Okay so I'm in a mostly rules as written (RAW) game, with the sole exception that players are gestalt. I'm rocking a cleric/Wizard and after a bit of research have discovered that a high base attack bonus for the master + polymorph familiar plus level 7 to get beast shape ii with the polymorph familiar spell means that riding an imp improved familiar polymorphed into a tiger (a creature specifically called out in RAW as suitable for riding) could actually be formidable in combat (str 10 start, +4 poly rules for starting at size tiny, +4 str from spell, +x from other buffs. Anyway, all those mechanics I have worked out.
The problem I'm running into is a saddle. And it is frustrating. Mount gives you a mount and a saddle for 2hrs/level. I can conjure armor ala instant armor. There is even a magic saddle in RAW that specifically says is made for unusual creatures and resizes to fit magically, but, like all other equipment would meld into the body when the polymorph familiar spell is cast.
The only thing I can think of besides carrying the right saddle around and then putting it on the creature (which I can't find rules for but in real world I guess takes about a minute) is to make a wonderous item granting a +5 ride bonus to offset the penalty for bareback.
Does anyone know a better way to solve the saddle problem, such that I can cast the spell and mount with saddle in the same turn?
Edit:
"Items that provide constant bonuses and do not need to be activated continue to function while melded in this way (with the exception of armor and shield bonuses, which cease to function)."
A saddle is neither armor nor shield, and the War Saddle does give a constant +5 competence bonus to ride. The +5 competence bonus is clearly still in effect, but does that "contue to function" clause also apply to the saddle offsetting the bareback penalty?
If I were splitting hairs, I'd say it's plausible. My gut says no.
I can't think of anything that works perfectly. An imp can't wear the war saddle since he's not an animal or magical beast and I'm relatively certain that the "while mounted" portion of the item works out to a use activation, not a constant granted bonus.
An alternative, also a bit fuzzy is the polymorphic pouch.
The polymorphic pouch says:
"It automatically relocates to an easily-accessible place on her body (such as on a belt or a cord around her neck), allowing her to access the pouch and items within it while she is transformed."
I could see the belt being a saddle since saddles are typically belt slot items. I'm assuming that the belt/necklace appears when you shape shift, but the item isn't specific on that. The vagueness of the location given is enough to convince me that a saddle would be a reasonable location.
Polymorph familiar gets you a size small animal only, though with varying abilities as you gain caster levels, and it only lasts a minute/level. There are other polymorph spells of course and with share spells you can cast them on most familiars. Still, if your plan requires that spell you might want to reconsider and if not it's possible that a different spell might get around the problem by not being a type which merges all the equipment - if you can cast monstrous physique II then centaurs don't have equipment merge into them, and are obviously a shape suitable for riding for example.
avr wrote: Polymorph familiar gets you a size small animal only, though with varying abilities as you gain caster levels, and it only lasts a minute/level. There are other polymorph spells of course and with share spells you can cast them on most familiars. Still, if your plan requires that spell you might want to reconsider and if not it's possible that a different spell might get around the problem by not being a type which merges all the equipment - if you can cast monstrous physique II then centaurs don't have equipment merge into them, and are obviously a shape suitable for riding for example. Right you are. I thought at level 7 the small restriction was removed, but on another read through I think yours is the correct interpretation.
Beast shape II and monstrous physique II are both level 4 spells, and I like pounce and tigers more than centaurs, but certainly a valid option.
avr wrote: Polymorph familiar gets you a size small animal only, though with varying abilities as you gain caster levels, and it only lasts a minute/level. There are other polymorph spells of course and with share spells you can cast them on most familiars. Still, if your plan requires that spell you might want to reconsider and if not it's possible that a different spell might get around the problem by not being a type which merges all the equipment - if you can cast monstrous physique II then centaurs don't have equipment merge into them, and are obviously a shape suitable for riding for example. I don't know that polymorphic pouch itself would work, but thank you so much for pointing the item out! This item provides a RAW example of a polymorphic wonderous item that does not meld. It's a bit unfortunate the pouch does not exactly correlate to a bag of holding type I or type II for easy identification of how Paizo priced the magic ability of not melding, but at least it gives me a starting point to discuss with my GM.
Again, thanks so much!
Imp wrote: Imps vary widely in appearance, ranging through a spectrum of bestial traits and grotesque body shapes, I guess you could have an Imp in such a bestial shape that could be saddled, be saddled all the time, and instead of Beast-Shaping the Imp, you could have a Mauler Familiar Imp that grows to Size Medium in Combat, and the saddle grows with it.
The Swift Girding Spell dresses the target in Armor as a Standard Action. If you had a Saddle custom made so that it was Armor or Barding that also subsumed the Saddle, you might gird and tack your Imp via the Swift Girding Spell.
Scott Wilhelm wrote: you could have a Mauler Familiar Imp You can't have a mauler familiar Imp. Imp is an improved familiar which removes speaks with animals of its own kind. Mauler also replaces speak with animals of its own kind.
willuwontu wrote: Scott Wilhelm wrote: you could have a Mauler Familiar Imp You can't have a mauler familiar Imp. Imp is an improved familiar which removes speaks with animals of its own kind. Mauler also replaces speak with animals of its own kind. Too bad.
I got with my GM and he allowed a War Saddle (called out specifically to fit odd mounts and change shape) to combine with a polymorphic pouch (as a saddlebag in the war saddle), at a cost of 12,500 (5,000gp war saddle + 5000 x 1.5 polymorphic pouch).
Expensive, but it solves the problem.
Now I'm looking at mounts I can use between level 5 (mounted Combat) and level 9 (Improved Familiar consular imp). At first I thought phantom steed, but a strict reading of the rules might make it unsuitable;
1. It is not combat trained. I don't know that a quasi real Phantasm feels fear, and as it does not have an intelligence, wisdom or charisma I might be able to successfully argue that spending a move (or on failed ride check full) round action to control in combat is unnecessary. I guess I'll wait and see on that issue.
2. The spell specifies it, "does not fight." Which probably means ride by attack is fine. But might rule out charging. Charge rules specify that an attack may be performed at the end of the charge, meaning it's possible that the phantom steed can charge but does not make the attack as part of the charge. Or does not fight could mean does not charge either.
You could...buy a warhorse or similar. I know, not magical enough.
You could summon a monster. It only lasts rounds/level of course and you'd probably have to ride bareback.
As mentioned above, MP II on a familiar works. Centaur was just the first thing to spring to mind, there's probably other forms & possibly better you could polymorph a familiar into.
avr wrote: You could...buy a warhorse or similar. I know, not magical enough.
You could summon a monster. It only lasts rounds/level of course and you'd probably have to ride bareback.
As mentioned above, MP II on a familiar works. Centaur was just the first thing to spring to mind, there's probably other forms & possibly better you could polymorph a familiar into.
Warhorse is fine. Getting the warhorse in and out of dungeons is what concerns me. For example, our current dungeon requires us to swim under disease infested water for a few rounds and then climb up the side of a cliff. A war trained giant Gecko could maybe do this... Not sure how well it would react to the bad water though.
I'll have another look at the summon monster lists. I probably don't need to control it in battle as I do that magically, and any attack that hits the summoned creature instead of a PC is advantage gained, so a -5 penalty to rise is not terrible.
*Slaps forehead: Trick Riding feat! Not until level 9, but that solves the expensive saddle problem.
The carry companion spell should do the trick if you just need to transport the warhorse from time to time.
Recent threads in Rules Questions
|
