Rich Baker on Paladin Mounts and Multiclassing

[Abstraction]

The PHB was supposed to head to typesetting yesterday. So either paladins aren't in the core rules, which they apparently are, or that's an old quote, or he's being cagey.

As a typesetter, I can say that it could be unfinished. It happens a lot where the page count is fixed, certain sections are done but some will be finished with the proofreading. It's an evolutionary process.

 

[Rechan]

I just hope that, for the paragon path, that "Horse" isn't the default.

I mean, everybody loves Paladin on a Dragon, or a Pegasus, or something else. So can we get "Non-standard Equine" for the mount? That's all I'm saying.

 

[Lackhand]

I just hope that, for the paragon path, that "Horse" isn't the default.

I mean, everybody loves Paladin on a Dragon, or a Pegasus, or something else. So can we get "Non-standard Equine" for the mount? That's all I'm saying.

Don't call dragons "Non-standard Equines" unless you wish to become a "Quite-standard Snack".

But yes. I agree, having a general "Make mount good" tree would be nice. Am I imagining it, or do I remember seeing that there'd be two levels of mount rules, one where the mount is basically equipment, one where it's an honest-to-goodness character?

 

[Voss]

Only leaning?
What the what? Seriously, this is a class feature that isn't at all useful in the default assumptions of the game. Of course you make it optional, if you bother with it at all.

It isn't about complexity. Its about horses not being good in dungeons or cities or mountains or the underdark or skycastles or planes of burning fire. Yesh.

Though personally, I'd be happily if all the cute little fuzzy things are moved out of classes and into the realm of the purely optional.

 

[Agamon]

I just hope that, for the paragon path, that "Horse" isn't the default.

I mean, everybody loves Paladin on a Dragon, or a Pegasus, or something else. So can we get "Non-standard Equine" for the mount? That's all I'm saying.

Or Unicorn. Thanks to a recent PC in our group, our Rock Band band name is "Paladin and the Unicorns".

 

[bonethug0108]

Or Unicorn. Thanks to a recent PC in our group, our Rock Band band name is "Paladin and the Unicorns".

A fellow rock band player.

My band name is Dungeons for Dragons. Doesn't sound all that unique saying it here, but the people on gamefaqs liked it.

 

[Khaalis]

The PHB was supposed to head to typesetting yesterday. So either paladins aren't in the core rules, which they apparently are, or that's an old quote, or he's being cagey.

Not only does going to the typesetter not mean a concrete "the book is finished", but I got the impression that his comment means more that the paladin mount is not a part of the core class in the PHB, nor is it currently an option but will be an option later down the road via either feat or paragon path. JMHO.

 

[Li Shenron]

It seems a good move, and companions are particularly challenging for beginners so this is better as optional.

 

[BASHMAN]

Yay for both! Personally one of the biggest mistakes 3.5 did was take away a Paladin's ability (from sword & fist) to choose a custom mount. With mounts being optional, I am sure this will now make it so one can choose to have a tiger as a mount, etc.

I also like it to be optional because some paladins would have no use for a mount-- a centaur paladin for instance and it would be an "opportunity cost" for their character.

I like them getting rid of multiclassing restrictions because those were just dumb- especially Cleric/Paladin!

 

[Sitara]

Umm, why the heck did he say 'leaning towards?' I thought all classes followed the base standard progression similar to SAGA, where NO class has a built in ability. You pick and choose.

I truly hope built in abilities are gone! Mayeb he was referring to the free class defining feat classes might get at level 1 (like in SAGA).
But then again, haviing amount be a feat seems to go against the design of feats in 4E from what we have heard...

Whatever the case I hope we have a list to choose from. A dragon born paladin for instance, would be better ff on a wyvren. And I hope the paladin mount does not appear out of thin air (celestial realms) but say, takes around 1d6 rounds to appear after being called.