Giving a paladin a half-dragon mount

[Asmor]

A paladin in my game wants a dragon mount. I'm okay with that, except to give him a true dragon mount I'd want to wait a while as it's fairly powerful... The lowest CR metallic dragon which is large in size is a CR 7 gold dragon. There's also other complications that can arise from the fact that the dragon is extremely intelligent and ego-centric. I'd also require him to take the leadership feat and use the dragon as his cohort.

I'm thinking about offering him a half-dragon heavy warhorse instead. I'd let him use it as a normal mount, except that it's always one step below what a paladin's mount should be according to the table. So at level 5 when he gets it, it has entirely normal stats (for a half-dragon heavy warhorse, of course) and doesn't get any boosts to HD or natural armor until he gets left 8. I'd still give it the increased intelligence, share spells, share saving throws and empathic link, though.

It's at least on the stronger side of balanced... but does it seem overly powerful?

 

[Wolfwood2]

It's at least on the stronger side of balanced... but does it seem overly powerful?

Pretty powerful for a 5th level character. Remember that all its hitdice are racial hitdice, so all the dragon bonuses appy.

A half-dragon warhorse compared to warhorse with the paladin's mount bonuses:

Hitpoints (half-dragon uses d10 hitdice)
Half-dragon: 38 HP
Pallie Bonus: 45 HP

AC: Same

Attacks
Half-Dragon: 2 Claws +10 (1d6+8), Bite +5 (1d8+4)
Pallie Bonus: 2 Hooves +7 (1d6+4), Bite +2 (1d4+2)

Skill Points
Half-Dragon: 35 skill points (cap of 7 ranks)
Pallie Bonus: 9 skill points (cap of 9 ranks)

Plus the half-dragon has a 6d8 breath weapon once/day, is immune to sleep, paralysis, and fire, and can fly at 100 feet movement.

That's pretty sweet.

 

[Ender_rpm]

Maybe around 9th level he could pick that up. Have his horse "mature" into this critter? Start of dragon-esque, but wingless,a nd have it metamorphosize over time. Could be fun!!

 

[robberbaron]

Let him have a 'normal' mount for 3 levels, then trade it in for a newer, improved model when he hits 8th. Just remember that its progression will be as if the paladin was 3 levels lower than he is, just like a druid picking an advanced companion.

I would still point out that Half-Dragon is a +3 LA template, which is a step and a half better than the normal mount. Might be worth throttling it back a bit, even making it paladin level - 5 for advancement (he gets it at 10th).
Not game-breaking out-of-balance, but it might piss your other players off.

 

[Wolfwood2]

All that said, a half-dragon mount is a pretty great idea. It gives a flying mount with some neat abilities without being quite so powerful as an actual dragon.

If the paladin I am playing survives to level 8 or so, I think I'll approach my DM about having his mount undergo a draconic metamorphosis.

 

[Legildur]

Maybe around 9th level he could pick that up. Have his horse "mature" into this critter? Start of dragon-esque, but wingless,a nd have it metamorphosize over time. Could be fun!!

Now that is a good idea! After, it is called mount of types. Who says it has to be a 'by-the-book' heavy warhorse - as long as game balance is maintained by reducing the effective paladin level for determining the special mount's abilities.

 

[frankthedm]

A sting-less wyvern solves the breath and 100' movement problem of the half dragon

 

[Sound of Azure]

I'd keep it as a normal warhorse until Paladin level 8, then improve the warhorse as if it had advanced in the Dragon Disciple prestige class (in addition to the delayed normal mount abilities). That way the mount still improves, but not suddenly as if youh'd just applied the template directly.