I am updating my players' characters, and the ranger in the party received his hippogriff as per the Sable Company Marine Feat (p63, Guide to Korvosa) during our last play session when he leveled to 5th.
Currently I am simply copying the stats from the presented Hippogriff, but am unsure at what point to add in all the things from the Animal Companion table. Is the hippogriff as shown the "base" creature and the items on the table added on top of that? Or do I reduce the hippogriff's hit dice to the level and such? (Ranger level 5-3=2)
The party should be leveling shortly after we next play to 6th, so it would be some time before the 'Griff "levels" up as those that gain more power at 4th or 7th do, but again, unsure what the increase, if any, should be.
Suggestions are always helpful, though I am looking for Jason's official say so when he gets a moment to breathe :)
The hippogrif is really just a flying horse that does less damage, which makes it relatively unimpressive IMO. I would definitely NOT "power-down" the Hippogrif. My thoughts would be to add the abilities on the chart to the base creature as is, the Ranger's -3 adjustment on the chart SHOULD handle the rest. Minus the flying, I promise you a druid with a horse companion would still look much better.
The horse gets +2 STR, +2 CON and WAR TRAINED when it "levels" to 4th. It is likely a Sable Company hippogrif already is War Trained, so you may want to consider a different bonus or no bonus at all, maybe a better manuverability class by one while mounted.
*bump*
Hmmm, I like Daniel's notion, but still am curious if there's any official info on this? :)
*bump*
Hmmm, I like Daniel's notion, but still am curious if there's any official info on this? :)
*bump*
One more time, to see if I can get any official answer before doing my own thang :)
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Sadly I can contribute little more than to agree with Daniel. The Hippogriff is a horse with wings (when you deconstruct it on paper) Sure it looks different and it has claws and a beak and all that, but as far as the rules are concerned there is very little difference.
Use the Horse as the base creature, swap the attack line of the horse for the attack line of the hippogriff, add flight speed and your done. Their ability scores are so similar, size is the same, damage is lighter for the hippogriff but it gets those wings.
That is what I will be doing when the Ranger in my second CotCT game grabs his hippogriff.
Sadly I can contribute little more than to agree with Daniel. The Hippogriff is a horse with wings (when you deconstruct it on paper) Sure it looks different and it has claws and a beak and all that, but as far as the rules are concerned there is very little difference.
Use the Horse as the base creature, swap the attack line of the horse for the attack line of the hippogriff, add flight speed and your done. Their ability scores are so similar, size is the same, damage is lighter for the hippogriff but it gets those wings.
That is what I will be doing when the Ranger in my second CotCT game grabs his hippogriff.
Thank you to both of you :) I'll work up my ranger's hippogriff using these guidelines.