What is a mount?

[Taren Seeker]

Is there a rule concerning what can be a mount and what can't?

Looking at the improved familiar feat in the DMG, a Shocker Lizard has a 10 str (33 lb light load) which is enough for a Halfling master, but it is size small. Can it serve as a mount?

If there are rules for what can and can't be a mount can someone quote them, or at least point to where they are?

TIA

 

[Lord Pendragon]

I believe a mount must be at least one size category larger than its rider, though I couldn't point you to a quote on that.

 

[Taren Seeker]

I'm starting to wonder if they left that rule out of 3.5. I can't find it.

If so, whoohoo call my halfling Wizard/EK archer a Lizard riding fool! A familiar/mount with a climb speed AND a swim speed. Too cool.

Hrm. Better memorize some resist lightning if I wanna go swimming with him though. I just know where the shock is gonna travel through.

 

[dcollins]

I don't believe there's any rule in 3E core rules specifying exactly what can be a mount.

Of course, that doesn't then mean you can use anything as a mount, it means the DM gets to make that decision.

 

[Taren Seeker]

Well, this is for the LG campaign so as long as I can support it with rules (biggest things going for me right now are the weight allowance and taking -5 for it possibly being an unsuitable mount) then I should be ok. I may end up taking it to my local triad as well if I can't find anything else about this.

As an aside, I find it really surprising how many people chime in on threads with a comment to the effect that "your DM has final say". Well, of course the DM does; that's his job.

Maybe I should put that acknowledgement in my sig or something. If I wanted a sig.

dcollins, you don't remember anything like that in 3.0 either? I could have sworn it was a rule there. IDHM3.0BIFOM.

 

[Hypersmurf]

The only place I can remember off-hand there's anything explicitly stated is in Defenders of the Faith - a Paladin's Mount must be at least one size category larger than the Paladin.

-Hyp.

 

[thalmin]

Is there a rule concerning what can be a mount and what can't?

Looking at the improved familiar feat in the DMG, a Shocker Lizard has a 10 str (33 lb light load) which is enough for a Halfling master, but it is size small. Can it serve as a mount?

If there are rules for what can and can't be a mount can someone quote them, or at least point to where they are?

TIA

Don't forget to include weight of the saddle and any gear the halfling is carrying/wearing/using.

 

[Taren Seeker]

Jeebus I didn't realize the saddle alone would be 15 lbs! This could be a problem.

Hyp, good catch on that one, I'll look it up. This also would be a problem.

Sigh. Is it so wrong for a poor, homocidal halfling to cling to ceilings above his victims astride his mighty Shock Lizard mount?

 

[Spatzimaus]

Also realize that just because the creature has the raw strength to lift you doesn't mean it'd work as a mount. I have enough strength to lift my little sister, but I can't really carry her around on my back for hours at a time, because our skeletal structures just aren't built to support large loads in that direction. The same would go for plenty of other creatures, too; most quadrapeds would probably be okay, but I can think of quite a few that'd be terrible for it (gators, for example). Shocker Lizards don't really seem like much of a load-bearing structure to me.

As for the "cling to the ceiling" part, okay, the Shocker Lizard can cling to the ceiling just fine, but how is your Halfling staying in the saddle? And now that I think of it, the lizard might not be able to keep a good grip on the roof with so much weight pulling down...

(As someone who played a Halfling Paladin with a Dire Weasel mount, I'm not just making up excuses; I've had to go through a lot of this with my own DMs. I miss Mittens, he was way more fun than a pony.)

 

[Hypersmurf]

Hyp, good catch on that one, I'll look it up. This also would be a problem.

One might argue that strictly, this only applies to Paladin's mounts (unless someone finds it specified elsewhere as a general rule). But as a DM, I'd certainly generalise from it

(As someone who played a Halfling Paladin with a Dire Weasel mount, I'm not just making up excuses; I've had to go through a lot of this with my own DMs. I miss Mittens, he was way more fun than a pony.)

You know, when you try to picture the faithful steed of a Paragon of Virtue and Righteousness, the first image that comes to mind isn't a great, big, weasel...

-Hyp.