Paladin's mount question

[AGGEMAM]

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 '+'.

But this particular typo has survived all the errata and it is also missing in the SRD though that has been reworked a number of times, I and several others did comment on the 'missing' '+' as earlier a few days after the PHB was published. It is my firm belief that it is not a typo.

 

[Ridley's Cohort]

But this particular typo has survived all the errata and it is also missing in the SRD though that has been reworked a number of times, I and several others did comment on the 'missing' '+' as earlier a few days after the PHB was published. It is my firm belief that it is not a typo.

A good point. You may be right.

The reason do not think so is the entry as written only makes sense for horses and similar mundane animals as written. It has always been understood that the Special Mount is not necessarily a horse.

Special Mount: Upon or after reaching 5th level, a paladin can call an unusually intelligent, strong, and loyal steed to serve him or her in her crusade against evil. This mount is usually a heavy warhorse (for a Medium-size paladin) or a warpony (for a Small paladin).

Natural Armor: The number listed here is an improvement to the mount's AC. It represents the preternatural toughness of a paladin's mount.

What if the normal natural armor of the animal is greater than 4?

If we dare admit the entry is not literally correct then the fact it has not been corrected yet does not tell us anything.

 

[Artoomis]

I think this "missing" plus sign is yet another example of, shall we say, less than exact editing.

The Core Rules are intended to be rule books, but were not written with the kind of precision that rule books need. Thus we are left with discussions like this one.

 

[Astaroth]

Reply from The Sage . . .

I have a question regarding the natural armor of a paladin's mount. Are the numbers shown in the table in the PHB in addition to the mount's AC,

Sage: Yes.

or would that now be the mount's total natural AC bonus?

Sage: No.

In other words, would a 5th level paladin's warhorse have a natural AC bonus of +4, or would it be +8?

Sage: A 5th-level paladin's heavy warhorse mount would have a natural AC bonus of +8 (+4 as a heavy warhorse, and 4 more for being a paladin's mount, see Natural Armor on page 43 of the Player's Handbook).

 

[Wolf72]

*oooh sage ruling* ... cool, I thought that way too. I always assumed it was like a familiars bonus to AC (which apparently it is).

nite all!