Can a summoned creature be used as a mount? What do you need to know to do this?
Hypothetical scenario:
A caster summons a flying monster for a cavalier companion to ride into an aerial combat.
- What kind of summonable monsters would work?
- What kind of ride/fly/handle animal checks are needed?
- How does this fit into turn order?
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The summoned monster is not trained for riding and normally would attack the summoner's enemies, or if there are no enemies, do nothing. The summoner must communicate with it (the method depends on its type and intelligence) and command it to carry the cavalier. The summoner could also tell the monster to obey the cavalier's instructions, in which case the cavalier would also need a means of communication.
If the summoned creature is an animal, Handle Animal checks work as communication, DC 25 as a full-round action for pushing a non-companion animal. I've argued elsewhere that a summoned animal should effectively know the attack trick, making that a move action at DC 10 (ensuring the cavalier doesn't apply his bonus for handling his own mount).
As long as the monster's carrying capacity is more than the weight of the cavalier and his gear, it can carry him, though see other threads about creatures flying with wings carrying more than a light load. It might incur a -5 penalty to Ride checks as an unsuitable mount if its body shape or size is not appropriate for the cavalier to ride it. It's also not saddled.
The cavalier must make Ride checks and the monster must make Fly checks for the activities that normally would require them. Provided the monster is commanded to obey the cavalier, he doesn't have to make Ride or Handle Animal checks to guide the creature's movement, since this normally doesn't require an action or check.
Riding it into combat seems like a bad idea unless it's intelligent, understands a language that the cavalier speaks and he has a pretty good Ride skill.
The monster acts on the summoner's initiative when summoned. If commanded to obey the cavalier's instructions, it probably can delay until he gives such instructions, thereafter acting after the cavalier on his initiative count.
I wouldn't have a problem with it in general, but some instances would make more sense than others.