Adding a Nightmare as a custom animal companion

[lymang]

OK, so I've opened the editor up, and I can see the Race: Race, Anim Comp tab. I'd like to make Nightmare available as an animal companion (don't ask, it's a long story). When I go to make a "new(copy)" I cannot find Nightmare on the list of things to copy from.

I'd appreciate any input on how to proceed, or what I'm missing (pretty sure I am missing something!). I don't want to have a nightmare just as a mount, or as a hireling, I need it as a companion, to work with the barbarian "mounted fury" archetype (or for a druid, I suppose, if I ever wanted a druid mounted on a nightmare). Yes I know Nightmare is intelligent and evil but suffice it to say thats not exactly the situation in our campaign.

Thanks,

Lyman Green

[lymang]

Hm well. To answer my own question, I ended up copying a horse and then going into the regular "Race" tab and opening a copy of Nightmare there, and then comparing and setting the same abilities on the copy of horse in animal companions. It appears to have worked, but I couldn't tell in some cases what some things did. I am not sure how to determine on the horse animal companion (that I am modifying to nightmare) what is horse and what is coming from it being an animal companion. So I'm still working on this. Would still appreciate any tips.

[ShadowChemosh]

Originally Posted by lymang

Would still appreciate any tips.

With what? That is VERY general question meaning I don't think you will get allot of help.

In very general terms a Nightmare is not an Animal Companion. A animal is not even an Animal Companion. These are all three very unique Things in HL and the rules of Pathfinder. Meaning you will need to build the Nightmare Animal Companion from the ground up. Working with your DM you will need to figure out all sorts of rules for this creature like what abilities it gets and when it increases size or changes to ability scores.

If you have specific questions we are happy to help but not sure what your question is. It sounds like you have a good start on things and using the Horse as a starting point is a good plan.

[Roadie]

lymang, you might be better off in the short term by building the animal companion as a horse, and using ShadowChemosh's adjustments package to adjust stats, add special ability placeholders, etc for whatever stat differences your GM has approved.

[lymang]

Originally Posted by ShadowChemosh

With what? That is VERY general question meaning I don't think you will get allot of help.

In very general terms a Nightmare is not an Animal Companion. A animal is not even an Animal Companion. These are all three very unique Things in HL and the rules of Pathfinder. Meaning you will need to build the Nightmare Animal Companion from the ground up. Working with your DM you will need to figure out all sorts of rules for this creature like what abilities it gets and when it increases size or changes to ability scores.

If you have specific questions we are happy to help but not sure what your question is. It sounds like you have a good start on things and using the Horse as a starting point is a good plan.

actually you kind of helped just there, in fact, by noting the differentiation of the even animals from animal companions. Very interesting and revealing. I work with my DM

[Dwayne]

This may be of help or not. The feat Companion Figurine allows you to choose the Obsidian Steed figurine as an animal companion. That is just another name for the Nightmare.