Rules for Exotic (non-standard) Mounts
- Thread starter Mort_Q
- Start date
The 3.0 supplement, Arms and Equipment Guide, addresses this topic somewhat.
Generally speaking, by the rules any quadruped at least one size larger than the prospective rider, should be functional as an exotic mount. And some non-quadrupeds too - but the "at least one size larger" is pretty much a requirement, no matter what.
Generally speaking, by the rules any quadruped at least one size larger than the prospective rider, should be functional as an exotic mount. And some non-quadrupeds too - but the "at least one size larger" is pretty much a requirement, no matter what.
Stormrunner
Explorer
Well, realistically (Ack! Realism! 
), there's a reason people ride horses and not, say, wolves. Horses have an unusually strong, relatively rigid backbone which can take the weight of a rider for long periods of time. Even then, a saddle helps (it distributes the weight over a larger area). Lapplanders (Sami) ride reindeer - but it looks very peculiar because the saddle is way back, sitting atop the animal's haunches rather than in the middle of the back. Most other deer-like critters would probably require a similar placement. Giraffes have a strong enough back for a regular saddle, but getting on and off could be a problem.
For a critter like a wolf or lion, you'd probably have to ride atop the shoulders, with your legs straddling the neck rather than the waist. Given the bounding gait of such creatures, it'd be a rather bumpy ride. (Note that the worg-riders in the LotR movies follow this pattern.) Goblins can get away with riding worgs because they're two size classes smaller (a Small critter riding a Large) - halfling riding dogs should probably be Large (bred from tamed worgs like normal dogs were from wolves?) to be realistic.
), there's a reason people ride horses and not, say, wolves. Horses have an unusually strong, relatively rigid backbone which can take the weight of a rider for long periods of time. Even then, a saddle helps (it distributes the weight over a larger area). Lapplanders (Sami) ride reindeer - but it looks very peculiar because the saddle is way back, sitting atop the animal's haunches rather than in the middle of the back. Most other deer-like critters would probably require a similar placement. Giraffes have a strong enough back for a regular saddle, but getting on and off could be a problem.For a critter like a wolf or lion, you'd probably have to ride atop the shoulders, with your legs straddling the neck rather than the waist. Given the bounding gait of such creatures, it'd be a rather bumpy ride. (Note that the worg-riders in the LotR movies follow this pattern.) Goblins can get away with riding worgs because they're two size classes smaller (a Small critter riding a Large) - halfling riding dogs should probably be Large (bred from tamed worgs like normal dogs were from wolves?) to be realistic.
