Centaur Questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Centaur Questions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Gumbymoto
11-09-06, 12:14 PM I have a couple of question I would like help with that the group I play with has not come to concensus on yet.

1. I have a 6th level centaur who is nearing 7th level. According to the template for the centaur my favored class is ranger. I plan on taking other classes to develop this character. Do I take a 10% experience point penalty since my 6 levels of monster class will be more than 1 level apart from the other classes or is the monster class ignored in the equation?

2. Is it possible to use cold iron, silver, adamantine, or magic horseshoes and have them add to the hit probability or overcome damage resistance?

3. How should this character deal with boots as magic items? Can it use the boots as can another character or is it treated like a horse and as such limited to horseshoes?

4. Since this character can not ride a mount if I want to have it go into a prestige class that requires mounted combat am I required to take it even through it does nothing for this character.

I have not found any answers to these questions in the erata/FAQ's or in the LG sourcebook, so your help in answering these question would be of much help.
Gelth
11-09-06, 12:26 PM I have a couple of question I would like help with that the group I play with has not come to concensus on yet.

1. I have a 6th level centaur who is nearing 7th level. According to the template for the centaur my favored class is ranger. I plan on taking other classes to develop this character. Do I take a 10% experience point penalty since my 6 levels of monster class will be more than 1 level apart from the other classes or is the monster class ignored in the equation?

Racial hit dice never cause XP penalties. It's in the MM I believe.

2. Is it possible to use cold iron, silver, adamantine, or magic horseshoes and have them add to the hit probability or overcome damage resistance?

It is indeed possible, but they would not be standard items, and would have to be specifically certed (see: Tanar'ri Stompers from an old Core mod).

3. How should this character deal with boots as magic items? Can it use the boots as can another character or is it treated like a horse and as such limited to horseshoes?

I don't see anyone arguing with you wearing horseshoes, while most Judges will ban boots. Your mileage may vary on this though.

4. Since this character can not ride a mount if I want to have it go into a prestige class that requires mounted combat am I required to take it even through it does nothing for this character.

If you need it for a prerequisite, you still need it, even though it'll do nothing most of the time. Note that Mounted Combat requires a rank of Ride. I'd come up with a justification for how you learned Ride, maybe 'surfing' down sand dunes on a board?
If you ever do manage to find something big enough, you could in theory ride it, although you'll see a lot of table variation on that one.

I have not found any answers to these questions in the erata/FAQ's or in the LG sourcebook, so your help in answering these question would be of much help.

I believe that my answers are accurate, I hope that they are helpful.

--Penn, Ket Triad
KShaver
11-09-06, 12:34 PM 1. I have a 6th level centaur who is nearing 7th level. According to the template for the centaur my favored class is ranger. I plan on taking other classes to develop this character. Do I take a 10% experience point penalty since my 6 levels of monster class will be more than 1 level apart from the other classes or is the monster class ignored in the equation?

IIRC it is ignored. Back in 3.0 it counted against you, but I think that has been corrected as it was unusually cruel and evil.

2. Is it possible to use cold iron, silver, adamantine, or magic horseshoes and have them add to the hit probability or overcome damage resistance?

Only if you get it access to such in a module.

3. How should this character deal with boots as magic items? Can it use the boots as can another character or is it treated like a horse and as such limited to horseshoes?

I don't know if this issue is resolved yet, I've seen arguments on both sides. All listed magical horse shoes require that the user be of the animal type to gain their benefits.

IMHO the best way to resolve this would be to allow centaurs to use boots just as other pcs, just have them be ankle wraps or the like. I am adamantly agaisnt them using the existing horse shoes as the benefits gained from the available magical horseshoes are at a significantly reduced price since they were designed for mount only use.

4. Since this character can not ride a mount if I want to have it go into a prestige class that requires mounted combat am I required to take it even through it does nothing for this character.

Yes.
Gelth
11-09-06, 03:42 PM Hey, nifty! That means a Paladin's mount can't use 'em either, as they are Magical Beasts!
I also note that while Horseshoes of Speed will work for any animal with hooves, Horseshoes of a Zephyr will only work for a horse, not for donkeys or ponies or anything else.

Mehtinks this should be submitted to WotC for a ruling, as that can't be what was intended.

--Penn, Ket Triad
Arvagor
11-09-06, 04:32 PM IMHO the best way to resolve this would be to allow centaurs to use boots just as other pcs, just have them be ankle wraps or the like. I am adamantly agaisnt them using the existing horse shoes as the benefits gained from the available magical horseshoes are at a significantly reduced price since they were designed for mount only use.I don't have a problem with centaurs using the various magical horseshoes.

One, I think we can invoke the "spirit" of the rules to allow them to be worn by centaurs (and paladin mounts), despite the "animal" and "horse" restrictions in the magic item descriptions. (As far as the paladin's mount is concerned, its type does not change the fact that it is a warhorse.)

Two, despite being (theoretically) relatively cheap for the benefit they provide, they have one big disadvantage over boots, namely that they can't simply be changed to a different set. I'd guess that, at most, a humanoid PC changing his boots/shoes would take 2 full rounds; reshodding a centaur would take much longer, and would have to be done out of combat, by someone trained in the task. (So far as I can find, the world record for shoeing a horse is 3 minutes, 20 seconds; that included "shoeing four hooves, pounding the nails, finishing and smoothing".)
Gelth
11-09-06, 04:44 PM Hey, I got back a response from Customer Service already!

Discussion Thread
---------------------------------------------------------------
Response (Zephreum H.) - 11/09/2006 01:36 PM
Thank you for contacting us.

The use of the term Animal in this description does not refer to type, just to the creature they are being placed on. These items are usable by any hooved creature, not cloven hooved mind you. Paladin Mounts are the most widely used hooved animals for these items.

Take Care!
We would appreciate your feedback on the service we are providing you.

Zephreum.
Customer Service Representative
Wizards of the Coast
1-800-324-6496 (US and Canada)
425-204-8069 (From all other countries)
Monday-Friday 7am-6pm PST / 10am-9pm EST

Customer (Penn Davies) - 11/09/2006 12:50 PM
I note that in the DMG, Horseshoes of Speed are useable by only animals (that have hooves, presumably), and Horseshoes of a Zephyr are useable only by horses that are animals.
This cuts out, for example, paladin mounts (which are Magical Beasts), ponies, doneys, centaurs, and such. Is this the intent?
As a player of Living Greyhawk, I need an answer one way or the other, preferably in the FAQ.

--Penn, Ket Triad, RPGA 520997
kenobi65
11-09-06, 04:55 PM These items are usable by any hooved creature, not cloven hooved mind you.

No horseshoes of speed for you, Mr. Satyr. ;)
_m_
11-09-06, 11:51 PM horseshoes of the zephyr seem to be by far the bost option. gets around stupid things like staircases and the like.

and yes, you can wear boots if you want to.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Gumbymoto 11-09-06, 12:14 PM	I have a couple of question I would like help with that the group I play with has not come to concensus on yet. 1. I have a 6th level centaur who is nearing 7th level. According to the template for the centaur my favored class is ranger. I plan on taking other classes to develop this character. Do I take a 10% experience point penalty since my 6 levels of monster class will be more than 1 level apart from the other classes or is the monster class ignored in the equation? 2. Is it possible to use cold iron, silver, adamantine, or magic horseshoes and have them add to the hit probability or overcome damage resistance? 3. How should this character deal with boots as magic items? Can it use the boots as can another character or is it treated like a horse and as such limited to horseshoes? 4. Since this character can not ride a mount if I want to have it go into a prestige class that requires mounted combat am I required to take it even through it does nothing for this character. I have not found any answers to these questions in the erata/FAQ's or in the LG sourcebook, so your help in answering these question would be of much help.
Gelth 11-09-06, 12:26 PM	I have a couple of question I would like help with that the group I play with has not come to concensus on yet. 1. I have a 6th level centaur who is nearing 7th level. According to the template for the centaur my favored class is ranger. I plan on taking other classes to develop this character. Do I take a 10% experience point penalty since my 6 levels of monster class will be more than 1 level apart from the other classes or is the monster class ignored in the equation? Racial hit dice never cause XP penalties. It's in the MM I believe. 2. Is it possible to use cold iron, silver, adamantine, or magic horseshoes and have them add to the hit probability or overcome damage resistance? It is indeed possible, but they would not be standard items, and would have to be specifically certed (see: Tanar'ri Stompers from an old Core mod). 3. How should this character deal with boots as magic items? Can it use the boots as can another character or is it treated like a horse and as such limited to horseshoes? I don't see anyone arguing with you wearing horseshoes, while most Judges will ban boots. Your mileage may vary on this though. 4. Since this character can not ride a mount if I want to have it go into a prestige class that requires mounted combat am I required to take it even through it does nothing for this character. If you need it for a prerequisite, you still need it, even though it'll do nothing most of the time. Note that Mounted Combat requires a rank of Ride. I'd come up with a justification for how you learned Ride, maybe 'surfing' down sand dunes on a board? If you ever do manage to find something big enough, you could in theory ride it, although you'll see a lot of table variation on that one. I have not found any answers to these questions in the erata/FAQ's or in the LG sourcebook, so your help in answering these question would be of much help. I believe that my answers are accurate, I hope that they are helpful. --Penn, Ket Triad
KShaver 11-09-06, 12:34 PM	1. I have a 6th level centaur who is nearing 7th level. According to the template for the centaur my favored class is ranger. I plan on taking other classes to develop this character. Do I take a 10% experience point penalty since my 6 levels of monster class will be more than 1 level apart from the other classes or is the monster class ignored in the equation? IIRC it is ignored. Back in 3.0 it counted against you, but I think that has been corrected as it was unusually cruel and evil. 2. Is it possible to use cold iron, silver, adamantine, or magic horseshoes and have them add to the hit probability or overcome damage resistance? Only if you get it access to such in a module. 3. How should this character deal with boots as magic items? Can it use the boots as can another character or is it treated like a horse and as such limited to horseshoes? I don't know if this issue is resolved yet, I've seen arguments on both sides. All listed magical horse shoes require that the user be of the animal type to gain their benefits. IMHO the best way to resolve this would be to allow centaurs to use boots just as other pcs, just have them be ankle wraps or the like. I am adamantly agaisnt them using the existing horse shoes as the benefits gained from the available magical horseshoes are at a significantly reduced price since they were designed for mount only use. 4. Since this character can not ride a mount if I want to have it go into a prestige class that requires mounted combat am I required to take it even through it does nothing for this character. Yes.
Gelth 11-09-06, 03:42 PM	Hey, nifty! That means a Paladin's mount can't use 'em either, as they are Magical Beasts! I also note that while Horseshoes of Speed will work for any animal with hooves, Horseshoes of a Zephyr will only work for a horse, not for donkeys or ponies or anything else. Mehtinks this should be submitted to WotC for a ruling, as that can't be what was intended. --Penn, Ket Triad
Arvagor 11-09-06, 04:32 PM	IMHO the best way to resolve this would be to allow centaurs to use boots just as other pcs, just have them be ankle wraps or the like. I am adamantly agaisnt them using the existing horse shoes as the benefits gained from the available magical horseshoes are at a significantly reduced price since they were designed for mount only use.I don't have a problem with centaurs using the various magical horseshoes. One, I think we can invoke the "spirit" of the rules to allow them to be worn by centaurs (and paladin mounts), despite the "animal" and "horse" restrictions in the magic item descriptions. (As far as the paladin's mount is concerned, its type does not change the fact that it is a warhorse.) Two, despite being (theoretically) relatively cheap for the benefit they provide, they have one big disadvantage over boots, namely that they can't simply be changed to a different set. I'd guess that, at most, a humanoid PC changing his boots/shoes would take 2 full rounds; reshodding a centaur would take much longer, and would have to be done out of combat, by someone trained in the task. (So far as I can find, the world record for shoeing a horse is 3 minutes, 20 seconds; that included "shoeing four hooves, pounding the nails, finishing and smoothing".)
Gelth 11-09-06, 04:44 PM	Hey, I got back a response from Customer Service already! Discussion Thread --------------------------------------------------------------- Response (Zephreum H.) - 11/09/2006 01:36 PM Thank you for contacting us. The use of the term Animal in this description does not refer to type, just to the creature they are being placed on. These items are usable by any hooved creature, not cloven hooved mind you. Paladin Mounts are the most widely used hooved animals for these items. Take Care! We would appreciate your feedback on the service we are providing you. Zephreum. Customer Service Representative Wizards of the Coast 1-800-324-6496 (US and Canada) 425-204-8069 (From all other countries) Monday-Friday 7am-6pm PST / 10am-9pm EST Customer (Penn Davies) - 11/09/2006 12:50 PM I note that in the DMG, Horseshoes of Speed are useable by only animals (that have hooves, presumably), and Horseshoes of a Zephyr are useable only by horses that are animals. This cuts out, for example, paladin mounts (which are Magical Beasts), ponies, doneys, centaurs, and such. Is this the intent? As a player of Living Greyhawk, I need an answer one way or the other, preferably in the FAQ. --Penn, Ket Triad, RPGA 520997
kenobi65 11-09-06, 04:55 PM	These items are usable by any hooved creature, not cloven hooved mind you. No horseshoes of speed for you, Mr. Satyr. ;)
_m_ 11-09-06, 11:51 PM	horseshoes of the zephyr seem to be by far the bost option. gets around stupid things like staircases and the like. and yes, you can wear boots if you want to.