Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Puggle Halfwine 04-17-06, 12:31 PM	Ok, this struck me as kinda random... A hawk is tiny. A dire hawk is small size. (one size 'step') An eagle is small size. A dire eagle is large size. (two size 'steps') A bat is diminutive. A dire bat is large. (four size 'steps') And as far as I can see... there are no medium sized flying animals at all, unless I'm missing some. What could possibly be a medium sized flying animal? A dire pidgeon? :/ Assuming it's diminutive, that's a a three step jump... not unprecedented. ... although that'd be sweet as a mount for my mounted halfling, and would definately meet the theme of 'bizzare mounts!'...
solbergb 04-17-06, 12:48 PM	. oops, never mind. Thought I had a med example, I was wrong. You could take a dire bat and cast reduce animal on it....
Some_call_me_Tim 04-17-06, 12:52 PM	Ok, this struck me as kinda random... And as far as I can see... there are no medium sized flying animals at all, unless I'm missing some.I believe you are correct about 'base' animals. However, an advanced eagle is medium-sized. ... although that'd be sweet as a mount for my mounted halfling, and would definately meet the theme of 'bizzare mounts!'...If we don't limit ourselves to animal mounts try a Harpy for a bizarre mount. Halfling Harpy Cavalry. :crazy:
Some_call_me_Tim 04-17-06, 01:45 PM	. oops, never mind. Thought I had a med example, I was wrong. You could take a dire bat and cast reduce animal on it....Actually, you don't need a medium example, the example given in the DMG for a flying mount for small creature is a dire bat. The rules don't require that a mount be only one size category bigger, but rather at least one size category bigger. (I vaguely remember there being an upper size limit, perhaps I'm channeling a 3.0 rule, because I can't find it).
delewobmesid 04-17-06, 02:14 PM	Alternate Druid Companions include Dire Bat for druid level minus 3. It runs into all the same problems other large mounts do (not being able to go into dungeon's and the like), but reduce animal can work around this; It would depend on how focused you were on Druid as to what kind of animal companion you could use for your mount.
Arvagor 04-17-06, 02:42 PM	It runs into all the same problems other large mounts do (not being able to go into dungeon's and the like), but reduce animal can work around thisI don't know that this is always the case... I always hear people complain about how Large creatures can't go into the typical dungeon, but it really depends on the animal. For example, I recall that the example for a "Viper, Large" is something like a King Cobra, which could easily slither along a 5-foot dungeon passageway (heck, even a 2.5-foot passage); similarly, the huge constrictor is something like an anaconda -- again easily making it through the typical dungeon corridor. Even a Large centaur, which I would consider equal in width to the typical horse, could get through the typical passage (although they may have to duck). People forget that it is only in combat that squares matter...
paigeoliver 04-17-06, 03:47 PM	ALso, as someone who is building a character around a Dire Bat mount let me point out a couple "must have" feats. Tunnel Fighting (worthless, but you need it as a prereq). Tunnel Riding. Mounts can squeeze without penalties.
Puggle Halfwine 04-17-06, 07:45 PM	Yeah, it's for a mount... Hmm, interesting... myself, I was thinking of going for Run/Fleet of Foot... But that would work too... I'd have to see. Or request a special mission for a dire pidgeon. :D
paigeoliver 04-17-06, 07:55 PM	Go with Dire Bat, it is the only flying mount that you can get for sure with no special missions or anything else. Also, despite being large sized they can only fly carrying about 185 lbs. Perfect halfling mount. My batrider is a human, but she is near minimum height and weight so she can ride the thing. Yeah, it's for a mount... Hmm, interesting... myself, I was thinking of going for Run/Fleet of Foot... But that would work too... I'd have to see. Or request a special mission for a dire pidgeon. :D
Lupo 04-17-06, 08:41 PM	Go with Dire Bat, it is the only flying mount that you can get for sure with no special missions or anything else. Also, despite being large sized they can only fly carrying about 185 lbs. Perfect halfling mount. My batrider is a human, but she is near minimum height and weight so she can ride the thing. my halfling druid chromos (level 9), RADAU (Riding Airborne Druid Attack Unit), is doing quite well, even without the mounted route (mounted combat and ride-by-attack) the bat is usefull as a platform for casting and the one or other dive in attack (me and the bat have armor ratings in the mid 20 without further buffings, and "flame blade" or "produce flame" are near to sure hits, as they only need touch attacks). ok, about every third module i decide to take along a riding dog instead (riding dog is somehow lower in general stats and the one additional feat it gets, does not bring it level to the dire bat), after getting the blurb. one out of four modules WHERE i bring my dire bat along it ends up being parked somewhere far away from the scene. for optimal airboren druid i would go for a skinny human, the extra feat is usefull for the mounted route and maybe lance proficiency (it is a pity that druids have NO reach weapon available). you end up as a full progression caster with a stable mount and mounted combat melee abilities. you are a flying nightmare ;-). later the dire bat gains enough strenght to bear a human rider in some armor. ciao martin m. ps: so far only once my dire bat was eaten away from under my back, and mostly due to some missinterpretation in dm/player communication.