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I think this is a very neat archetype, but for the level range of PFS (1-12) the earth elemental is extremely weak. I haven't been able to find anything, but do any of you know of a way of improving the Stone Servant? Ideally a way to get the larger sizes earlier would be best, but maybe there are other ways that you Encyclopedias might know of that I haven't found.
Thanks in advance.
he doesn't use any special familiar or animal companion rules.
it's a horrible ability if your gm claims that like a normal mount you take a -1 to hit/damage for 30 days if it dies. it only has 13 hp for pete's sake. i claim the ability is compared to the normal paladin ability only in reference to summoning, not anything else. but then there's nothing in the text describing anything else. it is a very poorly worded ability.
the elemental will always be worse that a mount all the way up to level 20. not to mention it's dumber than a mount for a very long time, so arguing it can do scouting and such doesn't work that well since it doesn't know much, AND it ONLY speaks terran, so unless you spend a skill point in linguistics (paladins don't get a lot of those typically) you can't talk to it at all.
i love the stonelord but i hate that elemental. they seriously need some updates for that ability.
i play it as written, the only reference to the paladin ability is how you summon it, not anything else, including its death. so treat it as a summon once a day helper. if it dies, summon it again the next day.
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not to mention it's dumber than a mount for a very long time,
The elemental is actually always smarter than a standard mount. They start out twice as smart as a mount, and by the time the mount gets caught up at 9th level (assuming all of the ability score increases are being put into INT) they're only two levels away from the Elemental getting a 2 point bump, and then the Earth elemental stays ahead in INT for the rest of the progression. There's exactly a 3 level spread where the mount has even an equal intelligence. The elemental also gets a lot of cool DR and abilities that the mount doesn't have access to, as well as finishing a feat ahead. His earthglide and burrow abilities also allow him to accompany the party to a lot of places a creature of his size, or a smaller but still Large and awkward creature like a horse, would be unable to go.
umm not sure where you are getting your info, but:
Bonded mounts have an Intelligence of at least 6.
Str 16, Dex 8, Con 13, Int 4, Wis 11, Cha 11
Str 20, Dex 8, Con 17, Int 4, Wis 11, Cha 11
Str 24, Dex 8, Con 17, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 11
Str 28, Dex 8, Con 19, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 11
Str 30, Dex 8, Con 21, Int 8, Wis 11, Cha 11
so your elemental will not be smarter than the minimum paladin mount until level 17
the elemental does not get extra feats or abilities. it is just an elemental with the celestial template.
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umm not sure where you are getting your info, but:
Bonded mounts have an Intelligence of at least 6.Str 16, Dex 8, Con 13, Int 4, Wis 11, Cha 11Str 20, Dex 8, Con 17, Int 4, Wis 11, Cha 11Str 24, Dex 8, Con 17, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 11Str 28, Dex 8, Con 19, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 11Str 30, Dex 8, Con 21, Int 8, Wis 11, Cha 11so your elemental will not be smarter than the minimum paladin mount until level 17
the elemental does not get extra feats or abilities. it is just an elemental with the celestial template.
Missed that line in the paladin ability, was going off the druid AC stats. However, count the feats that the elemental gets based on progression and hit die. He ends up a feat ahead at 9 feats.
well i didn't look at the lesser elementals compared to appropriate leveled paladin mount but:
level 20 stonelord elemental has 9 feats that are fixed
level 20 paladin mount has 8 feats you can choose any you want. even fighting styles since it has an intelligence of at least 6.
the elemental gets closer in power, but never equals an optimized animal companion mount.
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well i didn't look at the lesser elementals compared to appropriate leveled paladin mount but:
level 20 stonelord elemental has 9 feats that are fixed
level 20 paladin mount has 8 feats you can choose any you want. even fighting styles since it has an intelligence of at least 6.
the elemental gets closer in power, but never equals an optimized animal companion mount.
I wasn't trying to say that he did, just that he had his uses and wasn't completely useless. Also, he's your elemental, nothing says he has to use the default feats in the Bestiary.
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I actually like the elemental. I generally use it to bull rush, either to get something away from a squishy ally or to move it into range for me while in defensive stance. So far, it works out pretty well. Since he never moves with them, they generally don't threaten him. Since I have Stand Still, they never get back to him either.
My stonelord just turned 5 and I decided to not use it at all, because it is just too squishy.
One misplaced spell or one attack and it is gone.
We got a con 8 wizard in our party and his familiar has the same hp as the stone servent. Thats ridiculous