1) Yes, your mount can also attack. You might look into masterwork horseshoes, or (greater) magic fang from the party druid, or other useful boosts, since their bonuses are often lower than yours. It also gets attacks of opportunity -- be on the lookout for such things.
2) Yes, if the mount charges, both you and it get the bonus (and the AC penalty) from charging.
3) Sure, though the speed may be an issue (it's speed 20 -- though the other modes help a lot, but read the climbing and swimming rules carefully, particularly the part about how much weight it can carry before it suffers penalties. Remember, a snake is not a quadruped and doesn't get the same weight allowance as a horse.) As a GM, I'd probably be sure to throw in the occasional other person laughing at your choice of mount, though.
4) If it has grab and constrict attacks, it can use them. But see above regarding weight issues.
You're welcome!
Design Manager
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Just a note: Fighting with a combat trained mount requires a DC 10 Ride Check. Controlling a non-combat trained mount requires a move action and a DC 20 Ride Check. If you can't make the appropriate checks, both you and your mount cannot attack in the same turn.
Having your snake use the Grab or Constrict actions would require you to Push it as a Move action using the Handle Animal skill.
Having your snake use the Grab or Constrict actions would require you to Push it as a Move action using the Handle Animal skill.
Why would having it use its modes of natural attack require a push check rather than an attack trick check?
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Design Manager
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Having your snake use the Grab or Constrict actions would require you to Push it as a Move action using the Handle Animal skill.Why would having it use its modes of natural attack require a push check rather than an attack trick check?
Maintaining a grapple is its own special action not covered by the handle animal skill. Since there is no trick, you have to use the Push option which is the catch-all for actions not covered by other tricks. It's the same as a paladin having to use the push action to have his mount lower its spell resistance if he wants to apply a buff.
This wouldn't work for a Cavalier, Nature Oracle, or Paladin since their choice of mounts is restricted to horse, pony, and maybe boar (certainly not snake). There is a Beastrider archetype for the Cavalier, but I believe it is restricted to riding quadrapeds.
A Druid or Summoner could have a snake or a snake-like eidolon though. The eidolon would have Int 7 and be able to avoid a lot of the Handle Animal rules debates.
Sylvan [fey] Sorcerer could also have a snake.