Cavaliers have a problem in common with monks, in that a large part of their class abilities simply cease to be relevant at a certain level. You can call it playstyle or whatever, but, like monk run speed, mounts simply shut off once a significant number of foes fly.
In fact, a fair amount of the special cavalier mount abilities come after foes have already started to get the ability to fly and also pelt the party from range. Fighters take a bow as their second favored weapon and suck it up, paladins smite at range and rock house, while cavalier sit quietly in the back with the monks and try not to get in the way, unless a party member is willing to help them out or unless they have boots of flight.
What is a cavalier supposed to do at range?
I have a fix for the Monk problem.
Monk, Sorcerer, Dragon Disciple - man talking about a nice AC ... ;)
With spells and etc, I had my test build up to 49 AC without magic items.
RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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Well, we don't know what magic items might be in the APG. I know when building a cavalier, I quickly bought horseshoes of a zephyr. Ideally I'd want additional magic horseshoe options, such as of air walking and of flying at higher price points. That's all it should take to keep the mount relevant at higher levels. Without those, spells and potions can still be used to grant those abilities.
What's to stop a Cavalier from acquiring a Griffon as mount? With the expert trainer at 4th level they could easily train a griffon to be their mount. Only issue I see is the mount feature doesn't allow you discharge your current mount. You can only get another when the first dies. That should change I think and any mount the cavalier wants to train gains the link, evasion, devotion, or improved evasion special abilities the next time the cavalier gains a level.
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RPG Superstar 2008 Top 32, 2011 Top 16
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What's to stop a Cavalier from acquiring a Griffon as mount? With the expert trainer at 4th level they could easily train a griffon to be their mount. Only issue I see is the mount feature doesn't allow you discharge your current mount. You can only get another when the first dies. That should change I think and any mount the cavalier wants to train gains the link, evasion, devotion, or improved evasion special abilities the next time the cavalier gains a level.
Not using the mount feature, since a griffon is a magical beast and doesn't qualify. A Cavalier certainly could get a trained griffon, but just through purchase/training, not using the animal companion rules.
However, a cavalier could get a Roc, which is an animal, does have animal companion rules, and at 7th level would be large and could serve as a mount for a medium creature. Think I might have to change my mount...
Only issue I see is the mount feature doesn't allow you discharge your current mount. You can only get another when the first dies.
*Stabs horse repeatedly, then hands over bloodied tack & harness.*
"All done, happy trails."*Wipes hands on pants and walks away*