Using Special Mounts

[Ktulu]

In the last session, I gave a player what basically amounts to a frost wolf as a mount. This next week he'll get to use it in game.

When I looked over the different "mounts", the best way to handle this seemed to be reskinning a nightmare and refluffing it to be a wolf.

The Rime hound could work re-fluffed to large, but it's also an elite, which makes it kind of a headache.

Anyway, what is the best route I should take on statting out the characters mount? Officially, he's 14th level, so I can level up or level down any creature to make it fit.

Suggestions?

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

Refluffing is fine. It is the most reliable method since you know exactly what you're getting from the start, and usually the easiest way to go.

 

[timbannock]

Agreed. Refluffing is so easy, and if it gets too extreme, it's usually pretty easy to change a power or two (or just a Keyword or two) and rejigger it to what you're doing. You know it's balanced as close as the original creature was, and you can figure out how that would impact the style of game you play.

 

[Ktulu]

Ok, here he is, Genruson, spirit of the frost wolf:

Genruson
Large cold natural magical beast (mount)
Initiative +12
Senses Perception +12; low-light vision
HP 138; Bloodied 69
AC 27
Fortitude 26, Reflex 25, Will 24
Resist 20 Cold; Speed 8 (Ice Walk)

Bite (Standard, at-will) Cold
+18 vs Armor Class; 1d8+6 damage +1d6 cold damage

Rime Rider (while mounted by a friendly rider of 13th level or higher, at-will) Cold, Mount
Genruson’s rider gains resist 20 cold.

Frost Storm (Standard, Daily) Cold, Zone
Close burst 2; +14vs Fortitude; 2d8+4 cold damage. Miss: Half damage. Effect: The burst creates a zone of icy terrain that lasts until the end of Genruson’s next turn. The zone is difficult terrain.
Skills Endurance +19
Str 23 (+12) Dex 19 (+10) Wis 12 (+7)
Con 26 (+14) Int 5 (+3) Cha 15 (+8)


I removed the hell stride and gave the rime-hounds burst effect to differentiate more from just a keyword change. I gave the creature ice walk, and altered statistics based on level and intent. Any suggestions?

 

[cdrcjsn]

The mounts in the Adventurer's Vault have significant costs. You might want to give him the mount as one of his treasure bundles or it might unbalance things.

A nightmare, for example, costs 25,000 gold, the price of a 15th level item.

 

[Ktulu]

That was done, actually, but that is good advice for anyone considering giving out a mount. Ensure that they're part of the heroe's treasure.