Is there a way, via a feat or other means, to get something other than the standard mount for a paladin? Specifically I'm looking for something that can fly, such as a griffion or hippogriff.

take a level of druid at level 7 :)

Leadership

Buy one.

Beg for DM intervention

The Empyreal archetype gives both you and your mount wings at it's culmination, but many will not want to pay the price it demands.

beast rider Cav.

Knights of the Inner Sea has new guidelines for mounts, including flying mounts:

•New rules for mounts both monstrous and bestial, including descriptions and traits for some of the Inner Sea’s most prominent breeds.

This allows you, with GM permission, to have an unusal mount treating the mounts CR as it's effective level for the knight.

I can't remember the exact wordings though, =)

GM Fiat.
Otherwise you're running a bonded mount AND a Winged beast if you take leadership and get a winged beast from there...

If you are permitted 3rd party material, take a look at the super genius guide to the dragon rider. It has multiclass rules with the paladin. You can take 1 level of dragon rider, and the rest as paladin, and funnel your bonded mount into your dragon. Which as you might expect from a class called the 'dragon rider' is a mount that can fly. Your dragon wont be as powerful as that of a pure dragon rider, but would definately work.

If you're a half-orc, try the Beast Rider feat at 7th level. It gives you a few other options at least.

Knights of the inner sea has your answer for non PFS. Griffin is cohort level 8.

Edit: it's through leadership not divine bond.

Knights of the inner sea has your answer for non PFS. Griffin is cohort level 8.

Edit: it's through leadership not divine bond.

Hmmm. Character in question isn't the type to have a lot of followers, as I imagine her, but I do have a feat slot open for leadership. What happens to the character's regular mount? Also, the character doesn't actually need a mount; I'm actually more looking for a flying animal companion. Here's the character in question. She's an NPC.

GeneticDrift wrote:

Knights of the inner sea has your answer for non PFS. Griffin is cohort level 8.

Edit: it's through leadership not divine bond.

Hmmm. Character in question isn't the type to have a lot of followers, as I imagine her, but I do have a feat slot open for leadership. What happens to the character's regular mount? Also, the character doesn't actually need a mount; I'm actually more looking for a flying animal companion. Here's the character in question. She's an NPC.

** spoiler omitted **

You can handwave the followers. Also, if this is an NPC, which leads me to believe that you are the GM, you can certainly use GM discretion for an alternative bonded mount.

Also, if this is an NPC, which leads me to believe that you are the GM, you can certainly use GM discretion for an alternative bonded mount.

Of course, but I'm trying to abide by the existing rules as much as possible in case a player sees my NPC and decides they want a paladin with a flying mount (without taking the Empyrial archetype). I'm really interested in the Knights of the Inner Sea guidelines swashbuklersdc mentioned; I'll have to check that out.

Also, if anyone has any suggestions for the last two feats for this character I'm all ears. I want to give the character feats that are both useful and interesting, so as useful as Weapon Focus, Toughness, Improved Initiative, and the like are, they're kind of boring and I'm hoping to avoid them.

For one of your Feats, given your Oath against wyrms, how about:

Dragonbane Aura
Those within your dragonbane aura gain the same protection that you do.

Prerequisites: Aura of courage class feature, caster level 8th.

Benefit: When fighting dragons, your aura of courage expands to a 20-foot-radius emanation, and allies in the aura gain a morale bonus on saving throws against dragon breath equal to your aura of courage's bonus against fear effects.

Normal: The aura of courage is a 10-foot-radius emanation, and grants a +4 morale bonus on fear effects.

Another good one, to finish off that dragon, would be...

Death or Glory (Combat)
Even when facing a larger foe, you aren't afraid to take great risks in order to finish the fight.

Prerequisites: Str 13, Power Attack, base attack bonus +6.

Benefit: Against a creature of size Large or larger, you can make a single melee attack as a full-round action, gaining a +4 bonus on the attack roll, damage roll, and critical confirmation roll. You gain an additional +1 on this bonus at base attack bonus +11, +16, and +20 (for a maximum of +7 at base attack +20). After you resolve your attack, the opponent you attack can spend an immediate action to make a single melee attack against you with the same bonuses.

Special: You can combine the full-round action attack this feat allows with the benefit of Vital Strike, Improved Vital Strike, or Greater Vital Strike.

So, for this character, a +6 attack, damage and critical hit confimration rolls. A nice ending attack, easpecially combined with that Improved Critical Feat, =)

Serisan wrote:

Also, if this is an NPC, which leads me to believe that you are the GM, you can certainly use GM discretion for an alternative bonded mount.

Of course, but I'm trying to abide by the existing rules as much as possible in case a player sees my NPC and decides they want a paladin with a flying mount (without taking the Empyrial archetype). I'm really interested in the Knights of the Inner Sea guidelines swashbuklersdc mentioned; I'll have to check that out.

Also, if anyone has any suggestions for the last two feats for this character I'm all ears. I want to give the character feats that are both useful and interesting, so as useful as Weapon Focus, Toughness, Improved Initiative, and the like are, they're kind of boring and I'm hoping to avoid them.

So no go on 3rd party material? Because I think a level dip in dragon rider would really fit this character. With the eldrich heratage, a metalic dragon side kick would make ALOT of sense.

So no go on 3rd party material? Because I think a level dip in dragon rider would really fit this character. With the eldrich heratage, a metalic dragon side kick would make ALOT of sense.

I'm limiting my use of 3rd party material, but have not ruled it out completely. I am interested in finding out more about this dragon rider; but more of my reluctance comes from wanting to keep this character straight paladin and my general dislike for level-dipping.

Then you're stuck with Leadership with riding a cohort and sidelining your bonded mount.
Maybe could instead take Bonded Weapon or Bonded Armor (depending on Archetype) so you are not wasting the capacity?