Dwarven Paladin: Needs a mount [Archive] - Wizards Community

Dwarven Paladin: Needs a mount [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Kialindo
12-17-04, 09:59 AM Ok here goes ... I am currently playing a Dwarven Paladin of Moradin who is halfway between 5th and 6th level. I was originally going to forgo the idea of having a mount for my paladin but the more that I have thought about it the more I realized that eventually I would like to have a mount.

Now here is the thing ... I don't want a horse, I want something that will feel equally comfortable both above and below ground. I would like to try to pick something out of a published source. So with that said ... what are your suggestions and why?

Thanks in advance, I hope :D
Sir Ferdinand
12-17-04, 10:38 AM I would suggest Dire Boar, but I don't remember if it was listed in Dungeon Master Guide's Paladin's Mount section.

But if it was, I think you have to be either 6th or 7th level Paladin before you can pick it.

It would suit a Dwarven Paladin very well IMO.
Grox
12-17-04, 10:55 AM Why not a giant owl or eagle?

True, there are some cramped tunnels it won't fit into. But frankly, you as a dwarven paladin I think you probably already shine in such situations.

As a dwarf, your weakness is the effect that your low move rate has on combat in big, wide-open spaces; your party has to engage the enemy, possibly on the enemy's terms, for sometimes as much as two full combat rounds before you can get stuck in. The bird will mitigate that weakness; or in some situations, counter it entirely.

You can stick your lance for triple damage into an enemy from a LONG way away, while charging on the back of an eagle with the appropriate feats. You could even have a good shot at achieving surprise to avoid those nasty AoOs from the BBEG, if you attack out of the sun. (Some DMs disallow paladins attempting to achieve win initiative or achieve surprise, but I know I don't). Your darkvision would also leave you able to do this in total darkness, with the appropriate low-level magic to give darkvision to your mount.

And these birds are still small enough that there are some underground spaces that they CAN fit into (like many of the LOTR underground scenes). A giant owl or eagle who's been trained normally won't venture into such a place, but one that was serving as a paladin's mount would.
XArchangelX
12-17-04, 11:09 AM I would suggest Dire Boar, but I don't remember if it was listed in Dungeon Master Guide's Paladin's Mount section.

But if it was, I think you have to be either 6th or 7th level Paladin before you can pick it.

It would suit a Dwarven Paladin very well IMO.

DMG page 204 says the Dire Boar goes to 7th level or higher Paladins. At 6th level, I like the Dire Wolf, Large Monstrous Spider, or the Giant Lizard. Other choices at 6th level are Celestial Heavy Warhorse, Hippogriff, Celestial warpony, dire bat, dire badger, unicorn, or dire weasel. Before 6th level though, I think you have to stick with the horses unless the DM gives the OK.
Kialindo
12-17-04, 11:28 AM Ferdinand: That could work ... just not sure how the Boar would feel about tunnels

Grox: Flying in tunnels is useless, would like a mount that will work well equally above or below ground.

XArchangelX: Was considering the lizard, but maybe the Wolf would be cool. Willing to wait for the right mount as I would like to only have one. And I REALLY just don't want a horse.
Board_Rider
12-17-04, 12:14 PM I once seen a guy get one of those domesticated Bullettes..seriously. That was interesting.

Currently we gotta guy that wanted a rhinocerous(?). Not so great underground but it was a cool idea. Wouldn't your Dwarf just love that tenacity that a rhino brings?
Sir Ferdinand
12-17-04, 02:58 PM Ferdinand: That could work ... just not sure how the Boar would feel about tunnels

Remember that your mount will be a magical beast, with a minimum Intelligent score of 6. So it won't act like a normal animal (if we're only talking about animal mounts here, not Pegasus' for example which is already a magical beast) of its (original) type. So I don't see any reason why the mount wouldn't want to go to tunnels, dungeons etc.
Kialindo
12-17-04, 03:03 PM Remember that your mount will be a magical beast, with a minimum Intelligent score of 6. So it won't act like a normal animal (if we're only talking about animal mounts here, not Pegasus' for example which is already a magical beast) of its (original) type. So I don't see any reason why the mount wouldn't want to go to tunnels, dungeons etc.

touche :fight!: good point ... I think a boar might be pretty cool ... GORE!
Sci_Fi_Samurai
12-17-04, 03:32 PM You could get a golden Ram, like the one from Greek mythology (Phrixus and Helle using it to escape their evil step mom, or Jason and Medea getting the golden fleece. You can probably get details from pantheon.org if you're interested). That one could fly, though. I dunno if you're looking for that, but a ram would look appropriate for a Dwarven mount.

My friend would suggest a rhino. But, whatever :cool:
Alchahest
12-17-04, 04:22 PM Dire Badger kind of fits with the underground thing you'd mentioned.
eRaz0r
12-17-04, 05:02 PM Obviously the appropriate mount for a dwarf is the Griffon.

Ahh, the days of yore, when I would finally get the Griffon Aviary built in time to waltz over to the Orc base and destroy their Gold Production with my hammers of thunderbolts before they could get a single Dragon in the air.

Oh- wait, wrong game ;)
Shazarn
12-17-04, 06:01 PM Rust monster, of course yo can't have metal but you could wear dwarven stone plate (a&eg) and have a stone warhammer or a pick, man now i want a rust monster.
Gilganarz_the_reporter
12-17-04, 06:13 PM The arms and equipment guide allows for a gelatinous cube (seriously). They would function quite well above ground and below, and communties will freak out about less *exotic* mounts anyway.
Warlord
12-17-04, 06:29 PM He's a dwarf so the most obvious choice is a war bear. The dwarf's best friend.
Aliquid
12-17-04, 07:08 PM He's a dwarf so the most obvious choice is a war bear. The dwarf's best friend.Exactly, I have always considered a Bear to be the standard mount for a Dwarf.
Orrick
12-17-04, 07:31 PM Yes all of these are great ideas. Ive had a bear, and griffon. But what a lot of you are doing is stereotyping DWARVES! Sorry if i read your sentences wrong but thats the way it sounds.
fawr
12-17-04, 08:23 PM DMG page 204 says the Dire Boar goes to 7th level or higher Paladins. At 6th level, I like the Dire Wolf, Large Monstrous Spider, or the Giant Lizard. Other choices at 6th level are Celestial Heavy Warhorse, Hippogriff, Celestial warpony, dire bat, dire badger, unicorn, or dire weasel.

Did I hear large monsterous spider?
krichaiushii
12-17-04, 10:48 PM Spiders would be great underground.

There is a reason that "riding spiders" were chosen as mounts for certain evil dwarves (either derro or duergar - I can't recall).

Being able to walk up walls and on ceilings is a large part of the attractiveness of spider mounts underground. The whole web and poison thing is just a nice plus. Adding the assorted riding feats just makes things silly.

Did I mention it may offend Drow? (DM dependent)
Kialindo
12-18-04, 12:22 PM Obviously the appropriate mount for a dwarf is the Griffon.

Ahh, the days of yore, when I would finally get the Griffon Aviary built in time to waltz over to the Orc base and destroy their Gold Production with my hammers of thunderbolts before they could get a single Dragon in the air.

Oh- wait, wrong game ;)

OMG I started off thinking you were nuts for suggesting a Griffon ... of all things why on Moradin's earth would I want a GRIFFON????

Then I got to the end ... and got the reference :rofl:
CPAtheFat
12-18-04, 01:44 PM If you really want to stereotype dwarves, give him a mule.

Well, it's D&D ... how about a Dire Mule?
Death Unlimited
12-20-04, 10:31 AM I like the idea of the Dire Boar...the Dire Wolf is also a favorite of mine.

I love the idea of Dire Badger, which someone mentioned in the whole underground...but those things are NASTY...and some people might not like a raging dire badger tearing everything up.
Joe Khol
12-20-04, 10:48 AM and some people might not like a raging dire badger tearing everything up.

Including the Dwarven Paladin hanging on the back for all he's worth! :D
CaoSlayer
12-20-04, 11:24 AM lol, actually at Races of Faerun book, there is a dwarven prc about riding at griffons. ;)
Lord Sinep
12-20-04, 04:35 PM > I think the Dire Boar idea is the best one given so far.
> The Bulette is not such a great idea, ouch, back fin. :eek:
> I don't recall if it's in 3.x or not, but an Aurumvorax (dire?) might be very paladin-mount-ish for a dwarf.
Shard of Suzail
12-20-04, 06:24 PM I like gilganarz suggestion of the gelatinous cube. Cube riders are very wierd but very cool and a cube works well underground where other mounts would falter. I especially love the description of how you steer the beasts by nudging and tickling them from your vantage point...of being inside the cube itself.

It`s like a giant jelly dice, so much better than a horse or dire badger.
Megrim_Lord
12-20-04, 06:26 PM Large Celestial Monstrous Scorpion.
WihHizwind
12-20-04, 07:23 PM Rust Monsters are insanely cool to have with you - You'll get less metal stuff, but your opponents will NOT want to come near you ^_^
eRaz0r
12-20-04, 07:49 PM Dire Elk.
Big antlers.. And big gnashing teeth.

Seriously, Moose bites can be nasty.
pres_man
12-20-04, 11:52 PM Deep hound from Races of Stone, duh! :D
[Discorporation]
12-21-04, 03:45 AM A Dire Rhinoceros :)
The_Dark_One
12-21-04, 04:04 AM Earth Elemental Dire Shark

Not sure what level you'd have to be for this one. You'd also have to come up with a way to follow it through the ground (maybe having this ability is part of having it as a mount).

Imagine the fear on your enemies faces when they see a dwarf in battle armor riding a giant obsidian shark that moves through the walls of the tunnel as if they were water.

Come on, you know you want to ride a giant shark that swims through the ground... :cool:
rautapaavi
12-21-04, 04:47 AM How about a mountain goat? Don't know about dire, I guess it would have to be advanced at least to carry a hairy paladin around the countryside
Death Unlimited
12-21-04, 12:20 PM Including the Dwarven Paladin hanging on the back for all he's worth! :D

'Stop! Down boy! NoooooooooO!!!' :D

Actually, a Special Mount boar might not even have to be dire. I have heard of dwarves using boar as mounts before. Some of those can get very large...especially a Special Mount variant. Don't they tend to be bigger and stronger than normal mounts?

I forget how big a Dire Boar is. I know they aren't little fellows.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Kialindo 12-17-04, 09:59 AM	Ok here goes ... I am currently playing a Dwarven Paladin of Moradin who is halfway between 5th and 6th level. I was originally going to forgo the idea of having a mount for my paladin but the more that I have thought about it the more I realized that eventually I would like to have a mount. Now here is the thing ... I don't want a horse, I want something that will feel equally comfortable both above and below ground. I would like to try to pick something out of a published source. So with that said ... what are your suggestions and why? Thanks in advance, I hope :D
Sir Ferdinand 12-17-04, 10:38 AM	I would suggest Dire Boar, but I don't remember if it was listed in Dungeon Master Guide's Paladin's Mount section. But if it was, I think you have to be either 6th or 7th level Paladin before you can pick it. It would suit a Dwarven Paladin very well IMO.
Grox 12-17-04, 10:55 AM	Why not a giant owl or eagle? True, there are some cramped tunnels it won't fit into. But frankly, you as a dwarven paladin I think you probably already shine in such situations. As a dwarf, your weakness is the effect that your low move rate has on combat in big, wide-open spaces; your party has to engage the enemy, possibly on the enemy's terms, for sometimes as much as two full combat rounds before you can get stuck in. The bird will mitigate that weakness; or in some situations, counter it entirely. You can stick your lance for triple damage into an enemy from a LONG way away, while charging on the back of an eagle with the appropriate feats. You could even have a good shot at achieving surprise to avoid those nasty AoOs from the BBEG, if you attack out of the sun. (Some DMs disallow paladins attempting to achieve win initiative or achieve surprise, but I know I don't). Your darkvision would also leave you able to do this in total darkness, with the appropriate low-level magic to give darkvision to your mount. And these birds are still small enough that there are some underground spaces that they CAN fit into (like many of the LOTR underground scenes). A giant owl or eagle who's been trained normally won't venture into such a place, but one that was serving as a paladin's mount would.
XArchangelX 12-17-04, 11:09 AM	I would suggest Dire Boar, but I don't remember if it was listed in Dungeon Master Guide's Paladin's Mount section. But if it was, I think you have to be either 6th or 7th level Paladin before you can pick it. It would suit a Dwarven Paladin very well IMO. DMG page 204 says the Dire Boar goes to 7th level or higher Paladins. At 6th level, I like the Dire Wolf, Large Monstrous Spider, or the Giant Lizard. Other choices at 6th level are Celestial Heavy Warhorse, Hippogriff, Celestial warpony, dire bat, dire badger, unicorn, or dire weasel. Before 6th level though, I think you have to stick with the horses unless the DM gives the OK.
Kialindo 12-17-04, 11:28 AM	Ferdinand: That could work ... just not sure how the Boar would feel about tunnels Grox: Flying in tunnels is useless, would like a mount that will work well equally above or below ground. XArchangelX: Was considering the lizard, but maybe the Wolf would be cool. Willing to wait for the right mount as I would like to only have one. And I REALLY just don't want a horse.
Board_Rider 12-17-04, 12:14 PM	I once seen a guy get one of those domesticated Bullettes..seriously. That was interesting. Currently we gotta guy that wanted a rhinocerous(?). Not so great underground but it was a cool idea. Wouldn't your Dwarf just love that tenacity that a rhino brings?
Sir Ferdinand 12-17-04, 02:58 PM	Ferdinand: That could work ... just not sure how the Boar would feel about tunnels Remember that your mount will be a magical beast, with a minimum Intelligent score of 6. So it won't act like a normal animal (if we're only talking about animal mounts here, not Pegasus' for example which is already a magical beast) of its (original) type. So I don't see any reason why the mount wouldn't want to go to tunnels, dungeons etc.
Kialindo 12-17-04, 03:03 PM	Remember that your mount will be a magical beast, with a minimum Intelligent score of 6. So it won't act like a normal animal (if we're only talking about animal mounts here, not Pegasus' for example which is already a magical beast) of its (original) type. So I don't see any reason why the mount wouldn't want to go to tunnels, dungeons etc. touche :fight!: good point ... I think a boar might be pretty cool ... GORE!
Sci_Fi_Samurai 12-17-04, 03:32 PM	You could get a golden Ram, like the one from Greek mythology (Phrixus and Helle using it to escape their evil step mom, or Jason and Medea getting the golden fleece. You can probably get details from pantheon.org if you're interested). That one could fly, though. I dunno if you're looking for that, but a ram would look appropriate for a Dwarven mount. My friend would suggest a rhino. But, whatever :cool:
Alchahest 12-17-04, 04:22 PM	Dire Badger kind of fits with the underground thing you'd mentioned.
eRaz0r 12-17-04, 05:02 PM	Obviously the appropriate mount for a dwarf is the Griffon. Ahh, the days of yore, when I would finally get the Griffon Aviary built in time to waltz over to the Orc base and destroy their Gold Production with my hammers of thunderbolts before they could get a single Dragon in the air. Oh- wait, wrong game ;)
Shazarn 12-17-04, 06:01 PM	Rust monster, of course yo can't have metal but you could wear dwarven stone plate (a&eg) and have a stone warhammer or a pick, man now i want a rust monster.
Gilganarz_the_reporter 12-17-04, 06:13 PM	The arms and equipment guide allows for a gelatinous cube (seriously). They would function quite well above ground and below, and communties will freak out about less exotic mounts anyway.
Warlord 12-17-04, 06:29 PM	He's a dwarf so the most obvious choice is a war bear. The dwarf's best friend.
Aliquid 12-17-04, 07:08 PM	He's a dwarf so the most obvious choice is a war bear. The dwarf's best friend.Exactly, I have always considered a Bear to be the standard mount for a Dwarf.
Orrick 12-17-04, 07:31 PM	Yes all of these are great ideas. Ive had a bear, and griffon. But what a lot of you are doing is stereotyping DWARVES! Sorry if i read your sentences wrong but thats the way it sounds.
fawr 12-17-04, 08:23 PM	DMG page 204 says the Dire Boar goes to 7th level or higher Paladins. At 6th level, I like the Dire Wolf, Large Monstrous Spider, or the Giant Lizard. Other choices at 6th level are Celestial Heavy Warhorse, Hippogriff, Celestial warpony, dire bat, dire badger, unicorn, or dire weasel. Did I hear large monsterous spider?
krichaiushii 12-17-04, 10:48 PM	Spiders would be great underground. There is a reason that "riding spiders" were chosen as mounts for certain evil dwarves (either derro or duergar - I can't recall). Being able to walk up walls and on ceilings is a large part of the attractiveness of spider mounts underground. The whole web and poison thing is just a nice plus. Adding the assorted riding feats just makes things silly. Did I mention it may offend Drow? (DM dependent)
Kialindo 12-18-04, 12:22 PM	Obviously the appropriate mount for a dwarf is the Griffon. Ahh, the days of yore, when I would finally get the Griffon Aviary built in time to waltz over to the Orc base and destroy their Gold Production with my hammers of thunderbolts before they could get a single Dragon in the air. Oh- wait, wrong game ;) OMG I started off thinking you were nuts for suggesting a Griffon ... of all things why on Moradin's earth would I want a GRIFFON???? Then I got to the end ... and got the reference :rofl:
CPAtheFat 12-18-04, 01:44 PM	If you really want to stereotype dwarves, give him a mule. Well, it's D&D ... how about a Dire Mule?
Death Unlimited 12-20-04, 10:31 AM	I like the idea of the Dire Boar...the Dire Wolf is also a favorite of mine. I love the idea of Dire Badger, which someone mentioned in the whole underground...but those things are NASTY...and some people might not like a raging dire badger tearing everything up.
Joe Khol 12-20-04, 10:48 AM	and some people might not like a raging dire badger tearing everything up. Including the Dwarven Paladin hanging on the back for all he's worth! :D
CaoSlayer 12-20-04, 11:24 AM	lol, actually at Races of Faerun book, there is a dwarven prc about riding at griffons. ;)
Lord Sinep 12-20-04, 04:35 PM	> I think the Dire Boar idea is the best one given so far. > The Bulette is not such a great idea, ouch, back fin. :eek: > I don't recall if it's in 3.x or not, but an Aurumvorax (dire?) might be very paladin-mount-ish for a dwarf.
Shard of Suzail 12-20-04, 06:24 PM	I like gilganarz suggestion of the gelatinous cube. Cube riders are very wierd but very cool and a cube works well underground where other mounts would falter. I especially love the description of how you steer the beasts by nudging and tickling them from your vantage point...of being inside the cube itself. It`s like a giant jelly dice, so much better than a horse or dire badger.
Megrim_Lord 12-20-04, 06:26 PM	Large Celestial Monstrous Scorpion.
WihHizwind 12-20-04, 07:23 PM	Rust Monsters are insanely cool to have with you - You'll get less metal stuff, but your opponents will NOT want to come near you ^_^
eRaz0r 12-20-04, 07:49 PM	Dire Elk. Big antlers.. And big gnashing teeth. Seriously, Moose bites can be nasty.
pres_man 12-20-04, 11:52 PM	Deep hound from Races of Stone, duh! :D
[Discorporation] 12-21-04, 03:45 AM	A Dire Rhinoceros :)
The_Dark_One 12-21-04, 04:04 AM	Earth Elemental Dire Shark Not sure what level you'd have to be for this one. You'd also have to come up with a way to follow it through the ground (maybe having this ability is part of having it as a mount). Imagine the fear on your enemies faces when they see a dwarf in battle armor riding a giant obsidian shark that moves through the walls of the tunnel as if they were water. Come on, you know you want to ride a giant shark that swims through the ground... :cool:
rautapaavi 12-21-04, 04:47 AM	How about a mountain goat? Don't know about dire, I guess it would have to be advanced at least to carry a hairy paladin around the countryside
Death Unlimited 12-21-04, 12:20 PM	Including the Dwarven Paladin hanging on the back for all he's worth! :D 'Stop! Down boy! NoooooooooO!!!' :D Actually, a Special Mount boar might not even have to be dire. I have heard of dwarves using boar as mounts before. Some of those can get very large...especially a Special Mount variant. Don't they tend to be bigger and stronger than normal mounts? I forget how big a Dire Boar is. I know they aren't little fellows.