There was another thread that got me thinking about a halfling on a dog/wolf. It didn't really have much to do with the subject of that thread and I'd already let my mind wander a bit from what was going on in that thread... anyway, I started thinking about this character and started looking into how I could make it happen...
So... the character needs to have these features:
Stealth & Animal Handling
Mounted Combat feat (he will take it at L4, not exceptions. Everything else can wait)
Martial Weapon Proficiency (Though I haven't decided if he uses a rapier like a lance with his shield or a hand crossbow or a light crossbow... heck, he might use all 3... but he's definitely a weapon first guy, not a spell first guy.)
Here are my thoughts:
Paladin - Summon Mount at L5, can fit into all the other needs.
+ Mount gets bumped to Int 6, which means it can be "independant" and still do what I want it to.
+ When it does get killed (and it probably will, eventually), I can resummon it and it will be the same mount, not a new one.
-/+ Depending on the DM, I could have a mastiff or a wolf (or maybe even a dire wolf if I bring snacks)
- I will be stuck with Rapier & Shield if I want to make the most of the paladin's features - DS doesn't work with ranged weapons
- I already played a Paladin in ToD, I'm playing a wizard in EE, I would like to take a different class for the next season
Ranger (Beast Master) - my mount can be my animal companion at L3
+ Mount will be a good deal more effective than the paladin's, gaining HP and my proficiency bonus to several things
+ There is no argument that a wolf is allowed in AL play
- I would need to keep the mount controlled during most fights - Dash, Dodge or Disengage only.
+ Access to the Archery fighting style, excellent speed and maneuverability from the mount...
- but I won't have a feat for Sharpshooter or Crossbow Expertise until Level 16 (Mounted Combat at 4, Maxing dex with 8 & 12)
+ more out-of-combat utility
+ I haven't played one yet, and the whole character idea does "feel" like a ranger
Fighter - No special mount, but they only cost 25 gold.
+ Archery fighting style & excellent maneuverability
+ Extra feats for Sharpshooter and/or Crossbow Expert
- Mount only has 5 HP (mastiff) and no special bonus to Int (paladin) or Stats (ranger) and it can only ever be a mastiff.
+ I haven't played one yet.
Valor Bard might be an option as well... I haven't played a bard yet.
It seems to me that the fighter and paladin would both excel in combat - probably with the fighter slightly ahead in damage caused, while the paladin is ahead in things to do outside combat. Ranger would be the best outside combat while not being a complete waste of space during combat, either... just not quite as much damage as the other two. Valor Bard would take forever to get going, but eventually he could "Awaken" his mount, poach the ranger spells and be quite effective... somewhere around level 11.
Am I forgetting anything about one of the classes or am I overlooking anoother class that could work?
Have you thought about Giant Badger instead, 2 attacks is nice from just 1 action. With Beast Bond you can give your pet advantage as well.
Lilika wrote:
If you can allow yourself to be a "dog" person, you could take a pterodactyl mount and ride that, it allows you to move in and out of combat without AOO. I always picture a Cave-Halfing riding a Pterodactyl weilding 2x Lances.
Ranger with the wolf option is your best bet for the concept. The wolf is proficient in perception and stealth so adds your proficency bonus to both, with advantage on a lot of perception checks. It also adds your proficency bonus to attacks, AC, and damage. It will have far more hp than the paladin spell or purchasing a mount. If you are within 5 ft of the wolf's target it attacks with advantage and if it succeeds on free trips melee attacks against the prone enemy are at advantage. Riding it should make those criteria easy. It's your best dog / wolf option, imo.
I think you are probably correct. Do you know what the rules are for...
1) Animal Companion: Initiative changes to yours. Only uses move action unless PC spends an action to instruct the companion
2) "Controlled" Mount: Initiative changes to yours. Able to take dodge, dash or disengage action without PC spending an action. Mount must have been trained to accept a rider.
3) "Independant" Mount: Retains it's own initiative and does as it pleases.
So... assuming that I am able to train my wolf to accept a rider (I have animal handling) and mount it, I should be able to dodge, dash or disengage without spending an action, right? or does the more specific Animal Companion rule overide the Controlled Mount rule, so now I have to use my action to get it to do something other than move?
Further - assuming I have either a bard or druid in the party at some point to cast "Awaken" on the wolf, will it gain the ability to take actions on it's own as an independant mount?
I seriously have no idea - and that confusion is making me lean towards paladin summoned mount (which has a 6 Int and will be independant from Level 5) or fighter who just replaces his mount every time it gets killed.
I don't see why training the wolf as a mount would restrict it from the better action economy. There's no reason of which I am aware that it would not be able to act independently once awakened. The action costs for the ranger directing it would still apply if it wasn't mounted.
Ashrym wrote:
If you pick the BM ranger, it's hard to go wrong, since the beasts all scale more or less the same.
The CR 0 vulture is a suprisingly good choice, since it gets both flying and pack tactics. Damage-wise the pony is just as good as the wolf (although you miss out on the proning), but I think the giant crab, giant poisonous snake and giant wolf spider are the most fun.
Thanks for helping out, everyone... especially Ashrym, since I think that's the only one that didn't recommend I play something other than a gnome or halfling on a wolf or mastiff and actually helped me pick between the three choices I was trying to pick between.
Anyway...
Forest Gnome Ranger (Beast Master)
Folk Hero
Starting:
Str: 12
Dex: 16
Con: 14
Int: 10
Wis: 13
Cha: 10
Skills:
Animal Handling, Survival, Leatherworker's tools, vehicles (land), Perception, Stealth, Nature
Animal Companion = Wolf
Ranged attacks = Shortbow + Hunter's Mark
Melee Attacks = Wolf + Dagger/Rapier or Nets (what the heck... if I'm only going to be making one attack, then I'll use a weapon that limits me to one attack.)
This could be fun. Maybe I will MC a level of druid or Cleric for some spells... hmmm... bless would help out me and my puppy...
SterlingRat wrote:
Kalani wrote:
Sounds fun! I was considering a mounted gnome eldritch knight, but decided to do a halfling paladin instead.
I'm not that familiar with ranger pets. Do Animal Companion abilities (HP, etc.) reduce the need for Mounted Combatant?
Okay - spoke to a DM. In order to use "Controlled Mount" rules that allow my animal companion to dash, dodge or disengage, it has to be trained as a mount, which means my animal companion is limited to mastiff, not wolf. (He will let me train a wolf to work with a rider during downtime as if it were a tool proficiency, but I would have to do that every time my wolf died). It says so right there in the first sentence of the rules, which I apparently skimmed rather than reading.
I can sit on my wolf's back and it will move without spending any actions (unless I use my own action to give it a verbal command, just like any other animal companion.) so I will move 40 instead of 25... but if I take a trained mastiff instead of a wolf, it will be able to use the "controlled mount rules" (which makes it fairly well balanced with the wolf, since I lose a couple points from just about everything and I lose stealth proficiency, but gain the the three "D" action options from my mount)
Also... if I do decide on Ranger (and that seems likely), I will not mix Ranged and Melee attacks. I will either attack at range with my crossbow or I will give my companion the attack order in melee while I throw a net or stab with a rapier.
And I just realized something about nets... they are always at disadvantage (without a feat) because range is 5/15... meaning you are using a ranged weapon either in melee (5) or at long range (15).
I do love mastiffs. I have a feeling I'll be keeping my mastiff out of combat for the most part... just a mobile platform for firing my crossbow and a loyal companion.
SterlingRat wrote:
intently wrote:
I wouldn't expect a wolf to die much, and training would last. Nets are far more interesting as the thrown weapon used with conjure volley. Visualize a hail of nets hitting enough to inflict 8d6 damage then withered quickly into nothing. The shock value alone would pause armies. 