I plan on making a cavalier to play in a game this weekend and in an effort to avoid mount issues in a dungeon I wondered about training an animal that wasn't on the animal companion list. Specifically I am interested in a lizard type mount, like a giant frilled lizard, which would be large enough to ride, but more capable in a dungeon setting (at least to my minds eye). My question is if you rear a wild animal can that animal become your animal companion and therefore gain hit dice and feats as you progress in the class, or those things limited to just those animals list on the animal companion lists?
I plan on making a cavalier to play in a game this weekend and in an effort to avoid mount issues in a dungeon I wondered about training an animal that wasn't on the animal companion list. Specifically I am interested in a lizard type mount, like a giant frilled lizard, which would be large enough to ride, but more capable in a dungeon setting (at least to my minds eye). My question is if you rear a wild animal can that animal become your animal companion and therefore gain hit dice and feats as you progress in the class, or those things limited to just those animals list on the animal companion lists?
You can only get the animals listed.
There are 3.5 stats for a Giant Gecko in the very first issue of the Pathfinder Adventure Paths (AP #1 Burnt Offerings). Its stats are closer to that of a Leopard, and I wouldn't recommend using horse stats as they are not the most dexterous of creatures.
But even so, there are not many creatures that could serve as a mount that qualify as animal companions. The thing I would be asking as a DM is, why does your cavalier have a lizard mount? If the answer is anything close to "because it would be better in a dungeon we're going to go into" I wouldn't give the player the leeway.
There are 3.5 stats for a Giant Gecko in the very first issue of the Pathfinder Adventure Paths (AP #1 Burnt Offerings). Its stats are closer to that of a Leopard, and I wouldn't recommend using horse stats as they are not the most dexterous of creatures.
But even so, there are not many creatures that could serve as a mount that qualify as animal companions. The thing I would be asking as a DM is, why does your cavalier have a lizard mount? If the answer is anything close to "because it would be better in a dungeon we're going to go into" I wouldn't give the player the leeway.
I think the DM question is valid, however it is a little hard to answer honestly. I mean ever since I saw star wars episode III I have thought a lizard mount would be awesome to role play. That doesn't change the fact that it would be easier to use in a dungeon.
The thing I would be asking as a DM is, why does your cavalier have a lizard mount?
"Because I'm from a working class order of Cavaliers with upper class aspirations to be dragon mounted... :p"
I think the DM question is valid, however it is a little hard to answer honestly. I mean ever since I saw star wars episode III I have thought a lizard mount would be awesome to role play. That doesn't change the fact that it would be easier to use in a dungeon.
The drow of Forgotten Realms frequently use giant lizards as mounts, so it's in no way unheard of. At least the drow of menzoberranzan, which is the only drow city I know anything about (from the Salvatore novels).
http://www.kismetrose.com/dnd/images/drow1600.jpgThe thing I would be asking as a DM is, why does your cavalier have a lizard mount? If the answer is anything close to "because it would be better in a dungeon we're going to go into" I wouldn't give the player the leeway.
I don't think it necessarily need to be a bad answer, if it's just worked out a bit. If the character concept is for example a dwarven cavalier bent on destroying the evils underground (maybe a paladin-like sentiment, but without the holiness) it would make sense for the character to bond with an animal that will help him heed his call.