A mount without a Mount ability [Archive] - Wizards Community

A mount without a Mount ability [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Pennarin
02-26-06, 05:02 AM I'm building this kobold character and I want him to have access to a mount despite not being a paladin, druid, or having the Improved Familiar feat.

If goblins can ride worgs without, or so I presume, access to the above resources, can my kobold ride a smilodon (Frostburn) or winter wolf?

If so, what do I need to make it happen? Neither monster entry has a Training This Beast section, and the Handle Animal skill seems to make no mention of training creatures with above-animal level Intelligence.

For the case of the winter wolf its an evil creature not unlike a worg, so might be willing to tag along a succesful evil character of small size.

Ideas?
CannibalSmith
02-26-06, 12:28 PM Isn't winter wolf big enough to eat your kobold for breakfast? The Slayer's Guide to Kobolds depicts kobolds riding dire badgers. I guess riding dogs are ok too...
TheChilliGod
02-26-06, 01:16 PM Looking at the DC's for other non-animals (Pegasi, Hippogriffs, Howlers, Griffons and Giant Eagles/Owls, strange that nearly all of them can fly) I'd say that the DC to rear & train a winter wolf/smilodon would be DC 25.

Maybe you can work something off that.
Seeker95
02-26-06, 02:45 PM I would NOT allow you to have a mount with an intelligence above animal (2). Something of above animal intelligence is a companion / friend. If you want something better than that, you would need to take one as a cohort. The Leadership feat will come in handy here. :D
Melpomene
02-26-06, 04:47 PM You could take it as a hireling, of course.

...I happen to like PCs riding odd monsters, and I do most of my costs by checking against other creatures.

For intellegent creatures, the rule of thumb is to pay them gold (etc.) equal to the difference between thier thier expected current gold and the expected gold they would reach if they gained a level, all based on the Wealth by Level chart in the DMG (pg 135). If they do actually gain a level, they usually need to be paid again.
nastynate
02-26-06, 05:02 PM You want the Wild Cohort (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031118a) feat.
Edymnion
02-26-06, 05:13 PM I would NOT allow you to have a mount with an intelligence above animal (2). Something of above animal intelligence is a companion / friend. If you want something better than that, you would need to take one as a cohort. The Leadership feat will come in handy here. :DNot really, griffons have an Int higher than 2, but they are still... well if not normal they're still perfectly acceptable as a mount. Int 5, and their entry goes out of it's way to tell you how to get one for a mount, none of it needing Leadership.

IMO, you only need Leadership if you plan on having your cohort level up/advance in hitdice. If their power level is going to remain more or less fixed, then you don't need it.
Pennarin
02-26-06, 07:45 PM The kobold character has a winter theme to it, so why I'd like him to have a snow creature for locomotion. Smilodon and winter wolf are as good as any.

The smilodon, since its an animal, would be trained as a mount and for attack.
The winter wolf, being intelligent, would be a friendly creature willingly associating itself with the kobold, serving as mount and sharing the burden of encounters through helping out with combat.

TheChilliGod, that's something I never noticed! Sounds about right.

nastynate, the Wild Cohort feat seems about right for the smilodon and a 12th level character.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Pennarin 02-26-06, 05:02 AM	I'm building this kobold character and I want him to have access to a mount despite not being a paladin, druid, or having the Improved Familiar feat. If goblins can ride worgs without, or so I presume, access to the above resources, can my kobold ride a smilodon (Frostburn) or winter wolf? If so, what do I need to make it happen? Neither monster entry has a Training This Beast section, and the Handle Animal skill seems to make no mention of training creatures with above-animal level Intelligence. For the case of the winter wolf its an evil creature not unlike a worg, so might be willing to tag along a succesful evil character of small size. Ideas?
CannibalSmith 02-26-06, 12:28 PM	Isn't winter wolf big enough to eat your kobold for breakfast? The Slayer's Guide to Kobolds depicts kobolds riding dire badgers. I guess riding dogs are ok too...
TheChilliGod 02-26-06, 01:16 PM	Looking at the DC's for other non-animals (Pegasi, Hippogriffs, Howlers, Griffons and Giant Eagles/Owls, strange that nearly all of them can fly) I'd say that the DC to rear & train a winter wolf/smilodon would be DC 25. Maybe you can work something off that.
Seeker95 02-26-06, 02:45 PM	I would NOT allow you to have a mount with an intelligence above animal (2). Something of above animal intelligence is a companion / friend. If you want something better than that, you would need to take one as a cohort. The Leadership feat will come in handy here. :D
Melpomene 02-26-06, 04:47 PM	You could take it as a hireling, of course. ...I happen to like PCs riding odd monsters, and I do most of my costs by checking against other creatures. For intellegent creatures, the rule of thumb is to pay them gold (etc.) equal to the difference between thier thier expected current gold and the expected gold they would reach if they gained a level, all based on the Wealth by Level chart in the DMG (pg 135). If they do actually gain a level, they usually need to be paid again.
nastynate 02-26-06, 05:02 PM	You want the Wild Cohort (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031118a) feat.
Edymnion 02-26-06, 05:13 PM	I would NOT allow you to have a mount with an intelligence above animal (2). Something of above animal intelligence is a companion / friend. If you want something better than that, you would need to take one as a cohort. The Leadership feat will come in handy here. :DNot really, griffons have an Int higher than 2, but they are still... well if not normal they're still perfectly acceptable as a mount. Int 5, and their entry goes out of it's way to tell you how to get one for a mount, none of it needing Leadership. IMO, you only need Leadership if you plan on having your cohort level up/advance in hitdice. If their power level is going to remain more or less fixed, then you don't need it.
Pennarin 02-26-06, 07:45 PM	The kobold character has a winter theme to it, so why I'd like him to have a snow creature for locomotion. Smilodon and winter wolf are as good as any. The smilodon, since its an animal, would be trained as a mount and for attack. The winter wolf, being intelligent, would be a friendly creature willingly associating itself with the kobold, serving as mount and sharing the burden of encounters through helping out with combat. TheChilliGod, that's something I never noticed! Sounds about right. nastynate, the Wild Cohort feat seems about right for the smilodon and a 12th level character.