Cavalier Mounts

[Derek Dalton]

This isn't such much a rule question but other player's opinion. Cavalier states they get a mount from The Druid Animal Companion list. Now by base book rules that is limited. Add the various Bestiaries and that list becomes far more open. Now to make it even more open take the Undersize mount feat and the mount can be your size or larger. As a DM I would allow this. So a Cavalier could take for instance a Baby Roc from Bestiary One as a Mount. Yes this makes a few archtypes uselss but I think it sticks with the basic theme of a warrior becoming mounted death.
Official rules would probably say no but I disagree because the wording states this is actually legal.

[derpdidruid]

Read mount again

Mount (Ex)

pfsrd wrote:

A cavalier gains the service of a loyal and trusty steed to carry him into battle. This mount functions as a druid's animal companion, using the cavalier's level as his effective druid level. The creature must be one that he is capable of riding and is suitable as a mount. A Medium cavalier can select a camel or a horse. A Small cavalier can select a pony or wolf, but can also select a boar or a dog if he is at least 4th level. The GM might approve other animals as suitable mounts.

Emphasis mine.

He has an effective druid lvl, but can't choose from the druid list. He can only choose between the bolded options, baring archatypes and gm fiat.

[Wolfsnap]

There are rules for taming and raising exotic mounts in this book if you're interested.

[Julien Dien]

[/quote=cavarlier]A cavalier gains the service of a loyal and trusty steed to carry him into battle. This mount functions as a druid's animal companion, using the cavalier's level as his effective druid level. The creature must be one that he is capable of riding and is suitable as a mount. A Medium cavalier can select a camel or a horse. A Small cavalier can select a pony or wolf, but can also select a boar or a dog if he is at least 4th level.

AoN gives an additional list:
Medium Cavaliers: Axe Beak, Camel, Elk, Giraffe, Horse, Seahorse, Giant, Tortoise, Giant, Zebra
Small Cavaliers: Antelope, Boar (requires 4th level), Capybara, Dog (requires 4th level), Kangaroo, Lizard (Giant Gecko), Pony, Ram, Reindeer, Stag, Weasel, Giant, Wolf, Wolfdog.

Where is the extra mounts from? Which book says they can add in the list?

[Diego Rossi]

I think they were in several different books.

Ultimate Wilderness wrote:

Cavalier: A Medium cavalier can select a zebra as a mount.

A Small cavalier can select a capybara, reindeer, or wolfdog as a mount.

Wilderness Oigins wrote:

EXPANDED COMPANION LISTS

Cavaliers, paladins, and rangers all select their companions from a restricted list of druid animal companions. Since their classes were published, however, quite a few new animal companions have made their way into the game. The following lists expand the available animal companion and mount choices for those three classes.

Cavalier: A Medium cavalier can select an axebeakB3, elkB3, giant tortoiseB4, giant seahorseB4, or giraffeB4 as a mount.
A Small cavalier can select an antelopeB3, giant weaselB4, kangarooB3, lizard (giant gecko)B3, ramB2, or stagB4 as a mount.

The augmented companionUW, bodyguardUW, bullyUW, daredevilUW, draconic companionUW, racerUW, and wreckerUW companion archetypes are all particularly appropriate for a cavalier’s mount.

[Julien Dien]

Thank you for the quotes.

Another question. When talking about Cavaliers available mounts, the list classify them by SIZE. However, I realize some mounts cannot ride in specific levels, such as Giraffe can't be ridden until it become large at 4th-lv.

So we should follow the rules literally or by "can ride or not"?
A 1st-lv Cavalier can choose a medium Giraffe?

[Diego Rossi]

I don't think so (unless he is size S), but I am not an expert.

[Odo Hillborne]

The statement about the Giraffe not being ridable until 4th level is part of the general ruling that your mount must be larger than your cavalier.

But specific trumps general. You could have a Giraffe if you are small sized, as Diego Rossi states above, or if you have the Undersized Mount feat.

[Julien Dien]

I cling to "can ride or not" as you two.

APG Cavalier wrote:

mount:"...The creature must be one that he is capable of riding and is suitable as a mount. A Medium cavalier can select a camel or a horse. A Small cavalier can select a pony or wolf, but can also select a boar or a dog if he is at least 4th level... "

The latter two sentences is following the first and the explanation of the first. And the exception of dog and pony also implies "can ride or not" principle clearly.

[Julien Dien]

I found this.
After talking to the Designer Team, Michael Brock says "can ride or not" goes first.