Modified creatures has always been a fascination of mine. as a dm it allows cool scenario's like a monkey, squirrel or rat trained in pickpocketing. This can create cool narrative possibilities and create memorable encounters. They also are hidden rewards. A ranger can harvest from Poisonous(venomous creatures) or the creature could potentially befriend the players providing a service NPC. PHB Beast-masters can really take advantage of this in the form of companions.
Dms have care with what you throw at a ranger you might just snowball and which can increase the fun or ruin your encounter design.
So my current lists of creature modification is
DMG modifying a creature
individual modules/books with custom creatures(some adventures league modules or named creatures like Lagotti and Kingsport)
cuse of strad Dark gifts(slight stretch but......)
Ravnica Simic guild rewards
Thero's Nyxborn creatures
Ice Windale Chimeric creatures
Van Richten's Horror creatures: modifying minions/monstrous traits
Any I missed? comment below.
In perticular Van Richten's includes some of these goodies:
Alien Mind. If a creature tries to read the minion’s thoughts, that creature must succeed on a Intelligence saving throw with a DC equal to 10 + the minion’s Intelligence modifier or be stunned for 1 minute. The stunned creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Minion’s Mind. The minion can’t be compelled to act in a way contrary to its master’s instructions.
Sacrificial Minion. When the minion dies, its master regains hit points equal to four times the minion’s challenge rating, as long as the master is within 100 feet of it.
Selfless Bodyguard. When an attack hits its master and the minion is within 5 feet of its master, the minion can use its reaction to make the attack hit itself instead.
Telepathic Minion. The minion and its master can communicate telepathically with each other, as long as they are on the same plane of existence.
* Numbers added for convince
Now imagine a beastmaster with #3. sacrificial Minion applied to his companion.
Feel free to discuss any modified creatures or favorite concepts. Also familiars are also on the table for discussion. You can discuss dm interaction and rules and how to keep it fun without player abuse.
I love it, and have loved the idea for the PHB beast master since GO! The idea of working with your DM to tweak a beast to do something new, different, or specific has always been a strength of the subclass ability in my eyes. Poison harvesting is a great and powerful (not Oz) example. But many creatures, beasts included, have special abilities, senses, or riders in attacks that can add an element of combat tactics, exploration advantage, and social interaction that few other subclasses have.
I don't think modified monsters are something a pc should choose (except maybe a skill Prof for a low cr choice) but rather a optional reward for a scenario where a pc defeats a boss style enemy and leaves the pet creature alive. or possibly a side quest style befriend a creature in a domain of dread.
It's definitely an option a DM should be open to, but I think it makes most sense to hand out modifications as rewards depending upon the relative balance of your player.
For example, if your Ranger player chooses a thematically very appropriate but relatively weak companion then a boost or two to strengthen it a bit compared to some of the "better" choices is a good idea. Meanwhile, since a beast companion is part of the Ranger's damage output, you may consider boosts to the companion to compensate for other players getting magical equipment (because a fighter with a magic sword isn't sharing the boosted damage with anyone but their enemies, but the Ranger is splitting with their companion if they both attack).
While the new companion options in Tasha's are nice, there's still something to be said for the variety of creatures and abilities in the "weaker" choices, so for a player who really wants X as a companion because backstory reasons, giving it boosts to stay competitive is absolutely encouraged, plus it can also allow you to lean into a theme even more by negotiating the most appropriate bonuses for the type of creature or their journey together.
I mean, a DM is also free to give Rangers access to items both regular and magical for companions as well, modifications are just another a tool available.
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It's definitely an option a DM should be open to, but I think it makes most sense to hand out modifications as rewards depending upon the relative balance of your player.
For example, if your Ranger player chooses a thematically very appropriate but relatively weak companion then a boost or two to strength it a bit compared to some of the "better" choices is a good idea. Meanwhile, since a beast companion is part of the Ranger's damage output, you may consider boosts to the companion to compensate for other players getting magical equipment (because a fighter with a magic sword isn't sharing the boosted damage with anyone but their enemies, but the Ranger is splitting with their companion if they both attack).
While the new companion options in Tasha's are nice, there's still something to be said for the variety of creatures and abilities in the "weaker" choices, so for a player who really wants X as a companion because backstory reasons, giving it boosts to stay competitive is absolutely encouraged, plus it can also allow you to lean into a theme even more by negotiating the most appropriate bonuses for the type of creature or their journey together.
I mean, a DM is also free to give Rangers access to items both regular and magical for companions as well, modifications are just another a tool available.
Wow! 100% agree!
One of the best times I had as a beast master was with a crocfolk (lizardfolk) with a young crocodile as a companion. We scaled down a normal crocodile to around a 1/8 to 1/4 CR with a special reaction similar to the last part of the polearm master feat (...other creatures provoke an opportunity attack from you when they enter your reach.) which we called “aggressive”. It was a LOT of fun! She only had a 20’ land movement speed, so she was very slow, and movement is one of the biggest benefits of the companions. But she had a swim speed and could hold her breath, plus it was a seafaring campaign, so it worked out. Crocs grapple and restrain on a bite, so she would just waddle around during fights and occasionally bite an enemy. Sometimes after that she would drag them off the ship and swim down (death roll!!!). She saved the wizard twice with the reaction attack.
While I agree with Haravikk ad a basic level. I find the aspect that rangers and druids have options to deliberate take advantage of these things thrown at them. Spells that charm beasts like awaken or even animal friendship allow these features to be taken advantage of by the party (unless the dm takes something like "Minions mind"). so if the dm decides to use them in combat they are things that can be actively taken advantage of especially if you have a beastmaster with a free "companion slot" Just like poisonous creatures, the party has way to collect on a opportunity even if the dm didn't intend it.
Modified creatures has always been a fascination of mine. as a dm it allows cool scenario's like a monkey, squirrel or rat trained in pickpocketing. This can create cool narrative possibilities and create memorable encounters. They also are hidden rewards. A ranger can harvest from Poisonous(venomous creatures) or the creature could potentially befriend the players providing a service NPC. PHB Beast-masters can really take advantage of this in the form of companions.
Dms have care with what you throw at a ranger you might just snowball and which can increase the fun or ruin your encounter design.
So my current lists of creature modification is
In perticular Van Richten's includes some of these goodies:
* Numbers added for convince
Now imagine a beastmaster with #3. sacrificial Minion applied to his companion.
Feel free to discuss any modified creatures or favorite concepts. Also familiars are also on the table for discussion. You can discuss dm interaction and rules and how to keep it fun without player abuse.
I love it, and have loved the idea for the PHB beast master since GO! The idea of working with your DM to tweak a beast to do something new, different, or specific has always been a strength of the subclass ability in my eyes. Poison harvesting is a great and powerful (not Oz) example. But many creatures, beasts included, have special abilities, senses, or riders in attacks that can add an element of combat tactics, exploration advantage, and social interaction that few other subclasses have.
I like the idea.. though if a PC chooses sacrificial minion.. I might make the weather in the area a little foggier.. just a thought.
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I don't think modified monsters are something a pc should choose (except maybe a skill Prof for a low cr choice) but rather a optional reward for a scenario where a pc defeats a boss style enemy and leaves the pet creature alive. or possibly a side quest style befriend a creature in a domain of dread.
It's definitely an option a DM should be open to, but I think it makes most sense to hand out modifications as rewards depending upon the relative balance of your player.
For example, if your Ranger player chooses a thematically very appropriate but relatively weak companion then a boost or two to strengthen it a bit compared to some of the "better" choices is a good idea. Meanwhile, since a beast companion is part of the Ranger's damage output, you may consider boosts to the companion to compensate for other players getting magical equipment (because a fighter with a magic sword isn't sharing the boosted damage with anyone but their enemies, but the Ranger is splitting with their companion if they both attack).
While the new companion options in Tasha's are nice, there's still something to be said for the variety of creatures and abilities in the "weaker" choices, so for a player who really wants X as a companion because backstory reasons, giving it boosts to stay competitive is absolutely encouraged, plus it can also allow you to lean into a theme even more by negotiating the most appropriate bonuses for the type of creature or their journey together.
I mean, a DM is also free to give Rangers access to items both regular and magical for companions as well, modifications are just another a tool available.
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
Wow! 100% agree!
One of the best times I had as a beast master was with a crocfolk (lizardfolk) with a young crocodile as a companion. We scaled down a normal crocodile to around a 1/8 to 1/4 CR with a special reaction similar to the last part of the polearm master feat (...other creatures provoke an opportunity attack from you when they enter your reach.) which we called “aggressive”. It was a LOT of fun! She only had a 20’ land movement speed, so she was very slow, and movement is one of the biggest benefits of the companions. But she had a swim speed and could hold her breath, plus it was a seafaring campaign, so it worked out. Crocs grapple and restrain on a bite, so she would just waddle around during fights and occasionally bite an enemy. Sometimes after that she would drag them off the ship and swim down (death roll!!!). She saved the wizard twice with the reaction attack.
While I agree with Haravikk ad a basic level. I find the aspect that rangers and druids have options to deliberate take advantage of these things thrown at them. Spells that charm beasts like awaken or even animal friendship allow these features to be taken advantage of by the party (unless the dm takes something like "Minions mind"). so if the dm decides to use them in combat they are things that can be actively taken advantage of especially if you have a beastmaster with a free "companion slot" Just like poisonous creatures, the party has way to collect on a opportunity even if the dm didn't intend it.