My player just hit lvl 5 in Paladin and immediately took Find Steed, as he has been looking forward to it. Since the steeds are able to communicate, I was wondering what others may have done when role-playing as the steed? My paladin already has a sentience battleaxe that speaks to him that I RP as, so I feel like I'm going to have to juggle all of these different characters who are talking in my player's head all the time! :) Weird, but fun too, sure. I'm thinking about making the steed able to understand him, but not necessarily speak himself.
Just wondering what others have done. Thanks in advance!
I DM a game that includes a lot of various animal companions. In general I have the players RP their animals as well and only take over when necessary, like if the owl familiar goes ahead to scout and needs to relay info back. Usually the familiar only communicates in pictures and feelings, but my wizard also casts telepathic bond a lot and so we have fun including all the animals in the "call", and so we find it more fun to let the players talk as the animals. Because why should the DM be the only one who talks to themselves? LOL!
If you do want to have fun RPing the steed but keep it simple, remember that they only have an intelligence of 6. Maybe that makes them bashful about speaking, or only speak in short sentences, or super deferential to the paladin and so all the answers are some version of "Whatever you want to do, my friend!".
I also suggest working WITH the player to come up with the personality of this horse! This is a creature they have summoned, ask them what they'd like from an animal companion. Use their creativity to guide the RP of this horse!
My Bard has a tressym as a familiar so, despite him not being able to talk, his ability to understand common means he can communicate telepathically with my bard in a near normal conversation. Normal for a cat of course. That makes things easier for the DM anyway.
The steed could be the strong, silent type. Just give gruff one-word answers. A lot of Yup. Nope. Ok. Then you still give it a personality, but you don't necessarily have to start having too many side conversations with just one player.
Thanks for the advice! I think I didn't take into consideration that the Intelligence is only 6. I think I'll make it unable to speak itself, but able to understand. That might save me some headaches. We'll see how it goes! Our first session with the player having his lvl 5 abilities is tomorrow.
Grog and the Deck of many things OMG that was some funny stuff.
Keep Deck of Many Things AWAY from steed good point
My Paly is also getting Find Steed and I figured it would have a Mr. Ed type voice, I love the idea of making the PC RP the summoned NPC's and I think even if it is Scouting the PC is rolling for it so may as well let PC RP the replies.
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My player just hit lvl 5 in Paladin and immediately took Find Steed, as he has been looking forward to it. Since the steeds are able to communicate, I was wondering what others may have done when role-playing as the steed? My paladin already has a sentience battleaxe that speaks to him that I RP as, so I feel like I'm going to have to juggle all of these different characters who are talking in my player's head all the time! :) Weird, but fun too, sure. I'm thinking about making the steed able to understand him, but not necessarily speak himself.
Just wondering what others have done. Thanks in advance!
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InsiderI DM a game that includes a lot of various animal companions. In general I have the players RP their animals as well and only take over when necessary, like if the owl familiar goes ahead to scout and needs to relay info back. Usually the familiar only communicates in pictures and feelings, but my wizard also casts telepathic bond a lot and so we have fun including all the animals in the "call", and so we find it more fun to let the players talk as the animals. Because why should the DM be the only one who talks to themselves? LOL!
If you do want to have fun RPing the steed but keep it simple, remember that they only have an intelligence of 6. Maybe that makes them bashful about speaking, or only speak in short sentences, or super deferential to the paladin and so all the answers are some version of "Whatever you want to do, my friend!".
I also suggest working WITH the player to come up with the personality of this horse! This is a creature they have summoned, ask them what they'd like from an animal companion. Use their creativity to guide the RP of this horse!
Find me on Twitter: @OboeLauren
People tend to forget NPCs, particularly animals.
My Bard has a tressym as a familiar so, despite him not being able to talk, his ability to understand common means he can communicate telepathically with my bard in a near normal conversation. Normal for a cat of course. That makes things easier for the DM anyway.
The steed could be the strong, silent type. Just give gruff one-word answers. A lot of Yup. Nope. Ok. Then you still give it a personality, but you don't necessarily have to start having too many side conversations with just one player.
Thanks for the advice! I think I didn't take into consideration that the Intelligence is only 6. I think I'll make it unable to speak itself, but able to understand. That might save me some headaches. We'll see how it goes! Our first session with the player having his lvl 5 abilities is tomorrow.
Or make them like Mongo from Blazing Saddles. I think he of 6 intelligence at least/most.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwNJla8WvoY
IMHO, Earthdawn is still the best fantasy realm, Shadowrun is the best Sci-Fi realm, and Dark Sun is the best D&D realm.
I have an Intelligence of six, I know what I'm doing.GROG STRONGJAW
LOL, Mongo like Candy,
Grog and the Deck of many things OMG that was some funny stuff.
Keep Deck of Many Things AWAY from steed good point
My Paly is also getting Find Steed and I figured it would have a Mr. Ed type voice, I love the idea of making the PC RP the summoned NPC's and I think even if it is Scouting the PC is rolling for it so may as well let PC RP the replies.