Sable Company Marine / Cavalier

[The Gnoooome Ranger]

Wanted to ask a rules question. I noticed here that the Sable Company Marine (which is soon to be released in the Player Companion: Varisia, Birthplace of Legends) is legal for PFS play.

If a player takes 1 level in Sable Company Marine, does that change their companion list (i.e. the regular ranger companion list is badger, bird, camel, cat (small), dire rat, dog, horse, pony, snake (viper or constrictor), or wolf; Sable Company Marines must choose Hippogriff). How might this interact with the Cavalier class--can a Ranger (Sable Company Marine) 1/Cavalier 1 choose and ride a Hippogriff (which would seem to be on their list of available companions and is clearly a viable mount)?

d20pfsrd rules text:

Hippogriff Companion

You can gain a hippogriff as a companion. This ability works identically to hunter's bond when used to gain an animal companion, but can only be used to gain a hippogriff companion. You gain a +2 bonus on Ride checks made when riding your hippogriff companion, and whenever you are within 20 feet of your hippogriff, it gains a +2 morale bonus on all saving throws made against fear effects.

This ability replaces favored terrain 1 and hunter's bond.
emphasis mine

This post is in the Pathfinder Society section because I want to use the idea for a PFS character; so please do not respond with "ask your DM," as that is exactly what I am doing.

[The Gnoooome Ranger]

Too late to edit; just thought of this: If the above is not possible, what about when the character reaches Ranger (Sable Company Marine) 1/Cavalier 3 (or 4) (and thus has enough levels in Cavalier/Ranger combined to have the Hippogriff?

[kinevon]

To be honest, no. The problem is that the first level in Sable Company Marine doesn't yet give you the hippogriff. Without seeing the actual text in the product, it is hard to judge completely, but it looks like the Ranger still doesn't get his companion, in this case the Hippogriff, until 4th level, with the standard -3 level penalty.

I might be incorrect, but I think that, since you don't yet have the companion, it won't affect your Cavalier mount list.

Edit: Still a no, since it takes 4 levels of Ranger to get the Hippogriff, not 4 levels in Cavalier.

Oddly, Boon Companion for Cavalier would only let you regain the one level lost to the one level of Ranger.

Boon Companion for Ranger, which would, again, require having 4 levels of Ranger to be able to apply it there, would help immensely.

I don't feel qualified to comment on Ranger (Sable Company Marine) 4/Cavalier X for the Hippogriff and/or Cavalier mount.

[The Gnoooome Ranger]

To deal with the level difference I was looking to take Horse Master at Cavalier 4. (PFS rules says Horse Master is okay as long as your archetype doesn't get rid of Expert Trainer, even though Expert Trainer is not legal for PFS).

Also sorry, link to rules text for Sable Company Marine at least until it comes out in the new Varisia book.

Edit: note about Horse Master legality

[Jack-of-Blades]

Another thing to keep in mind is that next month, Sept 19th, the Knights of the Inner Sea companion guide comes out. It's entirely possible there might be options in that that would help.

Otherwise, yeah, you'd need to be at least Ranger 4 to get the Hippogriff, and you're really just better off taking the full levels in Ranger for that, unless you wanted to use Boon Companion to take some levels of Cavalier. The Sable Company Marine in the Varisia guide is a Role, which basically is just a guideline of how to build the character you're trying to get.

[The Gnoooome Ranger]

Jack-of-Blades wrote:

Another thing to keep in mind is that next month, Sept 19th, the Knights of the Inner Sea companion guide comes out. It's entirely possible there might be options in that that would help.

Otherwise, yeah, you'd need to be at least Ranger 4 to get the Hippogriff.

Ooh, I'll wait for that then. Thanks!

[Jack-of-Blades]

Also, the Sable Company Marine archetype isn't currently PFS Legal, from what I could find. It was originally posted on the Blog, and is not listed anywhere in the Additional Resources, nor is it statted out in the Varisia book.

[The Gnoooome Ranger]

Additional Resources wrote:

Pathfinder Player Companion: Varisia, Birthplace of Legends
Archetypes: Kapenia dancer and thundercaller are legal for play. Equipment: All equipment on pages 14–15 are legal for play except Varisian idol. Feats: Thunder and Fang is legal for play. Roles: Duskwarden, Frontier Defender, Magnimarian Warden, Professional Gambler, Sable Company Marine, Sczarni Tough, Shingles Dweller, Shoanti Outrider, Shoanti Totem Shaman, Sky Magistrate, Varisian Bravo, and Welcome Wanderer are legal for play. Traits: Coincunning, cypher resistance, emissary, empyreal cultist, humble beginnings, local know-it-all, regional influence (except Magnimar), regional recluse, roof racer, savage breaker, Shoanti steed, Shoanti tattoo, town gossip, underbridge dweller, Varisian tattoo, and winner’s luck are legal for play.

Not sure what that means if it's not statted out in the book...

[Jack-of-Blades]

The Gnoooome Ranger wrote:

Additional Resources wrote:

Pathfinder Player Companion: Varisia, Birthplace of Legends

Archetypes: Kapenia dancer and thundercaller are legal for play. Equipment: All equipment on pages 14–15 are legal for play except Varisian idol. Feats: Thunder and Fang is legal for play. Roles: Duskwarden, Frontier Defender, Magnimarian Warden, Professional Gambler, Sable Company Marine, Sczarni Tough, Shingles Dweller, Shoanti Outrider, Shoanti Totem Shaman, Sky Magistrate, Varisian Bravo, and Welcome Wanderer are legal for play. Traits: Coincunning, cypher resistance, emissary, empyreal cultist, humble beginnings, local know-it-all, regional influence (except Magnimar), regional recluse, roof racer, savage breaker, Shoanti steed, Shoanti tattoo, town gossip, underbridge dweller, Varisian tattoo, and winner’s luck are legal for play.

Not sure what that means if it's not statted out in the book...

It means it just gives guidelines for how you could go about building one.

Varisia, Birthplace of Legends:

CLASS OPTION
Class: paladin; Archetype: shining knight - APG; Class Features:
divine bond (mount)
Class: ranger; Class Features: favored enemy (humanoid
[human]), combat style (mounted combat - APG), favored
terrain (urban), hunter’s bond (animal companion)

PREFERRED OPTIONS
Skills: Handle Animal, Perception, Ride
Feats: Mounted Archery, Mounted Combat, Point-Blank Shot,
Ride-By Attack

[The Gnoooome Ranger]

Bleh. Okay, thanks.

[Jack-of-Blades]

Sorry, mate. Like I said, there may be options in next month's companion guide to the Knights of the Inner Sea. You may have some luck there.