Wee Skirmisher: RAW or RAI?

Quote from SmiteMakesRight_3_5 >>

If you ride your Centaur ally, they don't become a controlled mount because they agree to follow your instructions. A familiar doesn't either.

If the two PC's decide to train at it for a bit and the Centaur is willing to just follow orders while mounted then it could easily be a controlled mount. Not sure why anyone would want to though as it is a straight downgrade for the PC who's being the mount.

Quote from SmiteMakesRight_3_5 >>

A deer is anatomically similar to a horse or mule but is not domesticated, familiar or no. It is not trained to accept a rider. 

There is no deer in this scenario, there is a deer-shaped familiar. And no animal is trained to accept a rider before it is actually trained. Being domesticated just means it is conditioned through generations of breeding to be trainable.
But considering that the familiar obeys you I have to think that the familiar is also trainable. And as you can communicate directly with it I have to think that it would be a lot easier then training a horse (or similar animal).

Quote from Thezzaruz>>

Quote from SmiteMakesRight_3_5>>

If you ride your Centaur ally, they don't become a controlled mount because they agree to follow your instructions. A familiar doesn't either.

If the two PC's decide to train at it for a bit and the Centaur is willing to just follow orders while mounted then it could easily be a controlled mount. Not sure why anyone would want to though as it is a straight downgrade for the PC who's being the mount.

That is house rules territory. Fine if you want to do it. 

Quote from Thezzaruz >>

And no animal is trained to accept a rider before it is actually trained. Being domesticated just means it is conditioned through generations of breeding to be trainable.

The rules disagree with you.

Controlling a Mount

You can control a mount only if it has been trained to accept a rider. Domesticated horses, mules, and similar creatures have such training.

Quote from Thezzaruz >>  

But considering that the familiar obeys you I have to think that the familiar is also trainable. And as you can communicate directly with it I have to think that it would be a lot easier then training a horse (or similar animal).

A "deer-shaped familiar" is still not trained to accept a rider. Training the deer familiar is, again, house rules territory.

A deer familiar mount may technically fit neither the controlled nor independent mount classification, I think it is intended (if anything about familiars as mounts can be considered "intended") to be an independent mount because "only creatures trained to accept a rider" can be a controlled mount while I think "ignores your control" is meant to refer to the direct control of the rider via reins, spurs, and whatnot. It does not have to actively ignore you or even be able to ignore your instructions, verbal or telepathic. It's weird.

Quote from SmiteMakesRight_3_5>>

Quote from Thezzaruz>>

Quote from SmiteMakesRight_3_5>>

If you ride your Centaur ally, they don't become a controlled mount because they agree to follow your instructions. A familiar doesn't either.

If the two PC's decide to train at it for a bit and the Centaur is willing to just follow orders while mounted then it could easily be a controlled mount. Not sure why anyone would want to though as it is a straight downgrade for the PC who's being the mount.

That is house rules territory. Fine if you want to do it.  

From what I can tell, "that is house rules territory" basically sums up the whole conversation.

I genuinely appreciate all the feedback. My DM & I have found an amiable middle ground, and our bonds are that much stronger from the open lines of communication and collaborative problem solving. 

Quote from 76ZRO >>

From what I can tell, "that is house rules territory" basically sums up the whole conversation.

I genuinely appreciate all the feedback. My DM & I have found an amiable middle ground, and our bonds are that much stronger from the open lines of communication and collaborative problem solving. 

Yup and that's great to hear. Good communication is important between DM and Player. We are in the RAW forum but RAW is only the start. It sounds like you are in for some interesting adventures ahead.

Good luck.