Cost of a rhino mount [Archive] - Wizards Community

Cost of a rhino mount [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Grax
02-23-08, 03:17 PM Does anybody know where I can find the cost of a rhino, both trained and untrained? If no such statistic exists, where would you price it?
Grax
02-23-08, 07:35 PM Lots of views, no answer, eh?
Dire_Rhino
02-23-08, 08:25 PM As far as I know, no such statistic exists; however, I'd place the value at 600gp untrained, and a 1,000gp charge to train. (1,600 total trained)

My logic went as follows. A warhorse is 400gp for a CR2 creature, and a rhino is CR4. To find the price for a CR4 war-mount (as a rhino is pretty decent in combat), we'd go with the usual square-factor increase that Wizards uses for everything. So a CR1 creature ought to cost about 200GP, which the Light Warhorse and Heavy Horse do (Light War is 150, but meh). So a War Rhinoceros should cost 100 * 2^(CR). Thus, 1,600. It seems that 1,000 GP is a standard "exotic animal" training charge, so deduct that from the base cost to get the "wild" cost.
sakuradm
02-23-08, 08:30 PM that seems a little much, id say maybe 300 untrained and 600 trained.... for a saddle, i cant name the exact priceright off the bat.. so check this www.freewebs.com/dndfans068/generalstore.htm
Dire_Rhino
02-24-08, 12:01 AM Sakura, I'll need to disagree on that.

A rhinoceros is equivalent two PCs of level 2, CR-wise. (Yes, CR is dumb, but it's a start.) To allow a trained rhinoceros at 600GP would allow a level 2 character to purchase one without going over the 1/3 WBL generic item limit. (It may be 1/4 wealth max on one item, but even then it'd be between level 2 and 3). This would in essence allow a PC to triple his or her power, which is broken. (This doesn't even take into account the ridiculous charge builds possible with a rhino).

Putting the rhino at 1600 GP makes it purchasable between 5th and 6th level, as a major investment. Even then, this allows a PC to nearly double his power, so I'm going to re-assess the value even higher, to 2000 GP - 1000 untrained, 1000 for training - which puts it squarely in the level 6-7 purchase bracket. This agrees with the DMG assessment of alternate paladin mounts, which allow a rhinoceros at level 7.

In summary: A rhino should probably cost 1000 GP untrained (but good luck training it) and 2000 trained, if not a bit more.
Grax
02-24-08, 12:52 PM I don't think I have any choice but to trust dire_rhino's judgment on this. Thanks, for the input.
sakuradm
02-24-08, 01:00 PM well i agree, and disagree....you dont always have to stick with the wealth per level tables... but yes, to even be able to control it, you would need strength, and something to do with training animals....
DM-Scott
02-24-08, 01:43 PM Well I can say that having a rhino would definitely be a powerful addition to a character and should be priced accordingly. Right now in a game I'm running, there is a party that consists of a 6th level barbarian, a 6th level shugenja, a 6th level abjurer, an 8th level generalist/malcovoker, and an 8th level sorcerer.

The barbarian has a heavy warhorse strait out of the book (standard heavy warhorse) which didn't even have armor or anything. This horse increased his combat potential and power greatly, and allowed the barbarian to take on powerful opponents and multiple weaker opponents. It had the benefit of increasing his effective movement, getting more attacks per round, and so forth. A warhorse is normally only 4HD as well. He just recently took the Wild Cohort feat to adopt the horse as a special companion, and has purchased (with the help of the party) some masterwork full plate barding and horseshoes of speed for his favorite mount. His mount will continue to noticeably increase his power.

Now looking at the rhino... (SRD Link (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/rhinoceros.htm))
We see that the Rhinoceros has 8HD with an average of 76 hit points, a 30ft speed (not great for a mount, but not slow), +7 natural armor, a grapple of +18 (wow, this can take a lot of suckers down), and a natural attack that hits at +13 and deals 2d6+12 points of damage. The minimum damage of such an attack can outright kill many enemies at lower levels. Toss on fairly decent saving throws (fort +11, ref +6, will +3) and he's lookin' pretty nice.

Now for the icing on the cake. If the rhino charges (+15 to hit) and lands the attack, he deals his regular damage plus an extra 4d6+24 from his powerful charge ability. That's 6d6+36 damage, which can potentially drop - or severely cripple things in the medium challenge rating range - instantly, and force saves against massive damage (DC 15 or die).

It also wouldn't be difficult to protect the rhinoceros from larger weaknesses it has. Rhino-equivalent horseshoes of speed and full plate barding would bring it's speed to 40ft (after armor penalties) and provide a total AC of 24 (which assuming you're not dealing with touch attacks, is nothing to sneeze at). If you fear your rhino being charmed or dominated (from charm / dominate monster spells), then cast Protection from Evil on the rhino - which lasts 10 rounds x level of the caster - to prevent ongoing mind influencing effects.

I would agree with Dire_Rhino and say that the Rhino as a mount needs to be priced accordingly. 100gp * 4^, or even 200gp * 4^ would probably be a good start (bringing it to 1600gp or 3200gp respectively). I'd probably edge on the side of caution and go with the 200 * CR^ for strong exotic animals such as the rhinoceros.

Just my thoughts.
Peace out, Game on.
MC_Templar
02-24-08, 09:27 PM Arms & Equipment Guide page 81 lists rules for Rhino mounts, cost to purchase, cost to train, carrying capacity, etc.
Igbutton
02-24-08, 10:24 PM Rhino can be found in the MM under the animal section.

MM2 has the warbeast template that you can to it.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Grax 02-23-08, 03:17 PM	Does anybody know where I can find the cost of a rhino, both trained and untrained? If no such statistic exists, where would you price it?
Grax 02-23-08, 07:35 PM	Lots of views, no answer, eh?
Dire_Rhino 02-23-08, 08:25 PM	As far as I know, no such statistic exists; however, I'd place the value at 600gp untrained, and a 1,000gp charge to train. (1,600 total trained) My logic went as follows. A warhorse is 400gp for a CR2 creature, and a rhino is CR4. To find the price for a CR4 war-mount (as a rhino is pretty decent in combat), we'd go with the usual square-factor increase that Wizards uses for everything. So a CR1 creature ought to cost about 200GP, which the Light Warhorse and Heavy Horse do (Light War is 150, but meh). So a War Rhinoceros should cost 100 * 2^(CR). Thus, 1,600. It seems that 1,000 GP is a standard "exotic animal" training charge, so deduct that from the base cost to get the "wild" cost.
sakuradm 02-23-08, 08:30 PM	that seems a little much, id say maybe 300 untrained and 600 trained.... for a saddle, i cant name the exact priceright off the bat.. so check this www.freewebs.com/dndfans068/generalstore.htm
Dire_Rhino 02-24-08, 12:01 AM	Sakura, I'll need to disagree on that. A rhinoceros is equivalent two PCs of level 2, CR-wise. (Yes, CR is dumb, but it's a start.) To allow a trained rhinoceros at 600GP would allow a level 2 character to purchase one without going over the 1/3 WBL generic item limit. (It may be 1/4 wealth max on one item, but even then it'd be between level 2 and 3). This would in essence allow a PC to triple his or her power, which is broken. (This doesn't even take into account the ridiculous charge builds possible with a rhino). Putting the rhino at 1600 GP makes it purchasable between 5th and 6th level, as a major investment. Even then, this allows a PC to nearly double his power, so I'm going to re-assess the value even higher, to 2000 GP - 1000 untrained, 1000 for training - which puts it squarely in the level 6-7 purchase bracket. This agrees with the DMG assessment of alternate paladin mounts, which allow a rhinoceros at level 7. In summary: A rhino should probably cost 1000 GP untrained (but good luck training it) and 2000 trained, if not a bit more.
Grax 02-24-08, 12:52 PM	I don't think I have any choice but to trust dire_rhino's judgment on this. Thanks, for the input.
sakuradm 02-24-08, 01:00 PM	well i agree, and disagree....you dont always have to stick with the wealth per level tables... but yes, to even be able to control it, you would need strength, and something to do with training animals....
DM-Scott 02-24-08, 01:43 PM	Well I can say that having a rhino would definitely be a powerful addition to a character and should be priced accordingly. Right now in a game I'm running, there is a party that consists of a 6th level barbarian, a 6th level shugenja, a 6th level abjurer, an 8th level generalist/malcovoker, and an 8th level sorcerer. The barbarian has a heavy warhorse strait out of the book (standard heavy warhorse) which didn't even have armor or anything. This horse increased his combat potential and power greatly, and allowed the barbarian to take on powerful opponents and multiple weaker opponents. It had the benefit of increasing his effective movement, getting more attacks per round, and so forth. A warhorse is normally only 4HD as well. He just recently took the Wild Cohort feat to adopt the horse as a special companion, and has purchased (with the help of the party) some masterwork full plate barding and horseshoes of speed for his favorite mount. His mount will continue to noticeably increase his power. Now looking at the rhino... (SRD Link (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/monsters/rhinoceros.htm)) We see that the Rhinoceros has 8HD with an average of 76 hit points, a 30ft speed (not great for a mount, but not slow), +7 natural armor, a grapple of +18 (wow, this can take a lot of suckers down), and a natural attack that hits at +13 and deals 2d6+12 points of damage. The minimum damage of such an attack can outright kill many enemies at lower levels. Toss on fairly decent saving throws (fort +11, ref +6, will +3) and he's lookin' pretty nice. Now for the icing on the cake. If the rhino charges (+15 to hit) and lands the attack, he deals his regular damage plus an extra 4d6+24 from his powerful charge ability. That's 6d6+36 damage, which can potentially drop - or severely cripple things in the medium challenge rating range - instantly, and force saves against massive damage (DC 15 or die). It also wouldn't be difficult to protect the rhinoceros from larger weaknesses it has. Rhino-equivalent horseshoes of speed and full plate barding would bring it's speed to 40ft (after armor penalties) and provide a total AC of 24 (which assuming you're not dealing with touch attacks, is nothing to sneeze at). If you fear your rhino being charmed or dominated (from charm / dominate monster spells), then cast Protection from Evil on the rhino - which lasts 10 rounds x level of the caster - to prevent ongoing mind influencing effects. I would agree with Dire_Rhino and say that the Rhino as a mount needs to be priced accordingly. 100gp * 4^, or even 200gp * 4^ would probably be a good start (bringing it to 1600gp or 3200gp respectively). I'd probably edge on the side of caution and go with the 200 * CR^ for strong exotic animals such as the rhinoceros. Just my thoughts. Peace out, Game on.
MC_Templar 02-24-08, 09:27 PM	Arms & Equipment Guide page 81 lists rules for Rhino mounts, cost to purchase, cost to train, carrying capacity, etc.
Igbutton 02-24-08, 10:24 PM	Rhino can be found in the MM under the animal section. MM2 has the warbeast template that you can to it.