Alternate Paladin Mounts [Archive] - Wizards Community

Alternate Paladin Mounts [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
karossii
10-31-07, 02:26 AM Okay, I am looking into playing a bardadin (quite literally - my DM and I are writing a prestige class to facilitate this character, and for now it is simply named the 'bardadin', lol) and while I like the idea of a special mount from the paladin half, I don't really want a warhorse.

What are the various ways to get an alternate mount, and what mounts are there out there which are typically used? (Before it gets brought up, dragons are out, for campaign specific reasons).
bugman1964
10-31-07, 07:38 AM Maybe some more info about the character would help us with making suggestions.
Argaud
10-31-07, 11:02 AM Check the DMG page 204.
karossii
10-31-07, 01:19 PM Maybe some more info about the character would help us with making suggestions.

Well, here's the gist of things; my character is a bard/paladin who is from an ancient royal bloodline thought to be lost, and is trying to dethrone the current (bad) king and retake the throne for himself/his bloodline.

So the player characters are from Continent 'A' which in itself has no name, but is home to a kingdom named 'the 7 Duchies'.

Some background of the 7 duchies: On this continent, there is very little magic; it exists but is not common, and any magic related to animals or magical beasts (including druidic wildshape and summonings, among a lot of other magic) is especially frowned upon, enough so to warrant mob execution by locals. A latent form of psionics called 'the skill' is present in certain bloodlines; it is not true psionics, but is a collection psionic reserve feats powered by a certain skill. All PCs have this skill, as well as most royalty. Dragons are (actually 'were' - getting to that) known of in legends, but have never been seen (up until a short time ago - getting to that).

The king of the 7 duchies recently sought out all individuals with this 'skill' to train them and ask their aid for 2 reasons... first to find out how a certain magical disease had come to the land and was turning most people into a form of living zombie (not undead, more of a mindless living creature under command) and stop the threat, and also to find and awaken the 'ancient ones' (dragons).

The PCs have accomplished both of these goals to an extent - they tracked the 'red ships' - several ships which had red wood and red sails which had appeared off the coast shortly before the zombie things began appearing in and around villages; and found they were from another continent across the sea. They went there and found a land where magic was bountiful, but otherwise culture and language was quite similar to their own.

Doing research they came to piece together that nearly a thousand years ago their people fled from this continent to escape from an unjust king. That king pursued them and tried to recapture and enslave them, else kill them. When they got to the continent, the 'ancient ones' (dragons) helped fight off the evil king and killed him in the process. The dragons soon after disappeared, and the new continent became a peaceful place.

Now, the newest king on the throne, has taken it into his mind to gain vengeance for his great great great great great great etc. grandfather, and has started a campaign against the 7 duchies. They have found a mineral that combined with some magical ceremony we failed to discover, does this living zombie transformation to anyone with the smallest hint of 'the skill' (pisonics, remember?). As no one on the old continent - Continent 'B', has any 'skill' (we still aren't certain why, but it would be seem to be tied to the new land, continent 'a'), they are free to use it in their war against us.

After returning from this other continent, the dragons were found and awakened, and came to the kingdom's aid in battle against an attack we had learned about; defending the 7 duchies but refusing to pursue and help end the war. So the PCs are planning on going back in the near future to continent 'b' with legions at their backs, to attempt to end the war. The soldiers will fight a battle over there, but the PCs plan on doing some more direct spy/assassin type work.

Now, with that as the background, my character is from continent 'b'. His is an ancient bloodline which used to hold the throne, and is thought to be gone...somehow his ancestors hid from assassins and such when the new bloodline took over the throne, and have remained in hiding for over a thousand years. He has decided that the newest king is bad enough he is going to come public and try to regain the throne and depose this bloodline. He (like most of the country) feels that destroying the country's resources to revenge a name a thousand years old, which was killed only in defense against his own evil acts, is going too far.

So he is now traveling to the 7 duchies to find the king and beg aid in tracking down a certain artifact which will prove his lineage and allow him to gather forces under his name on continent 'b', and depose the current king. The rest of the party are unaware of this turn of events as of yet, and are still making plans to try and assassinate the king - little do they realize he has certain magical protections that make it all but impossible for them at their current level. I'll be bringing them that and more information, and getting their aid in tracking down this artifact first (DM hasn't yet clarified what the artifact is, how it will prove my bloodline and/or help kill the current king - not sure if he knows yet).

So there's the short and long versions of the campaign's background and my part in it. I haven't yet written a detailed character background to describe his personality quirks etc.; but in general he will be the brash, loud and overconfident self-imposed leader you might imagine a bard/paladin who plans on being a king would be. I do plan on focusing on singing and oratory versus playing any instruments (even though I know certain instruments could be giving me a bonus to inspire courage etc.).

I'm thinking of maybe a Griffon or a Phoenix for a mount - something impressive and associated with royalty. I don't know if the DM would allow either without a bit of talking him into it... and so would like to know all possible rules variations to support such an impressive beast as a mount (I'll have 13 effective paladin levels for the mount). I'm also still open for more ideas on other non-draconic, non-horse special mounts.

So there's a glut of extra information... any help on how to get a special special mount?
Argaud
10-31-07, 04:44 PM So there's the short and long versions of the campaign's background and my part in it. I haven't yet written a detailed character background to describe his personality quirks etc.; but in general he will be the brash, loud and overconfident self-imposed leader you might imagine a bard/paladin who plans on being a king would be. I do plan on focusing on singing and oratory versus playing any instruments (even though I know certain instruments could be giving me a bonus to inspire courage etc.).

I'm thinking of maybe a Griffon or a Phoenix for a mount - something impressive and associated with royalty. I don't know if the DM would allow either without a bit of talking him into it... and so would like to know all possible rules variations to support such an impressive beast as a mount (I'll have 13 effective paladin levels for the mount). I'm also still open for more ideas on other non-draconic, non-horse special mounts.
I repeat: DMG page 204.

With 13 levels of paladin you can have a CR 10 land-based mount or a CR 9 flying mount.

A griffon is CR 4, so it is available for a level 8 paladin (and it is in the list in the DMG) at level 13 the griffon gets +4HD, +6 NA, +2 Str and Int 7.

Alternative mounts could include even things like a Roc or triceratops.
So there's a glut of extra information... any help on how to get a special special mount?
Pray for it.
CrimsonDeath
10-31-07, 04:48 PM There are feats, like Celestial Mount in the Book of Exalted Deeds and Frozen Mount in Frostburn. There are also prestiege classes like Ashworm Dragoon in Sandstorm.
vorpo
10-31-07, 05:09 PM Nightmare.... :rolleyes:
karossii
10-31-07, 05:46 PM Thanks for the replies! I did read DMG page 204, and while those rules would work, they're explicitly optional. I do realize everything is technically optional, but when the text specifies it is optional, it is harder to convince this DM to allow it than if it just states you can (as in extra feats, spells, prestige classes). I will certainly refer to it and try to use just those rules as presented, but would like to have other 'fuel' for the persuasion...

Which leads to the posted feats. Thanks for those! They will certainly help, especially if I do choose to try for a celestial mount. I don't think frozen would work, and I don't have Sandstorm - what does the ashworm dragoon get (I assume an ashworm? what's that?) And is it worth the class beyond the mount itself?

Thanks again!
karossii
10-31-07, 06:06 PM I've tried a few searches for coming up with more choices/ideas on the special mount - I do have all the MM books, but I don't really want to comb through 5 volumes and read so many monster descriptions if I don't have to.

Are there any lists of 'typical' unusual mounts (doesn't have to be paladin specific) available? Basically, which creatures can be ridden by a medium humanoid if properly trained or magically coerced?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
karossii 10-31-07, 02:26 AM	Okay, I am looking into playing a bardadin (quite literally - my DM and I are writing a prestige class to facilitate this character, and for now it is simply named the 'bardadin', lol) and while I like the idea of a special mount from the paladin half, I don't really want a warhorse. What are the various ways to get an alternate mount, and what mounts are there out there which are typically used? (Before it gets brought up, dragons are out, for campaign specific reasons).
bugman1964 10-31-07, 07:38 AM	Maybe some more info about the character would help us with making suggestions.
Argaud 10-31-07, 11:02 AM	Check the DMG page 204.
karossii 10-31-07, 01:19 PM	Maybe some more info about the character would help us with making suggestions. Well, here's the gist of things; my character is a bard/paladin who is from an ancient royal bloodline thought to be lost, and is trying to dethrone the current (bad) king and retake the throne for himself/his bloodline. So the player characters are from Continent 'A' which in itself has no name, but is home to a kingdom named 'the 7 Duchies'. Some background of the 7 duchies: On this continent, there is very little magic; it exists but is not common, and any magic related to animals or magical beasts (including druidic wildshape and summonings, among a lot of other magic) is especially frowned upon, enough so to warrant mob execution by locals. A latent form of psionics called 'the skill' is present in certain bloodlines; it is not true psionics, but is a collection psionic reserve feats powered by a certain skill. All PCs have this skill, as well as most royalty. Dragons are (actually 'were' - getting to that) known of in legends, but have never been seen (up until a short time ago - getting to that). The king of the 7 duchies recently sought out all individuals with this 'skill' to train them and ask their aid for 2 reasons... first to find out how a certain magical disease had come to the land and was turning most people into a form of living zombie (not undead, more of a mindless living creature under command) and stop the threat, and also to find and awaken the 'ancient ones' (dragons). The PCs have accomplished both of these goals to an extent - they tracked the 'red ships' - several ships which had red wood and red sails which had appeared off the coast shortly before the zombie things began appearing in and around villages; and found they were from another continent across the sea. They went there and found a land where magic was bountiful, but otherwise culture and language was quite similar to their own. Doing research they came to piece together that nearly a thousand years ago their people fled from this continent to escape from an unjust king. That king pursued them and tried to recapture and enslave them, else kill them. When they got to the continent, the 'ancient ones' (dragons) helped fight off the evil king and killed him in the process. The dragons soon after disappeared, and the new continent became a peaceful place. Now, the newest king on the throne, has taken it into his mind to gain vengeance for his great great great great great great etc. grandfather, and has started a campaign against the 7 duchies. They have found a mineral that combined with some magical ceremony we failed to discover, does this living zombie transformation to anyone with the smallest hint of 'the skill' (pisonics, remember?). As no one on the old continent - Continent 'B', has any 'skill' (we still aren't certain why, but it would be seem to be tied to the new land, continent 'a'), they are free to use it in their war against us. After returning from this other continent, the dragons were found and awakened, and came to the kingdom's aid in battle against an attack we had learned about; defending the 7 duchies but refusing to pursue and help end the war. So the PCs are planning on going back in the near future to continent 'b' with legions at their backs, to attempt to end the war. The soldiers will fight a battle over there, but the PCs plan on doing some more direct spy/assassin type work. Now, with that as the background, my character is from continent 'b'. His is an ancient bloodline which used to hold the throne, and is thought to be gone...somehow his ancestors hid from assassins and such when the new bloodline took over the throne, and have remained in hiding for over a thousand years. He has decided that the newest king is bad enough he is going to come public and try to regain the throne and depose this bloodline. He (like most of the country) feels that destroying the country's resources to revenge a name a thousand years old, which was killed only in defense against his own evil acts, is going too far. So he is now traveling to the 7 duchies to find the king and beg aid in tracking down a certain artifact which will prove his lineage and allow him to gather forces under his name on continent 'b', and depose the current king. The rest of the party are unaware of this turn of events as of yet, and are still making plans to try and assassinate the king - little do they realize he has certain magical protections that make it all but impossible for them at their current level. I'll be bringing them that and more information, and getting their aid in tracking down this artifact first (DM hasn't yet clarified what the artifact is, how it will prove my bloodline and/or help kill the current king - not sure if he knows yet). So there's the short and long versions of the campaign's background and my part in it. I haven't yet written a detailed character background to describe his personality quirks etc.; but in general he will be the brash, loud and overconfident self-imposed leader you might imagine a bard/paladin who plans on being a king would be. I do plan on focusing on singing and oratory versus playing any instruments (even though I know certain instruments could be giving me a bonus to inspire courage etc.). I'm thinking of maybe a Griffon or a Phoenix for a mount - something impressive and associated with royalty. I don't know if the DM would allow either without a bit of talking him into it... and so would like to know all possible rules variations to support such an impressive beast as a mount (I'll have 13 effective paladin levels for the mount). I'm also still open for more ideas on other non-draconic, non-horse special mounts. So there's a glut of extra information... any help on how to get a special special mount?
Argaud 10-31-07, 04:44 PM	So there's the short and long versions of the campaign's background and my part in it. I haven't yet written a detailed character background to describe his personality quirks etc.; but in general he will be the brash, loud and overconfident self-imposed leader you might imagine a bard/paladin who plans on being a king would be. I do plan on focusing on singing and oratory versus playing any instruments (even though I know certain instruments could be giving me a bonus to inspire courage etc.). I'm thinking of maybe a Griffon or a Phoenix for a mount - something impressive and associated with royalty. I don't know if the DM would allow either without a bit of talking him into it... and so would like to know all possible rules variations to support such an impressive beast as a mount (I'll have 13 effective paladin levels for the mount). I'm also still open for more ideas on other non-draconic, non-horse special mounts. I repeat: DMG page 204. With 13 levels of paladin you can have a CR 10 land-based mount or a CR 9 flying mount. A griffon is CR 4, so it is available for a level 8 paladin (and it is in the list in the DMG) at level 13 the griffon gets +4HD, +6 NA, +2 Str and Int 7. Alternative mounts could include even things like a Roc or triceratops. So there's a glut of extra information... any help on how to get a special special mount? Pray for it.
CrimsonDeath 10-31-07, 04:48 PM	There are feats, like Celestial Mount in the Book of Exalted Deeds and Frozen Mount in Frostburn. There are also prestiege classes like Ashworm Dragoon in Sandstorm.
vorpo 10-31-07, 05:09 PM	Nightmare.... :rolleyes:
karossii 10-31-07, 05:46 PM	Thanks for the replies! I did read DMG page 204, and while those rules would work, they're explicitly optional. I do realize everything is technically optional, but when the text specifies it is optional, it is harder to convince this DM to allow it than if it just states you can (as in extra feats, spells, prestige classes). I will certainly refer to it and try to use just those rules as presented, but would like to have other 'fuel' for the persuasion... Which leads to the posted feats. Thanks for those! They will certainly help, especially if I do choose to try for a celestial mount. I don't think frozen would work, and I don't have Sandstorm - what does the ashworm dragoon get (I assume an ashworm? what's that?) And is it worth the class beyond the mount itself? Thanks again!
karossii 10-31-07, 06:06 PM	I've tried a few searches for coming up with more choices/ideas on the special mount - I do have all the MM books, but I don't really want to comb through 5 volumes and read so many monster descriptions if I don't have to. Are there any lists of 'typical' unusual mounts (doesn't have to be paladin specific) available? Basically, which creatures can be ridden by a medium humanoid if properly trained or magically coerced?