| ohako |
I played in WotC's 'Xen'drik Expeditions' RPGA events a few years ago, and my absolute favorite character to play then was a Child of Winter Druid/Wild Plains Outrider who rode around on a giant praying mantis.
a) it can fly
b) it's a quadruped, which means in practice it can seat a Medium-sized rider, wear light barding, and still fly
c) it can grapple
d) there's a mini for it
So, I figure I'd convert the mantis companion for Pathfinder use, if one wanted to take two feats: Child of Winter + Vermin Companion, both from the 3.5 ECS. I might also houserule Vermin Companion as selectable at 1st level. According to the wikipedia entry for Mantis, the immature version (called a 'nymph') is pretty much the adult version, except smaller and without wings.
Giant Mantis Vermin Companion
Starting Statistics: Size Medium; Reach 5 ft.; Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.; AC +2 natural armor; Attack 2 claws (1d4); Ability Scores Str 8, Dex 15, Con 12, Int -, Wis 14, Cha 11; Special Attacks lunge, mandibles (1d4), sudden strike; Special qualities darkvision 60
7th-Level Advancement: Size Large; Reach 10 ft.; Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.; fly 40 ft. (poor) AC +5 natural armor (total); Attack 2 claws (1d6); Special Attacks mandibles (1d6); Ability Scores Str +8, Dex –2, Con +4.
Of course, in practice the thing actually got shot out of the sky by another druid mounted on a dire bat...but it was fun anyway.
By the way, if we ever get a Dire Weasel, that means we also get a Weasel Swarm too, right? :)