I've got a player who is new to the game playing a Dwarven Paladin in my RotRL campaign. He thinks that a Heavy Warhorse is a stupid steed for a dwarf (and I agree) but he's maxed out his ride and handle animal skills and wants a mount when he's eligible, which is next level.

Any suggestions?

I've got a player who is new to the game playing a Dwarven Paladin in my RotRL campaign. He thinks that a Heavy Warhorse is a stupid steed for a dwarf (and I agree) but he's maxed out his ride and handle animal skills and wants a mount when he's eligible, which is next level.

Any suggestions?

A stocky reindeer. Or maybe a dwarven Moose.

A Dire Badger.

War Pony.

A lion.

A Giant eagle.

Two words: DIRE BOAR.

dire badger is also a good choice.

Fizz

I was going to say celestial dire boar but fiendish sounds so much cooler.

*Dire Boar
*Dire Badger
*Giant Crocodile (hey it’s cool)
*Giant Lizard (from the Underdark. I forget name right now)
*Rhino
*Dire wolf (Or for cool roleplaying opportunities a Worg converted by the paladin to his alignment so he can become his mount. See atonement spell etc.)
*bearwolf (mm III?)
*war turtle (now that's cool. Imagine a dire turtle, spikes and all covered in holy runes that are carved or painted in it's shell unstoppablly marching forward in battle.)

You would have to look up the HD but there is some ideas.

I've got a player who is new to the game playing a Dwarven Paladin in my RotRL campaign. He thinks that a Heavy Warhorse is a stupid steed for a dwarf (and I agree) but he's maxed out his ride and handle animal skills and wants a mount when he's eligible, which is next level.

Any suggestions?

Come on -- War Ponies are impressive.

I have always liked the thought of big cats or dire wolves as mounts. However, something else that might be fun are dinosaurs (ala Eberron). A few other thoughts might be ...

Dire badger
Bears (any of a variety)
Bison
Boar
Rhinoceros
Wolverine

There are a number of different varieties of each of these and templates that could be used as well. Hope that helps.

Two words: DIRE BOAR.

dire badger is also a good choices.

Fizz

I was going to write down Dire Boar as well, but Dire Boars as mounts always makes me think of Warhammer orcs.

*war turtle (now that's cool. Imagine a dire turtle, spikes and all covered in holy runes that are carved or painted in it's shell unstoppablly marching forward in battle.)

[/list]

The captain of the guard looked nervously over at the dwarven knight on his majestic tortoise. Ahead the battle raged without them.

"Sir Longbeard, now is the time to charge," fretted the nervous warrior as the steed slowly crawled forward.

"Me and my mount are charging, good friend. You can't rush a dwarf."

Fizzban wrote:

Two words: DIRE BOAR.

dire badger is also a good choices.

Fizz

I was going to write down Dire Boar as well, but Dire Boars as mounts always makes me think of Warhammer orcs.

I never played warhammer, but I read something with a group of dwarven lancers on dire boar that screamed kick ass. Also in a Salvator book there was a dwarf with a figurine of wonderous power that was a fiendish dire boar that breathed flames. The dwarf also dual weilded flails, one rusting one exploding, he was vicious on that thing.

Fizz

Mini hydra?
How about an animated object? Like a table or even aminated plate barding?
Dire beetle.
Dire rabbit (hopped up on speed hehe)
Animated plant.

ArchLich wrote:

*war turtle (now that's cool. Imagine a dire turtle, spikes and all covered in holy runes that are carved or painted in it's shell unstoppablly marching forward in battle.)

The captain of the guard looked nervously over at the dwarven knight on his majestic tortoise. Ahead the battle raged without them.

"Sir Longbeard, now is the time to charge," fretted the nervous warrior as the steed slowly crawled forward.

"Me and my mount are charging, good friend. You can't rush a dwarf."

Hey! A dire turtle would be no slower then a dwarf. Probally faster. And it could be a mountain turtle or tortoise. Grey and white, resistent to the cold, etc. It would be cool. (hehe)

Maybe a bulette. this may be alittle too much.

Fizz

Maybe a bulette. this may be alittle too much.

Fizz

Giant Toad.

You think that's much?
Dire paragon half troll rat.

Wicht wrote:

ArchLich wrote:

*war turtle (now that's cool. Imagine a dire turtle, spikes and all covered in holy runes that are carved or painted in it's shell unstoppablly marching forward in battle.)

The captain of the guard looked nervously over at the dwarven knight on his majestic tortoise. Ahead the battle raged without them.

"Sir Longbeard, now is the time to charge," fretted the nervous warrior as the steed slowly crawled forward.

"Me and my mount are charging, good friend. You can't rush a dwarf."

Hey! A dire turtle would be no slower then a dwarf. Probally faster. And it could be a mountain turtle or tortoise. Grey and white, resistent to the cold, etc. It would be cool. (hehe)

I know that a giant turtle would not of necessity be slow. But the image conjured was the one I wrote. It made me laugh to picture it in my head. The stawalrt dwarf atop his stawalrt and ponderous (though heavily armored) steed.

Fizzban wrote:

Maybe a bulette. this may be alittle too much.

Fizz

Giant Toad.

Riding war dog (think dire pitbull).

You think that's much?
Dire paragon half troll rat.

I can do better - Celestial Purple Worm!

It doesn't just smite evil - it swallows evil whole.

Our compiled list so far (in order of appearance):

*A stocky reindeer. Or maybe a dwarven Moose.
*A Dire Badger.
*War Pony.
*A lion.
*A Giant eagle.
*Dire Boar
*Giant Crocodile (hey it’s cool)
*Giant Lizard (from the Underdark. I forget name right now)
*Rhino
*Dire wolf (Or for cool roleplaying opportunities a Worg converted by the paladin to his alignment so he can become his mount. See atonement spell etc.)
*bearwolf (mm III?)
*war turtle (now that's cool. Imagine a dire turtle, spikes and all covered in holy runes that are carved or painted in it's shell unstoppablly marching forward in battle.)
*Bears (any of a variety)
*Bison
*Dire Wolverine (I assume)
*Mini hydra?
*How about an animated object? Like a table or even aminated plate barding?
*Dire beetle.
*Dire rabbit (hopped up on speed hehe)
*Animated plant.
*Bulette
*Giant Toad.
*Riding war dog (think dire pitbull).

Credit to:
Wicht
Fizzban
ArchLich
Moff Rimmer

Sorry but I cut my paragon and the purple worm. Though the Purple worm would make a cool defender of a holy city/temple.

I played a Dwarf Paladin in my brothers game and did nicely with a bear steed. I particularly liked the trample ability.

If you have Frostburn there are some good choice. I forget which was the more level appropriate but...

Branta (my guess is this is good)
Dire Elk

Dire goat.

Call it a 'Battlegoat'.

Our compiled list so far (in order of appearance):

<snip>

I still think that there are some dinosaurs that could work...

Cave Triceratops (Miniatures Handbook)
Ankylosaurus (MM2)
Stegasaurus (Serpent Kingdoms)
Deinonychus

There are a few others that might work as well. It's at least a thought.

Also things like Smilodon from Frostburn. And maybe later on they could look at an elephant/mastadon/wooly mammoth mount. Not sure where you are planning on parking that thing though.

A chariot pulled by a Dire Boar

I second the Ankylosaurus! nothing says armored badass like a Dwarf Paladin in Fullplate riding atop a naturally armored celestial mount...

I vote for Aurumvorax! Dwarves hate them though...

Thanks for the suggestions - I'm going to offer him a choice; either Dire Boar (reduced base HD), Dire Goat or Black Bear.

That was super-quick; these messageboards are great :D

Thanks for the suggestions - I'm going to offer him a choice; either Dire Boar (reduced base HD), Dire Goat or Black Bear.

That was super-quick; these messageboards are great :D

You had me at dire goat...

Take a page from the Duergar -- giant spider. Spiders make fantastic mounts, especially given their ability to climb up walls. Better make sure that that's a strong harness.

Ona side note, I had a halfling barbarian hight Brawny Headsplitter who always charged into battle, frequently atop his mount, a normal boar (whom he named "Bacon").

This is what your player would want - a hairy, smelly, aggressive ice-age relic :-)
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Musk_ox

Mule. Hey, it was good enough for Clint Eastwood.

Yup, Dire Mountain Ram for me.

I've got a player who is new to the game playing a Dwarven Paladin in my RotRL campaign. He thinks that a Heavy Warhorse is a stupid steed for a dwarf (and I agree) but he's maxed out his ride and handle animal skills and wants a mount when he's eligible, which is next level.

Any suggestions?

A lot of good suggestions already, but let me add a good RoRL option:

auroch (uses bison stats, or perhaps advanced bison stats)

Goats ain't needin' ta bah dahre, ye trah fahcing dahn a mahd goat! Nie'er er tiretles.
"Charge! Let us die honarably in battle! Let us rush out to meet our--"
"Moo!"
That's mah towh ceants!
(I know that he already got what he wanted, but I had to add that. Couldn't resist a nice, dangerous cow! Personally, I think they're all pretty cool! I think I'll use every single one of them! If GeraintElberion is still watching this thread, well, here's some timeless advice: you can't go wrong with cows!)

Compilation (those marked with an asterisk (*) have been just now created by me):

I've got a player who is new to the game playing a Dwarven Paladin in my RotRL campaign. He thinks that a Heavy Warhorse is a stupid steed for a dwarf.

Indeed.

GeraintElberion wrote:

I've got a player who is new to the game playing a Dwarven Paladin in my RotRL campaign. He thinks that a Heavy Warhorse is a stupid steed for a dwarf.

Indeed.

I had the same issue.
It seems to me silly to picture a dwarf on a warhorse.
I plan to suggest a "champion" ability from Moonte Cook's EA to my player.
Kind of summon a runic shield or something.

Thanks a lot! now I have to start all over again!!!

# Dwarven moose

# Dire badger

# Lion

# Dire Boar

# Dire Badger

# Runic shield

# Giant Crocodile

# Giant Lizard

# Rhino

# Dire wolf

# Worg converted to good via atonement, geas/quest, etc

# Bearwolf

# War turtle

# Dire badger

# Bears

# Bison

# Boar

# Rhinoceros

# Wolverine

# Mini hydra

# Animated object

# Dire beetle

# Dire rabbit

# Animated plant

# Giant Toad

# Riding war dog

# Dire paragon half troll rat

# Bullette

# Battlegoat

# Cave Triceratops

# Ankylosaurus

# Stegasaurus

# Deinonychus

# Smilodon

# Elephant

# Mastadon

# Wooly mammoth

# Aurumvorax

# Giant spider

# Mule

# Dire mountain ram

# Auroch

# Cow

# Dire chicken*

# Dire duck*

# Hippo*

I'd say a bear--a big old' mouth-drippy, saggy-skinned grizzly bear. How much more dwarven do you get?

I second (OR is it third?) the mountain ram. Come on! It's natures battering ram. Stoicly watching over its family and crashing violently through anything that threatens them. Nothing else seems to scream dwarf more to me.

Yup, Dire Mountain Ram for me.

It's a bit WoW, but I second this. I think dwarves on war rams are awesome. Are there actually stats for dire rams or something similar, or would the DM have to make them himself?

If you didn't go this route, the boar is my next pick; it just seems appropriate, though I'm not actually sure it makes sense when you think about it. Giant pigs living in caves under mountains? The rams seem more logical- raised on the slopes and all. But dire boars? Someone enlighten me- are boars common in mountains?

EDIT- Sexi beat me to posting, so I third it!

firbolg wrote:

Yup, Dire Mountain Ram for me.

But dire boars? Someone enlighten me- are boars common in mountains?

EDIT- Sexi beat me to posting, so I third it!

I live basicly touching the Smokey Mts. in Appalachia, and I wouldn't say common, but we do have quit a few wild boars/feral hogs that run up and down the mountain areas. People hunt them in this area. They used to be more common but like I said hunting has lead to a drop in their population. Also back in the day before fencing and barbed wire one would catch have hogs but just release them in the mountains to fend for themselves then go and catch them for slaughting time.

Fizz

p.s. they're hard as hell to kill, dogs usually gets gored and hurt, and you have to carry a pistol because after you shoot them with a rifle they rage and charge you.

Saern wrote:

firbolg wrote:

Yup, Dire Mountain Ram for me.

But dire boars? Someone enlighten me- are boars common in mountains?

EDIT- Sexi beat me to posting, so I third it!

I live basicly touching the Smokey Mts. in Appalachia, and I wouldn't say common, but we do have quit a few wild boars/feral hogs that run up and down the mountain areas. People hunt them in this area. They used to be more common but like I said hunting has lead to a drop in their population. Also back in the day before fencing and barbed wire one would catch have hogs but just release them in the mountains to fend for themselves then go and catch them for slaughting time.

Fizz

p.s. they're hard as hell to kill, dogs usually gets gored and hurt, and you have to carry a pistol because after you shoot them with a rifle they rage and charge you.

That makes sense in Appalachia, the mountains being largely wooded and relatively low. Plenty of food and habitat (well, there was). What about in younger ranges, such as the Rockies? Do boars live there, too? I envision dwarven cities mainly existing in these types of ranges, so if boars exist there, the whole concept makes sense. If not, we'll need to break out the dire rams!

Are there actually stats for dire rams or something similar, or would the DM have to make them himself?

I'm pretty that you won't be finding the dire chicken in the Monster Manual. Just a gueess.

oh come on, dont make me state the obvious
okay I will because it is my duty

Female Dwarf

there I said it and I'm not proud of it
okay maybe a lil
;)

Dire dachshund is teh rOxxOrs.

oh come on, dont make me state the obvious

okay I will because it is my duty

Female Dwarf

there I said it and I'm not proud of it
okay maybe a lil
;)

LOL WOW I'm such a D&D geek I didn't find anything dirty about a dwarf's mount. It was such a serious question that my mind didn't even go there. I'm alittle disappointed in myself.

Fizz

firbolg wrote:

Yup, Dire Mountain Ram for me.

It's a bit WoW, but I second this. I think dwarves on war rams are awesome. Are there actually stats for dire rams or something similar, or would the DM have to make them himself?

If you didn't go this route, the boar is my next pick; it just seems appropriate, though I'm not actually sure it makes sense when you think about it. Giant pigs living in caves under mountains? The rams seem more logical- raised on the slopes and all. But dire boars? Someone enlighten me- are boars common in mountains?

EDIT- Sexi beat me to posting, so I third it!

Not played WoW, I was thinking of the Charduni Dark Dwarves from the Scaarred Lands Setting.

How about something with the earth element template tacked on to it?

Battle ram? Earth Element Battle Ram!
Ankylosaurus? Earth Element Ankylosaurus!
Half-Troll Paragon Dire Rat? Earth Ele... Ah... Nevermind on this one...

Dire dachshund is teh rOxxOrs.

HEATHY!!! You aren't changing your avatar, are you?! Hopefully, it's just temporary. Please say it is?

#Stocky reindeer

# Dwarven moose

# Dire badger

# Lion

# Dire Boar

# Dire Badger

# Runic shield

# Giant Crocodile

# Giant Lizard

# Rhino

# Dire wolf

# Worg converted to good via atonement, geas/quest, etc

# Bearwolf

# War turtle

# Dire badger

# Bears

# Bison

# Boar

# Rhinoceros

# Wolverine

# Mini hydra

# Animated object

# Dire beetle

# Dire rabbit

# Animated plant

# Giant Toad

# Riding war dog

# Dire paragon half troll rat

# Bullette

# Battlegoat

# Cave Triceratops

# Ankylosaurus

# Stegasaurus

# Deinonychus

# Smilodon

# Elephant

# Mastadon

# Wooly mammoth

# Aurumvorax

# Giant spider

# Mule

# Dire mountain ram

# Auroch

# Cow

# Dire chicken*

# Dire duck*

# Hippo*
# Earth Element Battle Ram
# Earth Element Ankylosaurus
# Can of worms
# Dire dachshund

Plus my new ideas:
Corpse (CHARGE!!!)
Ghost of horse
Large viper

...
...
...
Ummm.... I think I'll pass on the female dwarf...

Don't feel bad Fizz....me too until swirler opens up THAT can of worms...so my vote:

DIRE female dwarf =p

Stay safe all.

Dire female dwarf? Aren't they all?

I'll toss in another vote for the ram, that does have a cool feel to it.

You want something you can actually get a figure for...

LIKE THIS

OR THIS

Ral Partha did goat-riding dwarves, but I'll be damned if I can find them in Paizo's store just now.

*Sigh*
Compilation (those marked with an asterisk (*) have been just now created by me):

# Stocky reindeer

# Dwarven moose

# Dire badger

# Lion

# Dire Boar

# Dire Badger

# Runic shield

# Giant Crocodile

# Giant Lizard

# Rhino

# Dire wolf

# Worg converted to good via atonement, geas/quest, etc

# Bearwolf

# War turtle

# Dire badger

# Bears

# Bison

# Boar

# Rhinoceros

# Wolverine

# Mini hydra

# Animated object

# Dire beetle

# Dire rabbit

# Animated plant

# Giant Toad

# Riding war dog

# Dire paragon half troll rat

# Bullette

# Battlegoat

# Cave Triceratops

# Ankylosaurus

# Stegasaurus

# Deinonychus

# Smilodon

# Elephant

# Mastadon

# Wooly mammoth

# Aurumvorax

# Giant spider

# Mule

# Dire mountain ram

# Auroch

# Cow

# Dire chicken

# Dire duck

# Hippo

# Earth Element Battle Ram

# Earth Element Ankylosaurus

# Can of worms

# Dire dachshund

# Corpse

# Ghost

# Large viper

# Rust monster

# Zombie goat

# Razorback

# Ostrich*

# Barghest* (hey, it's just a wolf--AAAH!)

# Giant dragonfly*

# Whitehart*

# Giraffe*

# Dire penguin*

I think the warboar/dire boar is the quintessential dwarven mount. Built like a tank, low to the ground, and hard-hitting, just like its rider. My friend ran a mounted dwarven fighter in my Red Hand of Doom game and his boar, Meat, was one of the highlights of that adventure. More so when Meat met his untimely end in the coils of a Behir, and literally became the party's dinner.

The lord of the land eventually rewarded the dwarf with a new mount after the battle of Brindol. Pork served him well, but was a poor replacement for ol' Meat.

I don't know what's wrong with me. The first time I saw the title of this thread I thought it said 'Martian Paladin Dwarves'.
Anyway, I think a Dire badger might be a good choice. Admittedly, I have a hard time seeing a dwarf using any kind of mount.