Beta pg 35 wrote:
Command (Sp): Once per day per two paladin levels of its master, a mount can use this ability to command any normal animal of approximately the same kind as itself (for warhorses and warponies, this category includes donkeys, mules, and ponies), as long as the target creature has fewer Hit Dice than the mount. This ability functions like the command spell, but the mount must make a DC 21 Spellcraft check to succeed if the target is being ridden at the time. If the check fails, the ability does not work that time, but it still counts against the mount’s daily uses.
OK, I know this is not the proper place or time for this thread, but until we get there, I think hashing out the bold text could be constructive.
The way I read this is that the mount must use it's Spellcraft skill to be able to use this ability. My question is: Are we expected to list skills for animal companions now? While the mount is indeed smarter than most equines, the text in question seems to imply that they should also have a decent grasp of high magical concepts if they are to be able to pass a high DC skill check while suffering a negative in the associated stat.
Why is the mount rolling a skill check as opposed to the target having to roll a save, possibly using HD as caster level?
Or am I miss reading this?