by the way Surreal, the Mango Index link pulls up nothing now (bummer).
**
" ... it doesn't really clarify anything ... "
Yeah, that was my impression.
Considering the power inherent in the Cohort, having it (in all it's glory) restricted to just a Paladin's Mount, seem kinda reasonable.
WarHorse + Bonus hd isn't gonna give a Wizard nightmares.
The Mount wouldn't die as easily, and be a few more hd, and not much else.
Now if the slightly more expansive interpretation is happening,
the extra levels available in the "cohort" side of the calculation,
could be actual levels of classes, but only after it shows up.
Leadership says Race / Class , both singular. But that's only at the start.
WarHorse 4+2la and the bonus hd
and as leveling up, Fighter 1,
for a 9th level Pally.
Not bad.
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EDIT as of 1-30-10
My TO spider sense is still tingling on this one. I don't know why. Maybe I can figure it out. Some Alice-like Rabbit holes are better than others ...