Using paladin mount as an activation criteria?

[Magic Missile]

OK, this argument has been going on in our house for a while now.

We were having a discussion about magical items, and got to talking about magical items that were limited to certain classes; and from there, ways to limit items to characters of a specific level within a class. We all admit that an item that "can only be used by 6th level Paladins or above" is wrong and metagaming, but the discussion then turned to "in game" ways of limiting items to higher level characters.

Can you, theoretically, make a magical item that will only activate for a Paladin who has a special Paladinic mount (the idea being only Paladins of x level will have one)? We're not talking has the ability to summon one, but actually physically have one; whether it is present or not at the time of activation doesn't matter, as long as he has one *somewhere*. It seems too much of a weird metagamey thing to use as an activation... I really didn't like the idea at all, but I am sadly outnumbered by three to one.

So, am I right or wrong? Any help would be appreciated.

 

[Chroma]

How about just able to cast a certain level of paladin spells?

 

[FireLance]

Depending on what the item does, I could be persuaded either way. Take a look at my Celestial Steward PrC (see link in sig). One way to qualify for the PrC is to have an emphatic link with a creature from the celestial planes, such as a paladin's special mount. I could accept a magic item that works when such a link is present.