Warbeast
The warbeast is a creature born and raised to serve as a rider's mount. Bred for exceptional strength, aggression, and surefootedness, these creatures are powerfully built, strong-willed, and openly belligerent.
Creating A Warbeast
"Warbeast" is a template that can be added to any Medium-size or larger animal, beast, or vermin (referred to hereafter as the base creature). A warbeast uses all the base creature's attributes and special abilities except as noted here.
The Monster Manual describes a few "war creatures" that have qualities similar to those of a warbeast but differ from standard creatures of a given kind. These creatures are considered to already have a separate "war template" and cannot have the warbeast template added. For example, one cannot apply the warbeast template to a heavy warhorse.
Hit Dice: Same as base creature +1.
Speed: Same as base creature +10 feet.
AC: Same as base creature.
Attacks: Same as base creature (modified as appropriate for added Hit Die and Strength increase).
Damage: Same as base creature (modified as appropriate for Strength increase).
Special Qualities: A warbeast retains the special qualities of the base creature and gains the following special quality.
Combative Mount (Ex): A rider on a trained warbeast mount gets a +2 circumstance bonus on all Ride checks. A trained warbeast is proficient with light, medium, and heavy armor. A vermin warbeast, being mindless and therefore untrainable, cannot have this ability.
Saves: Same as base creature (modified as appropriate for the added Hit Die and ability score increases).
Abilities: Increase from base creature as follows: Str +3, Dex +0, Con +3, Int +0, Wis +2, Cha +0.
Skills: A warbeast receives a +1 racial bonus on Listen and Spot checks.
Climate/Terrain: Same as base creature.
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: Same as base creature +1.
Treasure: None.
Alignment: Same as base creature.
Advancement: Same as base creature.
Training A Warbeast
A warbeast can be reared and trained just as the base creature can. If the base creature is a domestic animal, the creature need nor be specially reared, but it must be trained for two months (Handle Animal DC 20) to develop its abilities.
A warbeast based on a wild animal must be reared for one year (Handle Animal DC 15 + HD of the warbeast), then trained for 2 months (Handle Animal DC 20 + HD of the warbeast).
A warbeast based on a beast must be reared for one year (Handle Animal DC 20 + HD of the warbeast), then trained for 2 months (Handle Animal DC 25 + HD of the warbeast).
A warbeast based on a vermin, being mindless, is untrainable. A trained warbeast is capable of carrying a rider into battle, and it gains the combative mount special quality (see above).
Market Price: The market price of a warbeast is a function of its Hit Dice: 50 gp/HD for a warbeast of 3 HD or less, or 100 gp + 75 gp/HD for one of 4 HD or more.
Sample Warbeast: Warbeast Rhinoceros.