Choosing Mounts and Animal Companions A Practical Guide

Updated on: 2025-11-25

This guide offers a calm, practical approach to choosing, caring for, and roleplaying mounts and animal companions in tabletop RPGs. You will learn the difference between riding mounts and pet companions, how to select a creature that fits your world and party needs, and simple ways to bond through routine care and training. The step-by-step walkthrough, expert tips, and concise FAQs are designed to help you bring these beloved allies into your story with clarity and respect. Whether you prefer reliable horses or fantastical beasts, you will find gentle advice for enjoyable, long-term play.

Step-by-Step Guide to Mounts and Animal Companions
Tips for Mounts and Animal Companions Care and Play
FAQs about Mounts and Animal Companions

Mounts and animal companions can deepen roleplay, add mobility, and create heartfelt moments at the table. If you are exploring riding mounts, pet companions, or a hybrid of both, this care and training guide for mounts and animal companions offers a measured path. It aims to help you choose wisely, nurture trust, and bring these loyal allies to life. Secondary considerations such as travel pace, horse riding alternatives, and party balance are included so your group can enjoy a smooth experience from session to session.

Step-by-Step Guide to Mounts and Animal Companions

Step 1: Choose Your Character Role and Table Rules

Begin by clarifying how mounts and animal companions support your character’s goals. A scout might need speed and stealth. A knight may value strength and carrying capacity. A druid or ranger may prefer a close bond with pet companions who share class features. Check with your group about how mounts enter the story, how they travel with the party, and what rules cover care, encumbrance, and visibility. Clear expectations keep the focus on adventure rather than confusion.

Step 2: Understand the Difference Between a Mount and an Animal Companion

A mount is a creature you ride, often focused on travel, positioning, and carrying gear. An animal companion is a loyal ally with a defined bond, growth, and actions that support the party. Some games blend these roles, but most tables treat them differently. Asking early, “What is the difference between a mount and an animal companion?” helps you find the right fit and avoid overlapping abilities. If your game allows upgrades, you may begin with a riding mount and later develop a deeper companion bond.

Step 3: Match Size, Terrain, and Travel Pace

Consider where your group journeys. Open plains suggest horses, elk, or other riding mounts. Dense forests may favor smaller, sure-footed creatures. Underground or urban play might call for compact options that can pass through doors and streets. Check sizes relative to your character and gear. This ensures steady travel pace and safe navigation. When horse riding does not suit the setting, look for alternatives with climbing, swimming, or burrowing traits that match the world’s challenges.

Step 4: Consider Temperament and Training Needs

Calm creatures reduce mishaps. Skittish or territorial animals add drama but require patience. Some companions respond well to food, grooming, and consistent routines. Others need structured training or magical communication. Choose a temperament you enjoy roleplaying. If you prefer gentle interactions, seek creatures known for steady tempers. If you like risk and excitement, select a spirited ally and plan time for training scenes that reward your effort.

Step 5: Prepare Gear, Load, and Safety

Think about saddles, tack, harnesses, and storage for supplies. Keep loads reasonable so your mount stays comfortable. When your party relies on speed, extra weight may slow travel and reduce endurance. Gentle habits—checking straps, cleaning gear, and scheduling rest—help your riding mounts remain reliable. If you track realism, a few minutes of preparation at camp or in stables can prevent problems later.

Step 6: Create a Bonding and Care Routine

Bonding grows through small, consistent acts: regular feeding, water, gentle grooming, and respectful handling. Establish cues for start, stop, and calm. Celebrate your companion’s help with praise and quiet time. This care and training guide for mounts and animal companions emphasizes short, frequent sessions over long, intense drills. In roleplay, these moments can be touching scenes of trust and gratitude. If your table tracks downtime, add simple routines that reinforce the bond.

Step 7: Align at Session Zero

Before the campaign begins, discuss how pets and companions fit into combat, travel, and social scenes. Agree on when the GM may roll for the creature, how actions are resolved, and what happens if the party must hide or move through tight spaces. Gentle boundaries reduce tension, protect spotlight time for all players, and keep the story moving.

Step 8: Plan Progression and Upgrades

Consider how your mounts and animal companions evolve. You might add protective barding, teach specialized commands, or unlock new features as the bond deepens. For players who enjoy tactile immersion, a dedicated set of dice can mark key moments like successful training checks or travel challenges. If you are looking for elegant tools, explore gemstone dice or the bold character of sharp-edge resin dice to set the tone at your table.

Step 9: Play with Respect and Table Safety

These are beloved allies, not disposable assets. When danger rises, give your group options to protect or retreat with companions. If the story includes risk, agree on lines and limits so everyone feels comfortable. A respectful approach keeps pets and companions a source of joy rather than distress.

Tips for Mounts and Animal Companions Care and Play

Be clear about purpose. Travel, scouting, or support in encounters each call for different training and gear.
Keep commands simple. Use two or three short cues during early sessions to build confidence.
Track rest. Even fantasy creatures benefit from regular breaks and a calm camp routine.
Balance spotlight time. Share the scene so mounts and pet companions support, not overshadow, other characters.
Lean on worldbuilding. Describe tack, stable smells, and hoofprints to make travel feel vivid without slowing play.
Use tokens and trackers. A spare die or bead can mark “bond points” or a companion’s turn.
Stay consistent. Small, steady care scenes create believable bonds and reduce rule disputes.
Choose intuitive tools. If you enjoy visual flair, you might appreciate the warmth of a gold gemstone set or the shimmer of liquid core dice for memorable moments.

FAQs about Mounts and Animal Companions

What is the difference between a mount and an animal companion?

A mount is primarily for riding, transport, and positioning. An animal companion is a bonded ally with actions, growth, and features tied to your character. Some tables combine them, but most treat riding mounts as utility partners and animal companions as roleplay-forward allies with progression. Asking your GM early prevents confusion.

How do you bond with a mount or animal companion and keep them healthy?

Use short, frequent care routines: feeding, grooming, gentle handling, and clear cues. Praise cooperation and communicate calmly when stressed. In play, schedule realistic rest during travel. A consistent routine fosters trust. If your table uses checks, reward patient training and thoughtful handling.

Can small characters ride pets, and what if horse riding does not fit?

Yes, if the creature’s size, strength, and rules at your table allow it. When horse riding does not suit the terrain or story, choose alternatives that climb, swim, or glide. Compact mounts work well in dungeons, while larger creatures excel in open spaces. Agree on limits and enjoy creative travel scenes.

How to choose mounts and animal companions for a tabletop RPG?

Start with your character’s role, then review size, terrain, and temperament. Decide whether you want a utility-focused riding mount or a growth-oriented animal companion. Align with table rules, set a simple training plan, and add small care scenes that build a lasting bond. When you want tactile milestones, a thematic set like sharp-edge resin dice or refined gemstone dice can mark progress in a memorable way.