I need to know based on opinions of dungeon masters and players. It says nothing of a hs not being able to take a class in the books. My personal opinion is that as long as it meets the stat block requirement it should be able to level up or take a class if commanded. So here I am today wondering would someone allow this or is it in rules as written.
If it could gain experience, it would need to take a cut from the other players.
It would be overpowered for it to gain levels.
If this can gain levels, why not every companion the other players have? The paladin would have a fighter horse, the warlock a sorcerer imp, and the wizard a druid familiar.
Stat blocks don't change according to the rules. (except where specified)
For these reasons and more, homunculus servants cannot gain class levels. Also, there is no requirement for what class you take, only one for multiclassing. (both into and out of)
I need to know based on opinions of dungeon masters and players. It says nothing of a hs not being able to take a class in the books. My personal opinion is that as long as it meets the stat block requirement it should be able to level up or take a class if commanded. So here I am today wondering would someone allow this or is it in rules as written.
In 5e D&D, generally only player characters have classes. Allowing a random NPC creature to have class levels could have all manner of unforeseen implications that I think most DMs would want to avoid.
That's not to say that a DM couldn't homebrew some way of allowing a homunculus servant to grow in power and abilities over time, but probably not through a normal class progression, because NPCs just don't work that way in D&D.
It doesn't have a class; that's just not a thing for it.
It does take its stats from your artificer level, your INT modifier, and your proficiency bonus, so it does get a bit more capable as your Artificer does.
The closest thing I can think of regarding non playable characters is the Unearthed Arcana for Sidekicks from 2023.
"This section provides a simple way to add a special NPC - called a sidekick - to the group of an adventurers. These rules take a creature with a low challenge rating and give it levels in one of three simple classes: Expert, Spellcaster or Warrior.
A sidekick can be incorporated into a group at the party's inception, or a sidekick might join them during the campaign. For example, the party might meet a villager, an animal, or another creature, forge a friendship and invite the creature to join them on their adventures.
You can also use these rules to customize a monster as a DM."
Pretty sure you can still find the PDF for the Sidekicks Unearthed Arcana on the Wizards of the Coast website. It may not be exactly what you're looking for but it's pretty close.
Ultimately, if not as a sidekick, I'd say a Homunculus Servant can't gain a class. They're a result of a spell, a summon. You can upcast the spell and give them items, so it feels like they're leveling up with you. But that's it, I think.
I feel that a reasonable thing to do for a Homunculus Servant is to allow it to take Sidekick classes. That way, it levels up as you do, and gives it some bonuses beyond the base form it has.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
I need to know based on opinions of dungeon masters and players. It says nothing of a hs not being able to take a class in the books. My personal opinion is that as long as it meets the stat block requirement it should be able to level up or take a class if commanded. So here I am today wondering would someone allow this or is it in rules as written.
I joined this platform for this reason...
For these reasons and more, homunculus servants cannot gain class levels. Also, there is no requirement for what class you take, only one for multiclassing. (both into and out of)
In 5e D&D, generally only player characters have classes. Allowing a random NPC creature to have class levels could have all manner of unforeseen implications that I think most DMs would want to avoid.
That's not to say that a DM couldn't homebrew some way of allowing a homunculus servant to grow in power and abilities over time, but probably not through a normal class progression, because NPCs just don't work that way in D&D.
pronouns: he/she/they
It doesn't have a class; that's just not a thing for it.
It does take its stats from your artificer level, your INT modifier, and your proficiency bonus, so it does get a bit more capable as your Artificer does.
The closest thing I can think of regarding non playable characters is the Unearthed Arcana for Sidekicks from 2023.
"This section provides a simple way to add a special NPC - called a sidekick - to the group of an adventurers. These rules take a creature with a low challenge rating and give it levels in one of three simple classes: Expert, Spellcaster or Warrior.
A sidekick can be incorporated into a group at the party's inception, or a sidekick might join them during the campaign. For example, the party might meet a villager, an animal, or another creature, forge a friendship and invite the creature to join them on their adventures.
You can also use these rules to customize a monster as a DM."
Pretty sure you can still find the PDF for the Sidekicks Unearthed Arcana on the Wizards of the Coast website. It may not be exactly what you're looking for but it's pretty close.
Ultimately, if not as a sidekick, I'd say a Homunculus Servant can't gain a class. They're a result of a spell, a summon. You can upcast the spell and give them items, so it feels like they're leveling up with you. But that's it, I think.
I feel that a reasonable thing to do for a Homunculus Servant is to allow it to take Sidekick classes. That way, it levels up as you do, and gives it some bonuses beyond the base form it has.