Paladin's mount question

[Astaroth]

Hello all!

I have a question regarding the natural armor of a apaldin's mount. Are the numbers shown in the table in the PHB in addition to the mount's AC, or would that now be the mount's total natural AC bonus? In other words, would a 5th level paladin's warhorse have a natural AC bonus of +4, or would it be +8?

As there is no "+" shown I am uncertain as to whether it should be added, like the bonus for a familiar.


Thank you for your help!

 

[SableWyvern]

I have been adding to any pre-existing bonuses, although now that you mention it, it could be an absolute value....

Given that natural armour does not stack with itself, and there is no "+" I'm now thinking that it does not add on to any pre-existing armour.

Interestingly though, the description of a familiar's natural armour is almost identical to that of a paladin's mount (and certainly seems to be meaning exactly the same thing, but familar AC increases due to natural armour are listed as +1, +2 etc...

In summary: I thought I knew, but I've got no idea any more.

 

[Hejdun]

DM's call. There isn't any errata on it, but conflicting text. The text says it adds to the natural armor, but the table doens't have a + like all the others.

 

[coyote6]

If it doesn't add, note that this has odd effects if you pick something other than a heavy warhorse as a mount. For example, a halfling paladin's riding dog mount's natural armor wouldn't change, but an elven paladin's light warhorse mount's natural armor would increase, and a higher-level paladin's griffon mount's natural armor would actually decrease (from +6 to +4).

Me, I say it adds. It helps keep the mount alive . . .

 

[Crothian]

I've always played it added. Even with unusual mounts and adding this bonus, we found that mounts still have a tough time of staying active and realtively safe.

 

[Garmorn]

Page 43 PH: "Natural Armor: The number listed hiere is an improvement to the mont's AC."

Note it is an improvement thus increase the base Natural Armor. It is not a bonus so it stacks with any item or spell that give a natural armor bonus.

 

[Ferret]

Wow, just like Artuick.

 

[Artoomis]

Page 43 PH: "Natural Armor: The number listed here is an improvement to the mount's AC."

Note it is an improvement thus increase the base Natural Armor. It is not a bonus so it stacks with any item or spell that give a natural armor bonus. [typos corrected]

Nope. Not quite.

While it does improve the mount's natural AC, it most certainly would NOT stack with other Natural Armor bonuses.

Think of it this way. Your mount's Natural AC = It's Natural AC + the Paladin's Mount Natural AC adjustment.

Other Natural AC bonuses will not stack per the regular stacking rules.

edit: Typos corrected.

 

[AGGEMAM]

I've always played it added. Even with unusual mounts and adding this bonus, we found that mounts still have a tough time of staying active and realtively safe.

Maxing out your ride skill helps a great deal more than the natural armor bonus a paladin's mount gets, also since it only supercedes the animal own natural armor bonus after at least +2.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

DM's call. There isn't any errata on it, but conflicting text. The text says it adds to the natural armor, but the table doens't have a + like all the others.

The missing '+' is probably just a typo.

If you compare it level by level with the familiar bonus, it would be almost identical. That is pretty compelling circumstantial evidence there should be a '+'.