Cavalier Mount Selection

[Daniel Kre]

Hey, my player in my current RotR-campaign ist creating a new character right now, and he is tendinng towards the cavalier.

But he is complaining about the mount:
In the book, it is said, that his only option is to take either a horse or a camel (for nonsmall characters). But the GM is allowed to approve other animals as suitable mounts.

So in d20spfrd, i found a list with more mounts he can choose from (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/cavalier#TOC-Mount-Ex-).

But seriously, neither me nor my player get why there are so few choices. He especially talked about a bear, but he also mentioned cats (like geopards and stuff, i don't know the word in english for it lol), dragons (wtf), lions and so on...

So is it possible for him to take those animals as mounts? How would it be played out?

[Gauss]

As the GM you can house-rule that any or all of them are possible.

It is probable that the other mounts are more powerful than they felt the Cavalier should have.

However, if your player really wants a bear or cat I suggest he select the Beast Rider archetype. It is specifically intended for other types of mounts and doesn't require you house-ruling what mount he can select.

[RuyanVe]

Daniel Kre wrote:

Hey, my player in my current RotR-campaign ist creating a new character right now, and he is tendinng towards the cavalier.

But he is complaining about the mount:
In the book, it is said, that his only option is to take either a horse or a camel (for nonsmall characters). But the GM is allowed to approve other animals as suitable mounts.

So in d20spfrd, i found a list with more mounts he can choose from mounts).

But seriously, neither me nor my player get why there are so few choices. He especially talked about a bear, but he also mentioned cats (like geopards and stuff, i don't know the word in english for it lol), dragons (wtf), lions and so on...

So is it possible for him to take those animals as mounts? How would it be played out?

The thing you have to be aware off is that the mount functions as an animal companion. While the horse itself is an OK AC (and accepted in civilized areas!), I'd stay away from more powerful animals like e.g. big cats (lion, tiger etc) or dinosaurs which are quite effective as melee combatants even up to higher levels.

Look at it from a balance point of view: the cavalier is already a full BAB martial class with some extra goodies; her damage output would increase significantly if Battle Cat would come into play.

The "ge(o)pard" would be the cheetah btw.

Ruyan.

Edit: Bah, that's what you get when you read up on He-Man and Cringer! Ninja'ed. And linkified.

[Daniel Kre]

Beast Rider Archetype! Thx, everything clear! :)

[LazarX]

Daniel Kre wrote:

But seriously, neither me nor my player get why there are so few choices.

Because the cavalier is not a druid, he's the classic mounted knight, which means horse or something close to it, like a camel.

[Stikye]

Classic Mounted knight, for most orders you are the knight in shining armor protecting... something. You charge in to save the day, valiantly defending your whatever it is you're defending.

For some other orders you are the black knight, that leaves destruction and ruin in your wake.

But, if you want to ride cool things, Be an orc, and take the Beast Rider feat, Take the Beast Rider archetype, or prestige class into Mammoth Rider.

Side note, How does the interaction with animal companion between a Druid/Cavalier cross class work up. a 1 druid/x cavalier, do you get ALL the selection, or just the horse?

[Gauss]

Stikye, that is answered in this FAQ.

Basically, if you use an animal on both lists the levels stack. If you use an animal not on both lists it is a separate animal companion and the levels do not stack.

[Stikye]

Okay, then, In that FAQ, Your druid/cavalier Animal companion dies. it is on both lists, it is a horse.

Do you take the full week, and full level to regain your full horse abilities as per cavalier, or do you take the 24 hours to get it entirely back as per druid?

Cavalier mount:

A cavalier's bond with his mount is strong, with the pair learning to anticipate each other's moods and moves. Should a cavalier's mount die, the cavalier may find another mount to serve him after 1 week of mourning. This new mount does not gain the link, evasion, devotion, or improved evasion special abilities until the next time the cavalier gains a level.

Druid AC:

If a druid releases her companion from service, she may gain a new one by performing a ceremony requiring 24 uninterrupted hours of prayer in the environment where the new companion typically lives. This ceremony can also replace an animal companion that has perished.

[Gauss]

There is no clear method to resolve that but *probably* the most RAW answer would be:

After 24hours you get your horse back but you count Druid levels only.
After 1 week you add your Cavalier levels for all abilities except "Link, Evasion, Devotion, or Improved Evasion" which function at Druid levels only (if the Druid levels have those abilities).
After your Cavalier levels then you are back to normal.

This is based on the premise that in most situations like this you take the worst option. Ie. 1 week and 1 level for the cavalier. But, since the Druid can legally get it's own animal companion what I demonstrated above is reasonable.

Additionally, I personally houserule removing the next level mechanic so that it is just 1 week because the "next time your Cavalier gains a level" is an impossible mechanic in certain situations (multiclassing when you will never take another cavalier level or level 20).

[Mystic_Snowfang]

If you want to be really cool, work towards Monstrous Mount, get leadership, improved monstrous mount and get yourself a gryphon mount.