Is Find Steed permanent? And a combat question.

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

JS20

Jan 26, 2015 8:25:50

If a paladin uses the spell find steed to summon and bind a steed to him/her, is that steed permanent, meaning he never has to prepare and cast the spell again so long as his mount is alive? Or do they have to prepare the spell every morning to summon the steed anew every day?

 

Also, does the steed need to eat? Can it be poisoned or catch a disease? I know it's an animal but the spell says it is a celestail, fey, fiend in animal form. 

 

Also, if I dismount and give the steed its own initiative order, can it attack as a pet under my control? Or is it under the DM's control? Or can it not take part independently in combat at all?

 

Thanks for the help. 

#2

Nevvur

Jan 26, 2015 9:12:57

JS20 wrote:
#3

Coredump00

Jan 26, 2015 12:13:20

Not all celestials eat/sleep/breathe. Some do, some don't.  (Don't know about fey/fiends)

Beyond that, the steed is not only a celestial/fiend/fey... but a spirit in the form of an animal.  It seems even less certain that a spirit would need to eat.

 

 

(Reply to #3)

Nevvur

Coredump00 wrote:
#5

JS20

Jan 27, 2015 23:52:57

Also, if I dismount and give the steed its own initiative order, can it attack as a pet under my control? Or is it under the DM's control? Or can it not take part independently in combat at all?

(Reply to #5)

OoftaMeg

JS20 wrote:
#7

Nevvur

Jan 29, 2015 23:42:55

It has an intelligence of 6, understands one language that you speak, and you have a 1 mile telepathic bond. 

 

It should obey your orders if you issue a command, like an attack. However, I think the DM should technically retain control of the steed, in the event the paladin is knocked unconscious. At that point, the steed will act in the paladin's best interests, and not necessarily in the most tactically advantageous way, as the player may be tempted to do (ex: it wouldn't leave the paladin's side to charge the goblin archers that have been peppering the party with arrows, at least not until the nearby melee goblins are dead)

#8

Danny_Montanny

Jan 30, 2015 5:00:01

It's intelligent and has it's own initiative order. I'd let you command it, unless you're unconscious. You'll have to work together when mounted, so ready actions and the like. As for it having to eat, that's not an issue in my opinion.