I am disappointed to say the least when it comes to the new beasts released in the Spelljammer sourcebook. Both the giant and the miniature space hamsters are ineligible for being a beast master companion even though they’re CR 1/4 and are thematically a great fit. One is too large, and the other is considered a monstrosity. So without having to rely on your DM being extra nice, there’s no actual way to have a hamster companion.
Wotc has had vague types in 5e and this has led to several problems. New races and spells. Creature types and spells.
You can't even cast alot of beast specific spells. Beast sense, speak with animals, animal messenger. And more.
By limiting the interaction with said Creatures it takes the opportunity for [situations that made them iconic] out of the picture.
They also changed the rules on Tressym and male steeders. Taking away more cool opportunities that really weren't game breaking.
One of the reasons they had to be strict on phb beastmaster was the existence of these cool creatures but now they won't even encourage use of [such] creatures that make the sacrifice worth while.
This feels like catering to worrywort dms over phb ranger players.
All flavor and no supporting mechanics tends to cause a loss of interest in such flavor. When a companion has generic stats, players and the dm tend to move gradually away from it becoming a meaningful part of the character.
Agreed, but let's be serious here. It's a hamster. What kind of interesting mechanic do you want to give such a creature anyway?
How about the one that's in the game based on the most famous dnd hamster. [Go for the eyes]. I would love to just use the printed mechanics they gave us in spelljammer.
One of the reasons they had to be strict on phb beastmaster was the existence of these cool creatures but now they won't even encourage use of creatures that make the sacrifice worth while.
This feels like catering to worrywort dms over phb ranger players.
More likely they are catering to Adventurer's League and the new online VTT D&D platform that WotC Exec Cao is head of. Streamlining mechanics and limiting choices to what is more easily programmable into an app, or alternatively easy to throw into a random group of other PCs (Adventurer's Leauge).
Sad, but also inevitable given how much $$$ they are gambling on their new VTT plaform.
Hamsters can hold multiple things in their mouths, they can sneak similar to mice ahead and scout out locations. They are cute and adorable and you think they are non-threating and then they attack you. Some actually in the wild are pack hunters... just saying. As someone who plans on using this form in her next characters I think this would be an amazing familiar or within the beast master abilities.
Hamsters and guinea pigs! We need those! lol Just my opinion...
Luckily my DM is totally for it and all the flexibility for the sake of fun and excitement. I would check with your DM's. Mine just put limits on somethings to abide to rules but we just worked together and its going to be amazing!
This is sadly it, and has been the history of 5th ed. Simply EVERYTHING, any mechanic that is difficult for someone who cannot be bothered to read their character sheet is "bad". Which results in anything that isn't mechanically boring for a 2nd grader to slowly get removed from the game.
This also means alot of extra pointless complication, because some rules start getting ignored, but not removed. Spells that require beasts or animals, and later creatures simply don't have useful types. So they make more problems for themselves, and take the extremely lazy way out of saying the dm should fix any issues. Thus the dm is required to alter so much of their lazy work, or play the game as is.
I am disappointed to say the least when it comes to the new beasts released in the Spelljammer sourcebook. Both the giant and the miniature space hamsters are ineligible for being a beast master companion even though they’re CR 1/4 and are thematically a great fit. One is too large, and the other is considered a monstrosity. So without having to rely on your DM being extra nice, there’s no actual way to have a hamster companion.
Well, only one solution to that problem really.
GO FOR THE EYES!
Hopefully they'll errata in "Space Hamsters count as beasts for purposes of beast master companions".
I can't really see any reason a DM would bother disallowing it, but making it where it's official RAW would be good.
Wotc has had vague types in 5e and this has led to several problems. New races and spells. Creature types and spells.
You can't even cast alot of beast specific spells. Beast sense, speak with animals, animal messenger. And more.
By limiting the interaction with said Creatures it takes the opportunity for [situations that made them iconic] out of the picture.
They also changed the rules on Tressym and male steeders. Taking away more cool opportunities that really weren't game breaking.
One of the reasons they had to be strict on phb beastmaster was the existence of these cool creatures but now they won't even encourage use of [such] creatures that make the sacrifice worth while.
This feels like catering to worrywort dms over phb ranger players.
Its not like a hamster is going to be a combat game changer. Just ask your dm
All flavor and no supporting mechanics tends to cause a loss of interest in such flavor. When a companion has generic stats, players and the dm tend to move gradually away from it becoming a meaningful part of the character.
Cheek pouches of holding. Seriously have you seen how much a hamster can stuff into those things?
Behind every successful Warlock, there's an angry mob.
How about the one that's in the game based on the most famous dnd hamster. [Go for the eyes]. I would love to just use the printed mechanics they gave us in spelljammer.
More likely they are catering to Adventurer's League and the new online VTT D&D platform that WotC Exec Cao is head of. Streamlining mechanics and limiting choices to what is more easily programmable into an app, or alternatively easy to throw into a random group of other PCs (Adventurer's Leauge).
Sad, but also inevitable given how much $$$ they are gambling on their new VTT plaform.
THIS IS AMAZING! Hamster of doom, I love it!
Hamsters can hold multiple things in their mouths, they can sneak similar to mice ahead and scout out locations. They are cute and adorable and you think they are non-threating and then they attack you. Some actually in the wild are pack hunters... just saying. As someone who plans on using this form in her next characters I think this would be an amazing familiar or within the beast master abilities.
Hamsters and guinea pigs! We need those! lol Just my opinion...
Luckily my DM is totally for it and all the flexibility for the sake of fun and excitement. I would check with your DM's. Mine just put limits on somethings to abide to rules but we just worked together and its going to be amazing!
This is sadly it, and has been the history of 5th ed. Simply EVERYTHING, any mechanic that is difficult for someone who cannot be bothered to read their character sheet is "bad". Which results in anything that isn't mechanically boring for a 2nd grader to slowly get removed from the game.
This also means alot of extra pointless complication, because some rules start getting ignored, but not removed. Spells that require beasts or animals, and later creatures simply don't have useful types. So they make more problems for themselves, and take the extremely lazy way out of saying the dm should fix any issues. Thus the dm is required to alter so much of their lazy work, or play the game as is.