awakened animal?

 

[brehobit]

The notion might be purely core rules, but it's missing a single detail: What is the Level Adjustment of an awakened animal?

Yep. And that is a DM call. Pre-Savage species it was possible. If SS isn't a book you are using, the DM needs to make a call. That call might be "not allowed", but it need not be....

Mark

 

[Question]

Hmm so my options are :

-Some kind of magical item to summon a mount

-Trying to convince DM to allow a awakened horse

-Try and get a unicorn as a mount?

 

[TheAuldGrump]

Avalanche Press' Noble Steeds includes rules for leveling a mount, essentially siphoning off up to 10% of the rider's XP to the beastie. It even has some steed specific 'character classes'. Rather a nifty book, though not one I have integrated inro my campaigns. (No real reason, just a lack of player interest in having trained mounts.) It is available as a PDF from Drive Thru RPG.

In the Saddle by E. N. Publishing has rules for feat training, but not normal experience if I recall correctly. While I have found it a bit less impressive than Noble Steeds it has been integrated, largely because of the section on horsey spells.

The Auld Grump

 

[Question]

Yes but unfornately the DM for this one is a bit restrictive.

Okay i had a look at the options :

-Im not sure how i get a unicorn as a mount? 8 hd unicorn with +4 LA = 12th level cohort? Can i stick class levels on the unicorn then?

-Cant find any items that allow for the summon of a horse, except for the obsidian steed which seems to be an evil item.