Post/Author/DateTime	Post
GoriceXII 01-23-07, 04:58 AM	I'm wondering if anyone can tell me if there has been consistent or any use of flying mounts in their games and if it unbalanced or severely changed things at all. I'm trying to get a good idea of what if anything to make available in this way of things for an upcoming adventure.
xaqariah 01-23-07, 12:14 PM	I'm currently using a flying mount in a campaign. It's a Dire Bat, and it has extra HD, because it's also an animal companion. :P I think the biggest thing a DM has to consider, if a flying mount is involved, is that the "bad guys" need to have ranged attack options. Other than that, it doesn't really come into play much, outside of open-air combat. Mounts can be really nerfed in tight places (like dungeons), and flying mounts even moreso, so I can't see one as unbalancing a game. Their attacks tend to be lower than the player's, and the damage (and hit points) is usually farely low. It IS more attacks... If you are considering giving out a mundane mount, then follow the guidelines in the DMG. Unusual mounts should have a CR at least 3 lower then the player's ECL, and Flying mounts at least 4 lower. Letting a player focus on a mount, can lead to a player dividing magic spending between himself, and his mount, so it spreads the wealth around, and gives the mount a chance to actually do something in a battle. Cool flying mounts come in a variety of shapes and sizes. Keep in mind, that intelligent mounts use Diplomacy, instead of Handle Animal, to get them to do what you want, but on the up-side, they can gain xp and levels in (usually) HD. Ones in bold, could be appropriate for a player, others are there, as bad guy suggestions (if he can do it, so can you! :P) Magical Beast: Chimera: Alignment CE (neat for a bad guy): Large: CR 7 (11th level bad guy): Int 4 Dragonne: Alignment N: Large: CR 7 (11th Level player): Int 6 Eagle (Giant): Alignment NG: Large: CR 3 (7th Level player): Int 10 Griffon: Alignment N: Large: CR 4 (8th Level player): Int 5 Hippogriff: Alignment N: Large: CR 2 (6th Level player): Int 2 Manticore: Alignment LE(another bag guy mount): Large: CR 5 (9th Level bad guy): Int 7 Owl (Giant): Alignment N: Large: CR 3 (7th Level player): Int 10 Pegasus: Alignment CG: Large: CR 3 (7th Level player): Int 10 Spider Eater: Alignment N: Large: CR 5 (9th Level player): Int 2 Animal-types: Dire Bat: Alignment N: Large: CR 2 (6th Level player): Int 2 Dragon: Wyvern: Alignment N: Large: CR 6 (10th Level player): Int 6 As long as you consider the appropriate Level, I think flying mounts can add a neat new dimention to a game, and give the player something else to spend his money on. Make sure he goes out and gets it, himself! This will lead to him being more protective of the mount, and makes for great roleplaying. The more intelligent mounts will have to be convinced, while less intelligent ones will have to be tamed, and most will have to be trained, before they can properly serve as a mount. Have fun! :D
GoriceXII 01-23-07, 01:28 PM	Thanks that's all great advice and suggestions! I am planning a several part adventure in which the players have to find a way to get an attack mounted on a Cloud Giant fortress on a cloud. They will have a few elvish allies mounted on hippogriffs but they will need to get themselves up there too and so I was planning on an adventure in which they had to capture and tame some flying mounts of some kind in order to get themselves and their henchmen up there too.