Post/Author/DateTime	Post
fatal error 06-16-04, 03:15 PM	Ok, so my druid is hopefully going to have a dire bat for an animal companion, so I'm wondering can I ride him? He's size large so that works, and str 17 gives him enough carrying capacity to fit me right around a light-medium load. So I can ride on him right?
MetalGemini 06-16-04, 04:30 PM	if you train it to bear riders, yes. Requires a Handle Animal check. It won't know how to do it automatically. You'll also want an exotic saddle. But it is possible.
headlessfriar 06-17-04, 09:15 AM	I'm tinkering with bat-riding dwarves in my campaign, and I don't see any problems. I've thought of a harness like the one that the bat-rider had in "The Never-Ending Story", but riding on the bat's back is a possibility too. I'm still not sure what way to go myself.
Gray Richardson 06-17-04, 08:26 PM	In the Forgotten Realms supplement Lords of Darkness there is a Zhentarim Skymage prestige class that lists "Dire Bat" as a suitable mount. Zhentarim are usually human so your dire bat should be able to carry you just fine. Among the requirements for the prestige class are at least 2 ranks in handle animal and at least 2 ranks in ride. I imagine you would need at least that many ranks to control the animal and keep from falling off while in flight.
fatal error 06-17-04, 09:30 PM	Do you have to be a light load in order for it to be able to fly? I thought I had read that somewhere but now i'm not sure.
Arakano 06-18-04, 04:22 AM	Originally posted by fatal error Do you have to be a light load in order for it to be able to fly? I thought I had read that somewhere but now i'm not sure. Yes, they changed it from 3.0, where mounts could fly even with a medium load. Still, there are drow dire bat riders, so why shouldn´t other races try, too?
Gray Richardson 06-18-04, 08:37 AM	If you could boost your bat's strength stat somehow it would have a larger carrying capacity. I am thinking magic of somekind, or you could hire a personal trainer and have it do an intense regime of ab crunches, cardio, and lots of reps with free weights. I hear bats actually do well with pilates. Of course if you taught it Tae-bo it might increase it's BAB along with the added strength benefits. ;)
Megrim_Lord 06-18-04, 10:52 AM	Originally posted by MetalGemini if you train it to bear riders, yes. Requires a Handle Animal check. It won't know how to do it automatically. You'll also want an exotic saddle. But it is possible. Arms & Equipment guide has info on that, specifically the part about using a blind mount