Basically, it's going to be how the druid's animal companion works:
http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/druid/animal-companions
except that you're limited to what the Cavalier can choose. So camel, horse, pony, wolf, or boar (at 4th), RAW.
So if there's a situation where a druid would need to use Handle Animal and/or train their companion for a task, your mount has those same rules apply, unless it's noted otherwise in the Cavalier's description.
Generally, that's how things in Pathfinder/D&D are going to work. They'll spend time detailing something thoroughly and then cite it later on to save space. So if something says, "works as ____" just look up what it's referencing and it'll be that exact same thing.
I believe they can fight with you. Or at least that's what happened when I played a cavalier in Pathfinder Society. The trick is to make sure it knows the right... tricks.
| 2 people marked this as a favorite. |
Yes, the mount is just a normal animal companion for the most part. I guess, if I had to say a difference, it is usually that mounts have far, far less options than you see with animal companions.
Obviously, it is restricted to creatures that could act as mounts. So horses and camels for medium characters, and wolves for small character (cavaliers are lucky like that; most classes only give small characters ponies or riding dogs for mounts; everyone eventually gives boars as an option though if I remember right)
The mount class feature explicitly says that "The mount is always considered combat trained and begins play with Light Armor Proficiency as a bonus feat". So just go under handle animal and "Train an Animal for a Purpose" to see what tricks combat training includes.
Well, to save time, here are the tricks you gain: attack, come, defend, down, guard, and heel. As you can see, those clearly include options for having your mount fight beside you.
Does that mean that it can engage in battle alongside the Cavalier (like an animal companion of a druid) and not only be used as a mount? Or is that statement purely for understanding how the mount levels up?
The Cavalier mount can indeed fight alongside its master just like a druid animal companion and oftentimes this is a superior tactic once battle is joined.
And would I need to train the mount for combat first with the handle animal skill for it to battle?
The Cavalier's mount comes combat trained but certain maneuvers may require handle animal or ride checks on the Cavalier's part.
For example, when I played a Samurai (Cavalier alternate class) I would usually charge into battle before dismounting and fighting alongside my mount. Some players will build their cavaliers entirely around charging (a high risk/high reward tactic) while others will build their character without spending any feats on mounted combat (my preference - makes for a flexible combatant).
Thank you for the quick answers! There's so much info in the core game that I've been getting lost in it all, thank you for helping me make sense of it. I'm definitely going to be rolling a Cavalier for my group's next session now >:D
Just to mention it, but an interesting take that you'll find in the build guides in this part of the forum suggest using a small race so you have a medium mount. Since most maps are made for medium races, you could easily ride around on your mount all the time.
And with the double damage on mounted charges that lances provide.... well, a penalty to strength is a bit more excusable.
But just playing a normal strength based melee build and having your mount as a flank buddy is an equally valid option. Still...that double damage thing makes you at least consider grabbing a normal lance to keep around 'just in case'.
You don't actually have to leave behind your mount for a normal narrow hall. Large sized creatures can squeeze through 5 foot hallways and doorframes, it's just harder to fight well if something attacks you while you're doing so.
...Admittedly they might not fit through somewhere where a medium creature would have to squeeze, but such places are less common.
Thanks Gluttony! That's good to know, but I don't think I've read anything about squeezing through passages yet. Would you happen to know where in the rulebook I could read up on the rules surrounding that?
You can look under Terrain and Obstacles. Overall, the penalties involved remove them from any fighting if it happens in the corridors.
Although, I am unsure whether there are different rules for long vs. tall creatures when it comes to that. Anyone with more experience with that?
You might want to read this guide about the Cavalier in general.