Heavy Horse Questions

[Jasper Phillips]

Does the extra d4 bite count as a Secondary Attack?

Also, it seems odd that the "Advanced Template" also gives them +4 to Int, Wis, and Cha... Is that really intended?

[Beckett]

I am pretty sure that PF changed Primary/Seconday attacks to be which ever one you want. But the order they appear in the book is the typical version.

As for the Ability changes, it is probably for skills and well, an improved creature.

[Mauril]

Bite is always a primary attack, so the added bite attack is a primary attack. You have to remember that in Pathfinder a creature can have multiple primary attacks. With a standard action attack, it simply chooses which one it wants to use. On a full attack, primary attacks are at the full attack bonus (even if there are two or three of them) and secondary attacks are at a -5 from the full bonus. There is a table in the back of the Bestiary under the Universal Monster Rules that covers that. It can also be found here in the PRD.

Yes, technically the Advanced Template makes your heavy horse sentient. This was addressed in a thread I can't find right now. James suggested that the limitations on the animal type (Int 1 or 2) should probably take precedence over the additions from the template. In this case the creature type would be the specific rule and the template would be the general rule (where specific trumps general). As far as increasing wisdom and charisma, a heavy war horse is both more canny and can better read situations and respond accurately, which is what makes it a good combat mount, and it is much more strong willed and fearsome. Ergo higher wisdom and charisma.

[Karui Kage]

From what I recall about James posting it is the difference between the "Rebuild" rules and the "Quick" rules. A lot of the times that they say to use one of those templates, it's with the "Quick" version. In the horse's case especially.

[Jasper Phillips]

Yeah, I think I'll go with the "Quick" Template version here, funny as it is to watch Mauril humorously bend over backward. ;-) Oh yeah, it /totally/ makes sense that a horse has 20 Str, 18 Dex, 21 Con, and 17 Wis.

They aught to just make Warhorse a separate beast, and rename the "Advanced" template to "Champion", which is clearly what it's intended to be used for. Generally I applaud Paizo's efforts to streamline, consolidate and modularize, but they went a bit too far here.