The Ghost Rider archetype has recently become the focus of my attention, and inevitably, I now have some questions.
- Does the Ghost Mount (Phantom) count as an animal companion? I ask because I am looking at Pack Flanking
- Does Order of the Beasts (ACG) Wild Mount Shape affect the Ghost Mount?
AoN wrote: At 8th level, an order of the beast cavalier gains the ability to turn his mount into a different Medium or Large animal and back again once per day. His options for new forms include all creatures with the animal type. This ability functions as beast shape II, except as noted here. The effect lasts for 1 hour per cavalier level, or until the cavalier chooses to change his mount back. Changing the mount's form (to a different animal or back to normal) requires the cavalier to touch his mount as a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. The form chosen must be that of an animal the cavalier is familiar with. The mount does not change size, but does receive the bonuses (not the penalty) presented in beast shape II for the Large animal.
The cavalier can use this ability an additional time per day at 10th level and every 4 levels thereafter (to a maximum of four times per day at 18th level).
At 15th level, the cavalier can use wild mount shape to change his mount into a Medium or Large dragon. When taking this form, the cavalier's wild mount shape now functions as form of the dragon I, except as above.
As always, thank you for your time and attention
After a quick look, in general I would say the RAW is NOT an animal companion. Although, in my home games, I would probably allow on case-by-case basis.
For Pack Flanking though, you are out of luck anyway. It specifies your companion must meet the prerequisites of the feat, but the ghost mount can't get combat expertise. Ghost rider also loses tactician, so you can't grant the feat that way.
The Order of the Beasts should generally work, although whether the effect would continue or end if the mount is returned to your consciousness and then manifested again is a GM call.
I grok do u wrote: After a quick look, in general I would say the RAW is NOT an animal companion. Although, in my home games, I would probably allow on case-by-case basis.
I think the fact the feat Phantom Ally exists suggests they do not count (In comparison to Boon Companion)
I grok do u wrote:
For Pack Flanking though, you are out of luck anyway. It specifies your companion must meet the prerequisites of the feat, but the ghost mount can't get combat expertise. Ghost rider also loses tactician, so you can't grant the feat that way.
I planned to take Pack Flanking in a regular feat spot, and use Horsemaster's Saddle to share it
Phantom wrote: Link (Su): A spiritualist and her phantom share a mental link that allows for communication across distances (as long as they are on the same plane). This communication is a free action that can be performed even when it isn’t the spiritualist’s turn, but the spiritualist and the phantom must both be conscious to communicate in this way. This allows the spiritualist to give orders to her phantom at any time. Magic items interfere with a spiritualist’s connection to her phantom; as a result, the spiritualist and her phantom share magic item slots. For example, if the spiritualist is wearing a magic ring, her phantom can wear only one magic ring. In the case of a conflict, the items worn by the spiritualist remain active, and those worn by the phantom become dormant. The phantom must possess the appropriate appendages to utilize a magic item. While most saddles take up the belt slot, Horsemaster's Saddle says, "none," which may be an error, or perhaps the worst slot taken if you have a lawful evil GM. <Insert diabolic pedant laugh>
Phantom wrote: Fully manifested phantoms can't wear armor but can use items (though not wield weapons) appropriate to their forms. Any items worn, carried, or held by a phantom are dropped when the phantom returns to the spiritualist's consciousness, and must be retrieved and donned anew if the phantom wishes to use them when it fully manifests in the future. Also have to keep this in mind.
There are several gray areas that the archetype has that may need some GM adjudication: type is animal (phantom) instead of outsider (phantom); advancement as phantom is unclear with regards to natural attacks being based on horse starting stats - bite/hooves vs slams. Also some disadvantages: no 4th/7th level advancement as standard for animal companions, DEX/CHA bonus for phantom is generally less useful STR/DEX bonus for animal companion. The ability replaces mount, rather than alters, so you don't automatically get the benefit of mount rules clarifications. It also uses the weaselly,"functions like a spiritualist's phantom companion," rather than giving the phantom ability explicitly - phrasing like that has a long tradition of debate in how the ability works.
Nothing that can't be resolved with an honest discussion with the GM, though, so definitely do that.
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