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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.
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?
Director of Games
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You only need to use Spellcraft if the target mount is being ridden, preventing you from easily taking over a mount ridden by the enemy. In addition, the mount would get a save, just as with the command spell. I am thinking that this might be too complicated and probably should just rely on the save, but I need to analyze the numbers.
Jason Bulmahn
Lead Designer
Paizo Publishing
You only need to use Spellcraft if the target mount is being ridden, preventing you from easily taking over a mount ridden by the enemy. In addition, the mount would get a save, just as with the command spell. I am thinking that this might be too complicated and probably should just rely on the save, but I need to analyze the numbers.
How about using something similar to the rules for attended items making saves?
For attended mounts, allow them to use their own or their rider's Will save, whichever is better. (Or possibly something based on the rider's Handle Animal/Ride, though with how fast skills go up in comparison to DC's that seems a bit too punitive.)
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Director of Games
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You only need to use Spellcraft if the target mount is being ridden, preventing you from easily taking over a mount ridden by the enemy. In addition, the mount would get a save, just as with the command spell. I am thinking that this might be too complicated and probably should just rely on the save, but I need to analyze the numbers.
How about using something similar to the rules for attended items making saves?
For attended mounts, allow them to use their own or their rider's Will save, whichever is better. (Or possibly something based on the rider's Handle Animal/Ride, though with how fast skills go up in comparison to DC's that seems a bit too punitive.)
Allowing them to use their rider's Will save bonus or their own is exactly the way I am thinking right now.
Jason Bulmahn
Lead Designer
Paizo Publishing
You only need to use Spellcraft if the target mount is being ridden, preventing you from easily taking over a mount ridden by the enemy. In addition, the mount would get a save, just as with the command spell. I am thinking that this might be too complicated and probably should just rely on the save, but I need to analyze the numbers.
How about using something similar to the rules for attended items making saves?
For attended mounts, allow them to use their own or their rider's Will save, whichever is better. (Or possibly something based on the rider's Handle Animal/Ride, though with how fast skills go up in comparison to DC's that seems a bit too punitive.)
Allowing them to use their rider's Will save bonus or their own is exactly the way I am thinking right now.
Ha! And they said I wasn't psychic! I'll show them all now!