Regarding mounts, the players handbook says, "A willing creature that is at least one size larger than you and has the appropriate anatomy can serve as a mount." Can an Artificer's Steel Defender be used as a mount by a small rider? It is being argued that it is not a “creature” but effectively a robot/object and that it cannot be “willing” because it does not have any will.
Regarding mounts, the players handbook says, "A willing creature that is at least one size larger than you and has the appropriate anatomy can serve as a mount." Can an Artificer's Steel Defender be used as a mount by a small rider? It is being argued that it is not a “creature” but effectively a robot/object and that it cannot be “willing” because it does not have any will.
You can argue it from the opposite direction; a Steel Defender is actually incapable of being unwilling, as it must carry out your commands to the best of its ability. In that sense it doesn't have free will, it has programmed/controlled will so in effect it is always willing.
I don't see anything that really restricts it, if it were not intended to be usable as a mount then its rule would say so, as Battle Smiths have been using it this way long before Artificer got reprinted in Tasha's Cauldron, so Wizards of the Coast have had plenty of time to say it's not allowed if they wanted to.
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From what I understand, having a Gnome or Goblin PC ride their Steel Defender into battle is a common tactic. As a DM it never occurred to me to question the viability of such a thing.
Regarding mounts, the players handbook says, "A willing creature that is at least one size larger than you and has the appropriate anatomy can serve as a mount." Can an Artificer's Steel Defender be used as a mount by a small rider? It is being argued that it is not a “creature” but effectively a robot/object and that it cannot be “willing” because it does not have any will.
Yes absolutely. Is it a creature?
Yes. Can it make its own choices?
Yes. Pretty sure there is even an official NPC that rides a steel defender.
I am also pretty sure that a Steel Defender would be happy to help the party anyway it can.
I can't see why not.
You can argue it from the opposite direction; a Steel Defender is actually incapable of being unwilling, as it must carry out your commands to the best of its ability. In that sense it doesn't have free will, it has programmed/controlled will so in effect it is always willing.
I don't see anything that really restricts it, if it were not intended to be usable as a mount then its rule would say so, as Battle Smiths have been using it this way long before Artificer got reprinted in Tasha's Cauldron, so Wizards of the Coast have had plenty of time to say it's not allowed if they wanted to.
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
From what I understand, having a Gnome or Goblin PC ride their Steel Defender into battle is a common tactic. As a DM it never occurred to me to question the viability of such a thing.
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The picture of it is a mechanical riding dog. Not only can it be ridden, I think it is designed to be ridden.
As opposed to