So I want to make an archer that specialize in mounted combat, however I do not wish to give orders to my mount as a Beastmaster would, I plan to use it mostly for it mobility.
Ranger companion from the Beastmaster is a bit confusing: one can only bond with
"a beast that is no larger than Medium and that has a challenge rating of 1/4 or lower."
However if you go into the extra section of the character sheet you can add a warhorse or even a griffin to your beast companion. However you do have to remove the rule specific by the rule book to achieve this. Why is it an option?
If I choose to simply specialize into cavalier, How can I acquire a mount? Buying on, or receiving one as a reward is an option. However, I have read that animal Handling is not an accepted form of bonding with an animal for a permanent companion, is it true?. Can I use the mount ability like "Trampling Charge" from a warhorse as an action even if I am not a beastmaster? While I cannot direct it to attack would the horse defend himself if he is himself attack will he flee the battle?
Furthermore How is a mount defined?
A Horse and a warhorse are obviously mount, but I might want to upgrade to more outrageous mount at higher level. Is it possible to mount creature like a griffin, and is having only the cavalier feature a good enough justification to acquire one or do I need the special rule-set for Beastmaster to achieve this.
I want to stay as much possible on my mount, would taking the athletic proficiency a good countermeasure to being knocked out of it?
Thank you if you made it out to the end. I have never acquire pets or animals in my dnd games and this sounded like a good idea. While my DM is flexible I do not want to abuse the rules. Thank you again in advance ^^.
The dndbeyond character sheet option is just there for convenience, it doesn't necessarily reflect an official rule, and may or may not be implemented in a way that you find helpful. Use it to track your mount or companion if its helpful, or don't if it isn't, but do take it with a grain of salt.
Any character of any class can have a mount. Chapter 5-Equipment provides prices for some common mounts like Riding Horse, Warhorse, ,etc. Chapter 9 - Combat provides rules for how riding a mount in combat works (whether its one you bought, or one provided by a spell like Find Steed, or the ranger's animal companion feature). The short version is... you can either control your mount, in which case it basically is an extension of your character that provides a move speed and can take a dash/dodge/disengage, but takes no other actions, or just stay on top of it while it is independent, in which case it is treated as a seperate creature with a seperate initiative from your own, and its able to move and act (and attack) however it wants. Whether that pony you bought at the stable will stick around in combat if allowed to run independent, or if that wild but friendly pegasus will submit and allow you to ride it with control, are questions that the book doesn't really dive into because that's part of what your DM will need to decide on a case-by-case basis. Your DM might even require you to make an Animal Handling check (either as a free action, or possibly even as a full round action) to control your mount or even stay on top of an independent one that is running wild, who knows. The benefit of a Ranger's Animal Companion or a magical paladin's horse summoned by Find Steed is not only that these creatures may be stronger than they typically are, or provide additional ways that they interact with your class features, but probably one can also assume that they'll be cooperative in combat and won't be making you make Animal Handling checks just stay on top of them.
As for your question about how a mount is defined? There's some language somewhere that talks about the fact that anything can be a mount as long as it has "suitable anatomy or saddle" or something. So if you want to be a halfling cavalier that rides an ostritch, or an orangutang with a basket on its back, or whatever... yeah, probably, just keep in mind that a Mount must be at least one size category larger than it's rider (again, i forget where that's written, same place as the anatomy part).
Finally, staying on your mount might be an Animal Handling check, an Athletics or Acrobatics check, a reflex or strength save... probably lots of ways you might fall off a mount. I'd recommend proficiency in all of the above, and also the Mounted Combatant feat, if riding is something you want to do a lot!
Cavalier has a couple ribbon abilities related to mounts, but not enough to make mounts it’s main thing. All their subclass abilities are about melee attacks, so it wouldn’t work well with archery at all.
You could go something like battlemaster fighter which can make a good archer and take the mounted combatant feat. It will serve you better than cavalier.
The up side of a ranger is that it’s companion powers up with you. A warhorse will likely die the first time it meets a fireball (it’s a dirty secret that mounts in D&D almost never work because of things like AoE spells) A ranger companion you can at least re-summon.
As far as where you get it, same way you get anything else. Buy it at the store or find it as treasure. And you can really use anything as a mount that your DM allows. I think the main rule is that it be at least one size category bigger than you are, generally large or larger.
The up side of a ranger is that it’s companion powers up with you. A warhorse will likely die the first time it meets a fireball (it’s a dirty secret that mounts in D&D almost never work because of things like AoE spells) A ranger companion you can at least re-summon.
The Mounted Combatant feat does a lot to alleviate that, giving your mount Evasion against AOE spells, and allowing you to force attacks against it to target you without using a reaction.
I figured that anyone could acquire a mount but telling me that anything and everything can be a mount is really awesome news. Well it might be a stretch but ill talk with my Dm and ask him about a mount for an animal companion since I plan to heavily invest in feats and skills to do it, it might be justifiable.
Cavalier is not the proper subclasses for an archer, However taking it up only to lvl3 gives the rider advantage on rolling against being dismounted. Which I find really really useful specially if I want to take my fighting to the air. Furthermore in case of melee combat (which would be rare if I can play correctly), the <Unwavering Mark> ability would have give me one additional tool to help keep my mount alive. I should have been a bit more clear. I agree that Battlemaster would make for a better archer but you can't take more than one subclasses per classes T_T lol.
And yea given the health pool of the mounts, I figured they were fragile, that why I thought that fighting from afar (with the sharpshooter feat), would have kept me in relative safety.
While I build and play so that my character can stay alive, I don't really care if they actually do lol too many builds to try lol Death by falling down of a flying mount would be a new one ^^
I have only been playing this game on a regular basis for the last 2 year so I still have many things to discover.
So taking all of your advice and my new understanding of some mechanics here what i come up with for a level 8 characther.
Carthieu, anything can theoretically be a mount, but the list of things that can be a Ranger's animal companion is quite small indeed. "A beast that is no larger than Medium and that has a challenge rating of 1/4 or lower." Even with the UA class variants options for Ranger (which are excellent in general, and great for Beast Master as well), Beast Master just isn't going to get you a Large mount as a class feature. As a Halfling, Kobold, Gnome, or Goblin you could pull it off though?
Are you starting play at 8th level, or just planning out up until that point? Apart from Sharpshooter and Mounted Combatant I'm not sure what other Feats you'll really need... so you'll probably have more than enough ASI to take both and max your Dexterity as well even without being Human, especially if you level as a Rogue or Fighter enough to pick up their bonus ASI's.
Or, Find Steed is just really the superior way of getting a class-feature mount, they're like smarter better animal companions. Paladin 5 gets you one... or Bard 10... or Lore Bard 6!
Ok I was getting ahead of myself there, again beast companion are a bit confusing to me, thanks for clarifying that up, again -_-'.
Yes we are starting at lvl8.
The only feat I always try fit in on almost any build is <resilience wisdom>, to give me betters saves against effect such as charm. and the feat <lucky> is just for overkill. I did mention cheese earlier lol
Yes with a smaller creature the current build is definnetly possible, The Halfling, the ghostwise halfling have an history of mounted combat (bonus RP!.. but their famed mount their known to ride into battle the giant owl is a 1/4 Large beast... Just put a stake to my heart won't you Wizard... lol).
Like you said There isn't a lot of problem that a lore bard can't fix ^^ I will looked into it. Thanx for all the Help!
Owls may be a problem but a Pteranodon may be decent for a small character (bonus: in Eberron, halflings are all about riding dinos) and is Animal Companion-eligible. Giant Wolf Spider could be an option for a goblin or something, so that you can wall climb and shoot arrows from above while strapped into the saddle? Fastieth or Dimetrodon are land-based dinos that halflings could ride. Heck, for a gnome a Cave Badger might even work with a specialized saddle shield so that you can hunker down and go with while it burrows?
Plenty of fun options for a small ranger. Just wish that Medium sized rangers had similar choices :(
A Druid can wildshape into beast forms of lots of different sizes. A wildshaped druid maintains their humanoid mental stats, proficiencies, abilities, and feats, and equipment isn't automatically absorbed if they don't want it to be and if the beast form is capable of wearing/holding it. Some beasts are small and could ride a medium animal companion, or tiny and could ride a small animal companion. And some of these small/tiny beasts have hands, such as the Baboon and Flying Monkey, and not enitrely awful Dexterity scores (14 for both). Both of those are CR 0, so any old Druid can use them, though the Druid would need to be 8th level before being able to pick a flying form like Flying Monkey.
Any old average human ranger Beast Master could have a medium animal companion, and for the low price of 2 Druid levels, turn into a small Baboon for 1 hour twice/short rest. A small creature can use any of the bows just fine, so leaving your bow out shouldn't be a problem. Having only 14 Dexterity isn't ideal, but it's really only 1-3 lower to hit and damage than your attack would likely otherwise be, which is doable.
So there you go. Human ranger that rides their medium animal companion... as a Baboon holding a longbow :p
So I want to make an archer that specialize in mounted combat, however I do not wish to give orders to my mount as a Beastmaster would, I plan to use it mostly for it mobility.
Ranger companion from the Beastmaster is a bit confusing: one can only bond with
However if you go into the extra section of the character sheet you can add a warhorse or even a griffin to your beast companion. However you do have to remove the rule specific by the rule book to achieve this. Why is it an option?
If I choose to simply specialize into cavalier, How can I acquire a mount? Buying on, or receiving one as a reward is an option. However, I have read that animal Handling is not an accepted form of bonding with an animal for a permanent companion, is it true?. Can I use the mount ability like "Trampling Charge" from a warhorse as an action even if I am not a beastmaster? While I cannot direct it to attack would the horse defend himself if he is himself attack will he flee the battle?
Furthermore How is a mount defined?
A Horse and a warhorse are obviously mount, but I might want to upgrade to more outrageous mount at higher level. Is it possible to mount creature like a griffin, and is having only the cavalier feature a good enough justification to acquire one or do I need the special rule-set for Beastmaster to achieve this.
I want to stay as much possible on my mount, would taking the athletic proficiency a good countermeasure to being knocked out of it?
Thank you if you made it out to the end. I have never acquire pets or animals in my dnd games and this sounded like a good idea. While my DM is flexible I do not want to abuse the rules. Thank you again in advance ^^.
anyone in your party a centaur you can ride?
Blank
The dndbeyond character sheet option is just there for convenience, it doesn't necessarily reflect an official rule, and may or may not be implemented in a way that you find helpful. Use it to track your mount or companion if its helpful, or don't if it isn't, but do take it with a grain of salt.
Any character of any class can have a mount. Chapter 5-Equipment provides prices for some common mounts like Riding Horse, Warhorse, ,etc. Chapter 9 - Combat provides rules for how riding a mount in combat works (whether its one you bought, or one provided by a spell like Find Steed, or the ranger's animal companion feature). The short version is... you can either control your mount, in which case it basically is an extension of your character that provides a move speed and can take a dash/dodge/disengage, but takes no other actions, or just stay on top of it while it is independent, in which case it is treated as a seperate creature with a seperate initiative from your own, and its able to move and act (and attack) however it wants. Whether that pony you bought at the stable will stick around in combat if allowed to run independent, or if that wild but friendly pegasus will submit and allow you to ride it with control, are questions that the book doesn't really dive into because that's part of what your DM will need to decide on a case-by-case basis. Your DM might even require you to make an Animal Handling check (either as a free action, or possibly even as a full round action) to control your mount or even stay on top of an independent one that is running wild, who knows. The benefit of a Ranger's Animal Companion or a magical paladin's horse summoned by Find Steed is not only that these creatures may be stronger than they typically are, or provide additional ways that they interact with your class features, but probably one can also assume that they'll be cooperative in combat and won't be making you make Animal Handling checks just stay on top of them.
As for your question about how a mount is defined? There's some language somewhere that talks about the fact that anything can be a mount as long as it has "suitable anatomy or saddle" or something. So if you want to be a halfling cavalier that rides an ostritch, or an orangutang with a basket on its back, or whatever... yeah, probably, just keep in mind that a Mount must be at least one size category larger than it's rider (again, i forget where that's written, same place as the anatomy part).
Finally, staying on your mount might be an Animal Handling check, an Athletics or Acrobatics check, a reflex or strength save... probably lots of ways you might fall off a mount. I'd recommend proficiency in all of the above, and also the Mounted Combatant feat, if riding is something you want to do a lot!
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
Cavalier has a couple ribbon abilities related to mounts, but not enough to make mounts it’s main thing. All their subclass abilities are about melee attacks, so it wouldn’t work well with archery at all.
You could go something like battlemaster fighter which can make a good archer and take the mounted combatant feat. It will serve you better than cavalier.
The up side of a ranger is that it’s companion powers up with you. A warhorse will likely die the first time it meets a fireball (it’s a dirty secret that mounts in D&D almost never work because of things like AoE spells) A ranger companion you can at least re-summon.
As far as where you get it, same way you get anything else. Buy it at the store or find it as treasure. And you can really use anything as a mount that your DM allows. I think the main rule is that it be at least one size category bigger than you are, generally large or larger.
The Mounted Combatant feat does a lot to alleviate that, giving your mount Evasion against AOE spells, and allowing you to force attacks against it to target you without using a reaction.
dndbeyond.com forum tags
I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
Centaur is a thing?.. Oh centaur is a thing! lol
I figured that anyone could acquire a mount but telling me that anything and everything can be a mount is really awesome news. Well it might be a stretch but ill talk with my Dm and ask him about a mount for an animal companion since I plan to heavily invest in feats and skills to do it, it might be justifiable.
Cavalier is not the proper subclasses for an archer, However taking it up only to lvl3 gives the rider advantage on rolling against being dismounted. Which I find really really useful specially if I want to take my fighting to the air. Furthermore in case of melee combat (which would be rare if I can play correctly), the <Unwavering Mark> ability would have give me one additional tool to help keep my mount alive. I should have been a bit more clear. I agree that Battlemaster would make for a better archer but you can't take more than one subclasses per classes T_T lol.
And yea given the health pool of the mounts, I figured they were fragile, that why I thought that fighting from afar (with the sharpshooter feat), would have kept me in relative safety.
While I build and play so that my character can stay alive, I don't really care if they actually do lol too many builds to try lol Death by falling down of a flying mount would be a new one ^^
I have only been playing this game on a regular basis for the last 2 year so I still have many things to discover.
So taking all of your advice and my new understanding of some mechanics here what i come up with for a level 8 characther.Race Human variant; FeatSharp ShooterAbility: Str 8, Dex, 16, Con, 10, int 12, wisdom 14, charisma, 145 Level of Ranger Beast master; Feat Mounted Combatant3 Level of warrior cavalierProficiencies: Acrobatics, Animal Handling, Athletics,Nature, Perception, Persuasion, Survival.Also here is a version with full cheese if I were to make it to 20 (not gonna happen) : )Mounted ArcherN/AThank you for your Time!
Edited: Because the build was not viable
Carthieu, anything can theoretically be a mount, but the list of things that can be a Ranger's animal companion is quite small indeed. "A beast that is no larger than Medium and that has a challenge rating of 1/4 or lower." Even with the UA class variants options for Ranger (which are excellent in general, and great for Beast Master as well), Beast Master just isn't going to get you a Large mount as a class feature. As a Halfling, Kobold, Gnome, or Goblin you could pull it off though?
Are you starting play at 8th level, or just planning out up until that point? Apart from Sharpshooter and Mounted Combatant I'm not sure what other Feats you'll really need... so you'll probably have more than enough ASI to take both and max your Dexterity as well even without being Human, especially if you level as a Rogue or Fighter enough to pick up their bonus ASI's.
Or, Find Steed is just really the superior way of getting a class-feature mount, they're like smarter better animal companions. Paladin 5 gets you one... or Bard 10... or Lore Bard 6!
dndbeyond.com forum tags
I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
Ok I was getting ahead of myself there, again beast companion are a bit confusing to me, thanks for clarifying that up, again -_-'.
Yes we are starting at lvl8.
The only feat I always try fit in on almost any build is <resilience wisdom>, to give me betters saves against effect such as charm. and the feat <lucky> is just for overkill. I did mention cheese earlier lol
Yes with a smaller creature the current build is definnetly possible, The Halfling, the ghostwise halfling have an history of mounted combat (bonus RP!.. but their famed mount their known to ride into battle the giant owl is a 1/4 Large beast... Just put a stake to my heart won't you Wizard... lol).
Like you said There isn't a lot of problem that a lore bard can't fix ^^ I will looked into it. Thanx for all the Help!
Owls may be a problem but a Pteranodon may be decent for a small character (bonus: in Eberron, halflings are all about riding dinos) and is Animal Companion-eligible. Giant Wolf Spider could be an option for a goblin or something, so that you can wall climb and shoot arrows from above while strapped into the saddle? Fastieth or Dimetrodon are land-based dinos that halflings could ride. Heck, for a gnome a Cave Badger might even work with a specialized saddle shield so that you can hunker down and go with while it burrows?
Plenty of fun options for a small ranger. Just wish that Medium sized rangers had similar choices :(
dndbeyond.com forum tags
I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.
Okay, sorry, just one more idea...
A Druid can wildshape into beast forms of lots of different sizes. A wildshaped druid maintains their humanoid mental stats, proficiencies, abilities, and feats, and equipment isn't automatically absorbed if they don't want it to be and if the beast form is capable of wearing/holding it. Some beasts are small and could ride a medium animal companion, or tiny and could ride a small animal companion. And some of these small/tiny beasts have hands, such as the Baboon and Flying Monkey, and not enitrely awful Dexterity scores (14 for both). Both of those are CR 0, so any old Druid can use them, though the Druid would need to be 8th level before being able to pick a flying form like Flying Monkey.
Any old average human ranger Beast Master could have a medium animal companion, and for the low price of 2 Druid levels, turn into a small Baboon for 1 hour twice/short rest. A small creature can use any of the bows just fine, so leaving your bow out shouldn't be a problem. Having only 14 Dexterity isn't ideal, but it's really only 1-3 lower to hit and damage than your attack would likely otherwise be, which is doable.
So there you go. Human ranger that rides their medium animal companion... as a Baboon holding a longbow :p
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I'm going to make this way harder than it needs to be.