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The class description says the mount is "usually" a heavy horse or pony. But then it goes on to say that the mount functions as a druid animal companion using the Paladin's level as the effective druid level. This immediately gives you access to a companion from that list.
For the sake of riding, however, I'd say that to be a "suitable mount for riding" (as loosely defined in the Ride skill) the mount generally has to be a quadruped one size category or more larger than your character. It would be pretty silly if your medium-sized human paladin rode a medium-sized boar, for example. :-)
The class description says the mount is "usually" a heavy horse or pony. But then it goes on to say that the mount functions as a druid animal companion using the Paladin's level as the effective druid level. This immediately gives you access to a companion from that list.
For the sake of riding, however, I'd say that to be a "suitable mount for riding" (as loosely defined in the Ride skill) the mount generally has to be a quadruped one size category or more larger than your character. It would be pretty silly if your medium-sized human paladin rode a medium-sized boar, for example. :-)
Well, more specifically I was thinking a (large) tyrannosaurus once a paladin hit 7th level. Although it isn't a quadruped, it has sufficient strength and a saddle-back. It would certainly require an exotic saddle to accommodate riding while "at-rest", but it seems like a plausible mount.
The 7th level advancement for a dinosaur is to make it medium instead of small.
Doh...that actually answered my question indirectly. For some reason I was assuming that the animal companions from the Bestiary were allowed, not just the ones from the Core Rules. (The Tyrannosaurus on p. 86 of the Bestiary goes to Large at 7th).
Then a new question: will the animal companions from the Bestiary be available for PCs after the upcoming campaign update? :)
A quick read of page 54 of the Core Rulebook reveals that the dinosaur in the druid animal companion entry is either a deinonychus or velociraptor.
The OP initially appeared to be addressing that dinosaur entry, not the specific animal companion entry for the tyrannosaurus on page 86 of the bestiary.
Edit: this post was a response to a post that appears to have been deleted expressing confusion between dinosaur entries.
It would be pretty silly if your medium-sized human paladin rode a medium-sized boar, for example. :-)
Ahhhh....but how would this work for a dwarf? I have a player (in my PFS game) who is a dwarven ranger who wants a boar for his animal companion and mount. I'm not sure how this would work.
Any thoughts or ideas?
The 7th level advancement for a dinosaur is to make it medium instead of small.
Actually most of them turns large now. I still have a question as to whether a gnome Paladin would be allowed to take the velociraptor from the animal companion in the Core Rulebook as his mount (at least when it turns medium at level 7). This would of course require an exotic saddle.
I would also like to know whether an Ape is a viable option for a medium paladin.
This is a bit of a gray area and I'm currently creating a paladin charger for organized play, so a little guidance as to what is allowed would be nice.
Would a gnome paladin be able to ride a large tiger with -5 penalty for size?
Paladins specifically receive a mount as part of their divine bond. Because it repeatedly uses the word "mount," I'm ruling for Pathfinder Society that you can't take a companion that can't function as a mount. It comes down to common sense and GM purview in home games, but since I'm effectively the GM for Pathfinder Society, here's how it works:
As a paladin, your divine bond mount must be at least one size category larger than you starting at 1st level. If you're a Medium PC, your mount must be large. If you're a Small PC, your mount must be at least medium. Your mount must have four legs and be viewed from a common sense perspective as suitable as a mount.
I'll add this specific language to the next guide update.
Paladins specifically receive a mount as part of their divine bond. Because it repeatedly uses the word "mount," I'm ruling for Pathfinder Society that you can't take a companion that can't function as a mount. It comes down to common sense and GM purview in home games, but since I'm effectively the GM for Pathfinder Society, here's how it works:
As a paladin, your divine bond mount must be at least one size category larger than you starting at 1st level. If you're a Medium PC, your mount must be large. If you're a Small PC, your mount must be at least medium. Your mount must have four legs and be viewed from a common sense perspective as suitable as a mount.
I'll add this specific language to the next guide update.
The starting at 1st. level size thingy is in contradiction with the examples used in the description of the Cavaliers mount (which of course may be something entirely different), where it states that you can choose a wolf, but not before level 4 where it reaches a sufficient size.
Thank you for your quick answer though, and I will be looking forward to the precise wording.
In the future would it be possible to hold off on taking how divine bond (possibly even taking the -1 to attack rolls as if your bond had been broken) until your mount changes to the appropriate size?
Example:
Ayanna the Paladin desires to have an elephant as her mount. An elephant is only medium as of 5th level (and at 1st obviously) but grows to become large at 7th. Could she wait until the elephant becomes of the appropriate size?
No. You must make the choices due to your character when they are available, which means you have to choose at 5th level.
This is not completely in accordance with the Org. play guide. In the guide it states that the animal companion should be one size-category larger than you at first level. Though as a Paladin you gain it at 5th level. So can you choose an animal that grows to the right size at 4th level?
Secondly the description of the cavalier (in the AP) states that he can change mounts when they grow. This is - of course - not finished work and may not be in accordance with org. play but I would still like it clearified.
I see the confusion re: the paladin.
As a paladin, your divine bond mount must be at least one size category larger than you starting at 1st level.
That should read,
As a paladin, your divine bond mount must be at least one size category larger than you starting at 5th level.
...in the Guide, since a paladin gets her divine bond mount at 5th level. So a mount that changes size at 4th level to the appropriate size as noted in the Guide (Large for Medium PCs, Medium for Small PCs) is an acceptable choice since the paladin's mount is the same effective level as a druid companion.
I'll have to update the PDF with that change.
Secondly the description of the cavalier (in the AP) states that he can change mounts when they grow. This is - of course - not finished work and may not be in accordance with org. play but I would still like it clearified.
It actually doesn't say that at all. It specifically notes that a Small-sized cavalier can select a boar or a dog so long as he's at least 4th level. Since Pathfinder Society PCs always start at 1st level, the Small cavalier would have to start with either a pony or a wolf. Should his pony or wolf die after the cavalier is 4th level, he may select a boar or a dog as his new mount.
Otherwise, cavaliers are specifically restricted in what mounts they can choose per the APG Playtest doc. Though it says, "The GM might approve..." I won't be approving more exotic mounts for the cavalier.
That's for now, though, and once I see the final rules for the cavalier that might change, but no promises.
I may be missing it, but I've never seen specific language for switching out mounts, even though there is language for replacing a dead mount.
Would it be legal (and I'm thinking Cavalier here) to have a mount from levels 1-3, release that mount from servitude at level 4 and replace him with a level 4 appropriate mount?
I've been looking for the various FAQs mentioned on the header of the thread. Are these threads the FAQs?
So Mounts useable then by a Paladin at 5th level(medium size character) ARE:
None not already listed under paladin(horse or camel.) There aren't any animal companions that are quadrapeds that have a 4th level advancement to large or are already large.
BIPEDS
1. Axe Beak (which says it is trained to be a mount but is from Bonus Bestiary)
2. Dinosaur, Deinonychus (bestiary version)
Could we get a ruling to make these two useable since they are the only two choices you could make if you must choose at 5th and stay with your choice?
Otherwise, unless you are a small paladin, you will be stuck with a horse or camel.