This selection includes common animals purchased or rented by travelers along with those animals’ gear.
Price is the amount, in silver pieces, that the animal or gear is worth. Most animals can be purchased or rented. If an animal is rented, it lists the price per 24 hours.
Bulk is the weight of the animals’ gear. Animals’ weights are not listed, and their entries have a ‘-‘. If there is an ‘L,’ the item in question is considered of ‘Light’ weight, where ten light weight objects add up to 1 Bulk.
Wielding indicates the number of hands you need available to use the gear. Guiding an animal requires a variable number of hands depending on the situation, so those entries are listed with a ‘-‘.
| Item (Quantity or Type, if applicable) | Price | Bulk | Wielding |
| Dog, Rent Guard Riding | 24 hours 1 copper 6 coppers | – | – |
| Dog, Buy Guard Riding | 2 silvers 20 silvers | – | – |
| Feed, 24 hours | 1 copper | 3 | 2 |
| Horse, Rent Riding War | 24 hours 1 silver 10 silvers | – | – |
| Horse, Buy Riding War | 50 silvers 200 silvers | – | – |
| Pack Animal, Rent | 24 hours 2 copper | – | – |
| Pack Animal, Buy | 15 silvers | – | – |
| Pony, Rent Riding War | 24 hours 8 copper 8 silvers | – | – |
| Pony, Buy Riding War | 30 silvers 150 silvers | – | – |
| Saddlebags | 1 silver | L | 2 |
| Tack, Medium Basic: Pack Expert: Riding Master: Military | 5 silvers 10 silvers 20 silvers | 1 2 3 | 2 |
| Tack, Large Basic: Pack Expert: Riding Master: Military | 10 silvers 30 silvers 60 silvers | 2 3 4 | 2 |
| Tack, Unusual Basic: Pack Expert: Riding Master: Military | 12 silvers 35 silvers 75 silvers | 2 3 4 | 2 |
Barding
You can purchase special armor for animals, called barding. Any animal is considered to be trained in light barding while combat-trained animals are trained in heavy barding. The Price and Bulk of barding depends on the animal’s size. Guard dogs are Small, riding dogs and ponies are Medium, and horses and pack animals are Large. For creatures of other sizes, adjust the numbers from the closest category. Unlike a suit of armor, barding does not have a Dexterity modifier cap. Barding normally cannot have added benefits though exceptions might be available at your GM’s discretion. Barding otherwise uses the same rules as armor.
Light Barding
| Creature Size | Price | Bonus | Check Penalty | Speed Penalty | Bulk |
| Small | 50 silvers | +1 | -1 | -5 feet | 2 |
| Medium | 100 silvers | +1 | -1 | -5 feet | 3 |
| Large | 200 silvers | +1 | -1 | -5 feet | 4 |
Heavy Barding
| Creature Size | Price | Bonus | Check Penalty | Speed Penalty | Bulk |
| Small | 250 silvers | +2 | -3 | -10 feet | 4 |
| Medium | 350 silvers | +2 | -3 | -10 feet | 6 |
| Large | 500 silvers | +2 | -3 | -10 feet | 8 |
Light Barding. This armor for mounts, as the name suggests, is lighter weight imparting both less defense and more maneuverability. Commonly made with hardened leather, which is attached to the mount’s tack, it might include the odd metal plating.
Heavy Barding. Distinct from light barding, heavy barding is made from pieces of metal hooked to each other and shaped to cover some of the mount. Often this armor is concentrated on the mount’s head, neck, chest, shoulders, and flanks.
Animal and Related Gear Descriptions
Feed. Most commonly this is oats, hay, or other grains for herbivore animals. Grains typically travel the best being more filling for less of it, but some animals prefer nuts or berries. Carnivore mounts have feed which is smoked or preserved meats ranging in size and variety based on the specific animal’s needs. Finally, omnivore mounts, like herbivores and carnivores, eat either plant or meat-based foods dictated by their needs and preferences.
Guard Dog. Ranging from 24 to upwards of 40 inches at the shoulder, these dogs are trained to guard areas such as doors, buildings, fields, and livestock. Most respond to specific command words.
Pack Animal. Not provided the specific and more intensive training as most riding animals, pack animals service to carry items and equipment, particularly those which are awkward or heavy. Pack animals can also be used to pull carts, carriages, and other land transportation.
Riding Dog. These large canines are trained to carry small creatures. Averaging at least 40 inches at the shoulders, these dogs are familiar with carrying baskets and pack, including smaller livestock, but also with service as mounts for smaller creatures.
Riding Pony. Equines under 58 inches are ponies. Riding ponies are those that have been trained to be ridden and have some experience with the work. Generally, riding ponies are used to similar work that riding horse have with the exception that riding ponies are not suitable for creatures heavier than 200 pounds with some, based on the exact pony, restricted to carrying no more than 100 pounds.
Riding Horse. These equine are trained to carry other creatures, usually with some blanket or saddle and, depending on the exact training, with other equipment, including but not limited to bridles, bits, chest straps, and more. On average, they can often carry another creature for upwards of eight hours before needing a significant break. Though, as with most creatures, they can go for longer with appropriate breaks, food, and water.
Saddlebags. Commonly two bags made from leather or cloth attached with material behind the cover or opening of each such that they can be laid over the back or flanks of a quadruped and act as counterbalances to each other.
Tack. This encompasses a wide variety of equipment to ride a mount, such as saddles, saddle blankets, bridles, bits, stirrups, chest straps, feedbags, and shoes, if necessary. Tack designed to carry extra weight, pack tack, does not have space for riding while those designed for riding or war mounts have differing designs. Riding tack provides a 75% chance of staying in the saddle while in Downtime or Exploration modes but deceases to a 25% chance in more dangerous situations such as combat in Encounter mode. War tack continues to offer a 75% chance in more typical travel situations and 50% chance while in combat. Tack designed for medium mounts, typically riding dogs and ponies and war ponies, can easily be redesigned for smaller mounts. However, tack created for large mounts, unusual mounts, or both, takes more materials and work. Unusual mounts are defined as not canine, bovine, equine, or related.
War Pony. Similar to riding ponies in every way except one, war ponies have far more training than most other mounts. These ponies are trained to not only carry a rider as transportation but to also be more aggressive and to not shy or bolt at the smell of blood thus they do not require extra attention and handling that riding ponies due at the outset of combat.
War Horse. While many war horses are heavier set than the common riding horse, the training is the greater and more necessary distinction. Like war ponies, war horses have been trained to carry creatures for transportation and to ignore or actively participate in combat, against their nature as most equine are more docile.