I'm making a Gambler swarmkeeper ranger whos swarm is going to be a storm of playing cards. That idea could also be cool for a stage magician, but I love me a good gambler.
Could the "swarm" be flavored to be just one, a pair, or a smaller group of more specific things instead of a swarm? Like a pair of raven, or sprite or owl? Maybe like Link in Ocarina of Time?
Keep in mind the social cost of a swarm if you want to be able to hang out in civilization. The swarm never goes away, it can't be hidden because it's crawling all over you, so if it is too gross, too scary or too dirty you may be turned away from the inns. You might think your swarm of racoons are adorable, but no tavernkeeper, shopkeeper or innkeeper is going to want to let them inside.
You can leave your pet bear outside, but your swarm is with you always.
Keep in mind the social cost of a swarm if you want to be able to hang out in civilization. The swarm never goes away, it can't be hidden because it's crawling all over you, so if it is too gross, too scary or too dirty you may be turned away from the inns. You might think your swarm of racoons are adorable, but no tavernkeeper, shopkeeper or innkeeper is going to want to let them inside.
You can leave your pet bear outside, but your swarm is with you always.
There's no RAW basis whatsoever for assuming you can't hide your swarm.
I absolutely LOVE the idea of origami as the swarm - just as flavor, I can totally see you walking into a tavern, with origami lazily circling your form, but on a snap or a small command, they join, form up and become a part of what you're wearing ... a paper hood, bow, belt, "fancy neck thing that the renaissance paintings have" (i think its called a ruff)
I have a Swarm Keeper character I'm hoping to eventually play, where the idea is that it's a druidic construct and the swarm is what animates it as a kind of guardian defender. Mechanically I'm using war forged, but you'd need to picture a kind of living tree with a menhir stone near its centre: https://ddb.ac/characters/54759526/yiZUMq
While the swarm itself will probably still just be bugs a lot of the time, their appearance may change depending upon which swarm is currently animating the construct, and it gives me an excuse to change the personality to a degree as it's the swarm itself that is the character. So it could be small critters like squirrels etc., small birds and so-on depending what ability is being used.
Also thematically the swarm does everything; I like the idea that when the character uses a Torch it's actually just a branch from the upper body being lifted away by the swarm (Mage Hand) and carried in the air to provide illumination.
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.
...my planned Kobold Ranger (Swarm) - to level 5 - then Rogue (Arcane) from there is all reskinned spells.
He is (much to his horror) infested by tiny feral pixies. The pop in and out of existence all the time. He *hates* them.
He's a bit of an idiot, so the spells are being cast by the pixies. His verbal and somatic components consist of him shouting at and trying to swat the pixie swarm.
They will even use his Mage Hand to pick-pocket ...himself.
Running a custom lineage swarmkeeper who is a creature of the Feywild that's essentially an anthropomorphic peacock. The swarm is Kamigawa-esque floating eyes that mimic the eyes on my tail feathers, so in social situations they "hide" on my tail. In combat I fan my tail feathers and the eye-swarm manifest from the eye-spots on them.
"Feeling a deep connection to the environment around them, some rangers reach out through their magical connection to the world and bond with a swarm of nature spirits. The swarm becomes a potent force in battle, as well as helpful company for the ranger. Some Swarmkeepers are outcasts or hermits, keeping to themselves and their attendant swarms rather than dealing with the discomfort of others. Other Swarmkeepers enjoy building vibrant communities that work for the mutual benefit of all those they consider part of their swarm."
"A swarm of intangible nature spirits has bonded itself to you and can assist you in battle. While you’re alive, the swarm remains in your space, crawling on you or flying and skittering around you within your space. You determine its appearance, or you generate its appearance by rolling on the Swarm Appearance table."
Explicit in the text: They are a swarm of intangible nature spirits. They make other people uncomfortable. They are crawling on you or flying and skittering around your 5 foot space.
If your swarm is lice sure, that's pretty easy to hide. They are happy to crawl around on your skin under your clothes, and if one goes across your face lice are translucent so it's not that noticeable from a distance. You could also stay in dodgy inns that are already infested with lice so no one will care.
If your swarm is raccoons, birds, or kittens hiding them isn't going to be easy. They are intangible so they won't just make lumps in your clothing, they'll poke right through. The text also indicates that they are constantly in motion "crawling on you or flying and skittering" so telling them to stay still probably won't work, because swarming is their nature.
A swarm keeper should expect to encounter prejudice.
"Feeling a deep connection to the environment around them, some rangers reach out through their magical connection to the world and bond with a swarm of nature spirits. The swarm becomes a potent force in battle, as well as helpful company for the ranger. Some Swarmkeepers are outcasts or hermits, keeping to themselves and their attendant swarms rather than dealing with the discomfort of others. Other Swarmkeepers enjoy building vibrant communities that work for the mutual benefit of all those they consider part of their swarm."
"A swarm of intangible nature spirits has bonded itself to you and can assist you in battle. While you’re alive, the swarm remains in your space, crawling on you or flying and skittering around you within your space. You determine its appearance, or you generate its appearance by rolling on the Swarm Appearance table."
Explicit in the text: They are a swarm of intangible nature spirits. They make other people uncomfortable. They are crawling on you or flying and skittering around your 5 foot space.
If your swarm is lice sure, that's pretty easy to hide. They are happy to crawl around on your skin under your clothes, and if one goes across your face lice are translucent so it's not that noticeable from a distance. You could also stay in dodgy inns that are already infested with lice so no one will care.
If your swarm is raccoons, birds, or kittens hiding them isn't going to be easy. They are intangible so they won't just make lumps in your clothing, they'll poke right through. The text also indicates that they are constantly in motion "crawling on you or flying and skittering" so telling them to stay still probably won't work, because swarming is their nature.
A swarm keeper should expect to encounter prejudice.
Sure, I mean, if you want? Your game is your game. You can enjoy (?) experiencing prejudice in your game if that is a story you would like to explore.
It does also say “Also, remember that the swarm's appearance is yours to customize, and don't feel confined to a single appearance. Perhaps the spirits' look changes with the ranger's mood or with the seasons. You decide!” In Tasha’s so it’s entirely possible that you could decide to have them become invisible in public to not frighten people and then have them all of a sudden show up would have some good shock value
My swarmkeeper is a teenage street urchin in the style of a London Newsie who sleeps in ditches and has generally terrible hygiene. His swarm is a colony of tiny slimes that live between his skin and his clothes.
Always grateful for the random class forum posts that's exactly what I'm looking for and these ideas are all great.
Couple of my current ideas for my forest gnome are:
Would love to hear thoughts on the above options or other new ideas as well!
Gremlins. Like the comic character The Darkness
Lobsters
"I
do notcontrol thespeed at whichlobstersdie" - Josh Peck (Drake and Josh)Three-time Judge of the Competition of the Finest Brews! Come join us in making fun, unique homebrew and voting for your favorite entries!
I may be verry late too the party, but I would like too add My two cents.
My latest ranger has Enchanted Origami as his swarm.
Paper Crain's too move him and foes around, paper airplanes too add extra damage too arrows, and paper swords too add too melee attacks.
The Swarming escape abillity could have you shater into paper like a certian Naruto antagonist.....or you could explode into Confetty!
Well....I think its kinda cool, and would like more origami ranger ideas...if anyone thinks of any...
Current game- Pelegos: Singularity
Game world- Thad'thra, homebrew
Role- DM
Players- Maro: Light Cleric, Rivqah: Feind Warlock, Kortek: Artillerist Artificer
Plot: Uncover a conspiracy and truth behind the Dragon, Blasphemy, and the light of the kingdom that was stollen. Drenching Baranara into shadow.
I'm making a Gambler swarmkeeper ranger whos swarm is going to be a storm of playing cards. That idea could also be cool for a stage magician, but I love me a good gambler.
Origami and playing cards?! I love it!
Could the "swarm" be flavored to be just one, a pair, or a smaller group of more specific things instead of a swarm? Like a pair of raven, or sprite or owl? Maybe like Link in Ocarina of Time?
Batman.
Swarm Keeper + 🐝 = Candyman?
Play Gaara from Naruto
https://www.flutesloot.com/play-as-gaara-in-dnd5e/
Keep in mind the social cost of a swarm if you want to be able to hang out in civilization. The swarm never goes away, it can't be hidden because it's crawling all over you, so if it is too gross, too scary or too dirty you may be turned away from the inns. You might think your swarm of racoons are adorable, but no tavernkeeper, shopkeeper or innkeeper is going to want to let them inside.
You can leave your pet bear outside, but your swarm is with you always.
There's no RAW basis whatsoever for assuming you can't hide your swarm.
I absolutely LOVE the idea of origami as the swarm - just as flavor, I can totally see you walking into a tavern, with origami lazily circling your form, but on a snap or a small command, they join, form up and become a part of what you're wearing ... a paper hood, bow, belt, "fancy neck thing that the renaissance paintings have" (i think its called a ruff)
they could even fold into 20 sided de ;)
this is really cool!
(edit: typos are hard)
I have a Swarm Keeper character I'm hoping to eventually play, where the idea is that it's a druidic construct and the swarm is what animates it as a kind of guardian defender. Mechanically I'm using war forged, but you'd need to picture a kind of living tree with a menhir stone near its centre: https://ddb.ac/characters/54759526/yiZUMq
While the swarm itself will probably still just be bugs a lot of the time, their appearance may change depending upon which swarm is currently animating the construct, and it gives me an excuse to change the personality to a degree as it's the swarm itself that is the character. So it could be small critters like squirrels etc., small birds and so-on depending what ability is being used.
Also thematically the swarm does everything; I like the idea that when the character uses a Torch it's actually just a branch from the upper body being lifted away by the swarm (Mage Hand) and carried in the air to provide illumination.
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.
...my planned Kobold Ranger (Swarm) - to level 5 - then Rogue (Arcane) from there is all reskinned spells.
He is (much to his horror) infested by tiny feral pixies. The pop in and out of existence all the time. He *hates* them.
He's a bit of an idiot, so the spells are being cast by the pixies. His verbal and somatic components consist of him shouting at and trying to swat the pixie swarm.
They will even use his Mage Hand to pick-pocket ...himself.
Running a custom lineage swarmkeeper who is a creature of the Feywild that's essentially an anthropomorphic peacock. The swarm is Kamigawa-esque floating eyes that mimic the eyes on my tail feathers, so in social situations they "hide" on my tail. In combat I fan my tail feathers and the eye-swarm manifest from the eye-spots on them.
"Feeling a deep connection to the environment around them, some rangers reach out through their magical connection to the world and bond with a swarm of nature spirits. The swarm becomes a potent force in battle, as well as helpful company for the ranger. Some Swarmkeepers are outcasts or hermits, keeping to themselves and their attendant swarms rather than dealing with the discomfort of others. Other Swarmkeepers enjoy building vibrant communities that work for the mutual benefit of all those they consider part of their swarm."
"A swarm of intangible nature spirits has bonded itself to you and can assist you in battle. While you’re alive, the swarm remains in your space, crawling on you or flying and skittering around you within your space. You determine its appearance, or you generate its appearance by rolling on the Swarm Appearance table."
Explicit in the text: They are a swarm of intangible nature spirits. They make other people uncomfortable. They are crawling on you or flying and skittering around your 5 foot space.
If your swarm is lice sure, that's pretty easy to hide. They are happy to crawl around on your skin under your clothes, and if one goes across your face lice are translucent so it's not that noticeable from a distance. You could also stay in dodgy inns that are already infested with lice so no one will care.
If your swarm is raccoons, birds, or kittens hiding them isn't going to be easy. They are intangible so they won't just make lumps in your clothing, they'll poke right through. The text also indicates that they are constantly in motion "crawling on you or flying and skittering" so telling them to stay still probably won't work, because swarming is their nature.
A swarm keeper should expect to encounter prejudice.
Sure, I mean, if you want? Your game is your game. You can enjoy (?) experiencing prejudice in your game if that is a story you would like to explore.
It does also say “Also, remember that the swarm's appearance is yours to customize, and don't feel confined to a single appearance. Perhaps the spirits' look changes with the ranger's mood or with the seasons. You decide!” In Tasha’s so it’s entirely possible that you could decide to have them become invisible in public to not frighten people and then have them all of a sudden show up would have some good shock value
My swarmkeeper is a teenage street urchin in the style of a London Newsie who sleeps in ditches and has generally terrible hygiene. His swarm is a colony of tiny slimes that live between his skin and his clothes.
I was inspired by the X-Men Evolution version of Toad
https://static.wikia.nocookie.net/xmenevo/images/1/11/Image_todd.jpg/revision/latest?cb=20130208211029
And the cheerful little blob monsters from Monster Sanctuary
https://monster-sanctuary.fandom.com/wiki/Blob