My mount keeps dying. And by dying I mean like every combat.Let's have some clarification on this statement, shall we.
First, who is who, Harmor = Lenny the halfling. Evil @$$hole GM = Me!
Let's make a long story short, to late.
Mount #1 (Animal Companion dog) - 1st level - Died along with everyone else's mount during start of the campaign, mainly for an RP hook. Lenny, seek out vengeance already!
Eventually, Lenny the wise summons a new animal companion at 1st level after 3 months of mourning (he forgot he could). During the RPing of this event, Lenny's says his prayer for his new animal companion is "Summon a mount... Summon a mount.... Summon a MOUNT!!!" singing over and over. The DM is looking for what he wants to summon here and with no direct request on the type of animal companion, a wild elk stag that happened to be nearby walks through the front of Oleg’s and up to Lenny.
Many combats later.
Mount #2 (Animal Companion Elk Stag) - 1st level - Died when a grizzly bear wandered into the PCs camp looking for a night time snack. The brave Lenny ran away from the grizzly bear and told the Elk to attack it. The elk obeyed its master and became bear food in the middle of the camp.
The group levels up and Lenny decides he wants to be a ranger and learns some ranger $#!t from the local rangers. So, Lenny is now level 2, 1 Cavalier/1 Ranger and will not be able to get the link ability with his animal companion until he levels up as a Cavalier again.
Many combats later.
Mount #3 (combat trained riding dog) - 2nd level - Died when the group was attempting to slay the mighty Tuskgutter (not the normal one from the adventure, not a dire boar (long), but actually Long and Tall boar *cough* 10 ft reach *cough*). Lenny does a ride by attack on the abnormally large boar that is TRAPPED in a bear trap. However, Lenny only has enough movement to end up ten feet away from the abnormally large boar. The...
Ride by attacks DO NOT cause AoO
"When you are mounted and use the charge action, you may move and attack as if with a standard charge and then move again (continuing the straight line of the charge). Your total movement for the round can’t exceed double your mounted speed. You and your mount do not provoke an attack of opportunity from the opponent that you attack."