One of the players in my campaign is a Great Old One Warlock, and he just hit third level. He decided to go for the "Pact of Chain" option, but he's new to the game and wants me to help him choose a familiar. I've always hated the options for Great Old One familiars because they don't reflect the nature of the patron in the same way the other familiars do (I have a similar issue with Hexblade and Celestial, but that's not important right now). The player glanced over the available familiars and has the same issue with the options I do, hence why he was hoping I'd suggest some alternative options for familiars.
My best ideas right now is to either suggest he take the pseudodragon (an option he was considering anyway), allow him to take a gazer (which I'm slightly worried might be a bit too powerful), or re-skin the imp/quasit as a creepy aberration so it's more thematically appropriate (though I worry allowing a player to take a non-fiend, fey, or celestial option for a familiar may give it some unforeseen immunities to common spells).
Any suggestions for good Great Old One familiars or re-skin options that are safe but maybe have a little more flavor? Most things I've run across online seem to focus less on utility and more on damage (which misses the point of the Pact of Chain), and most creatures in published materials that fall into the same category as the other familiars (small or smaller, CR 1 or less, not a beast) don't seem conducive to the Pact of Chain for similar reasons.
I had a similar discussion with my DM about playing a Celestial Warlock, since half of the advanced familiars for that subclass seem to be wholly inappropriate. That said, you should be able to just reskin an existing creature. Consider the following wording from the Find Familiar spell:
You gain the service of a familiar, a spirit that takes an animal form you choose: ……… Appearing in an unoccupied space within range, the familiar has the statistics of the chosen form, though it is a celestial, fey, or fiend (your choice) instead of a beast.
This gives you quite a bit of room to reskin one of the four expanded familiar forms. A familiar could, for instance, use the statistics of an imp, but be a celestial with a good alignment and bearing no resemblance to the creature whose stats it is based off of. For an Old One warlock, you could have a familiar use the statistics of one of the expanded options, but be an aberration and have a completely different appearance.
Pseudodragon shares alot of flavor with GOO locks, there limited telepathy synergies really well with the Awakened mind feature. Have the Dragon project sensations while the Warlock communicates wordlessly.
If your looking for an aesthetic reskin, the Pukei-Pukei from Monster Hunter World is a great amphibianesque dragon that share well with its bug eyes and chameleon tongue.
I've occasionally considered the Darkmantle as an alternate familiar for the GOO Patron / Chain Pact. Its CR of 1/2 is okay, but it has more HP (22) than the other familiar options. So it might need some adjusting.
A miniature Phase Spider with reduced HD and venom changed to one similar to the Imp (3d6 poison) could also work. In fact, just take the Phase Spider in the MM and give it the hit die of the Imp, decrease STR, increase INT, adjust poison damage and you're good to go.
A miniature Phase Spider with reduced HD and venom changed to one similar to the Imp (3d6 poison) could also work. In fact, just take the Phase Spider in the MM and give it the hit die of the Imp, decrease STR, increase INT, adjust poison damage and you're good to go.
Adjusting the poison damage is unnecessary since familiars can't attack.
While familiars are not allowed to take the attack action, they should still be able to take Opportunity Attacks. In addition, you know that if you allow a poisonous familiar into the game, some Rogue PC will try to milk that poison. As DM, you might as well prepare for that eventuality.
This could be rather interesting to see what they decide on, and how they use it. Most people I've seen that have picked GOO haven't chosen PotC, so I'll have to take an interest in seeing how well this could work.
I am dealing with this conundrum right now, as a GOOLock with Pact of the Chain. I decided to go with the imp stats but reskin it as a night-gaunt (https://lovecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Night-gaunt).
My issue, however, is the requirement that the spirit be celestial, fiend, or fey. Why are there no options better suited to a Great Old One? I have yet to work this out, but hope my DM will allow me to just call it an extra-planar spirit.
My issue, however, is the requirement that the spirit be celestial, fiend, or fey. Why are there no options better suited to a Great Old One? I have yet to work this out, but hope my DM will allow me to just call it an extra-planar spirit.
Thoughts?
I think they list celestial, fiend or fey as the possible creature types for the familiar because the all creatures in 5e are categorized. Some are Beasts. Some are Monstrosities. Some are Humanoid. Some are Aberrations.
I would think that "Aberration" would be the closest "type" box with which to label a Night Gaunt.
I would suggest picking the best stat block for the character, and re-skinning as appropriate...
My Celestial 'Lock chose the imp, and re-skinned the appearance as a Cherubim.
For a GOO 'lock, I'd likely do the same (although I do like the pseudo dragon), but re-skin it as a mini-Cthulhu, or a floating Octopus with one eye, or swirling cloud of smoky blackness with tentacles that people can only see on the edge of their vision, or.... you get the point.
The important thing is to pick the stats/ability package that matches what you want the familiar to be able to do, and is in line with what everyone else in the game gets... the appearance is mostly flavor, although that's where the RP goodness comes in. While the gorgeous elf wizard with a tiny dragon wrapped around their shoulders will have no issues at the bar, the disturbingly intense dude in the corner with tentacles crawling out of his robes is going to have a hard time getting a room at a the local tavern.
One of the players in my campaign is a Great Old One Warlock, and he just hit third level. He decided to go for the "Pact of Chain" option, but he's new to the game and wants me to help him choose a familiar. I've always hated the options for Great Old One familiars because they don't reflect the nature of the patron in the same way the other familiars do (I have a similar issue with Hexblade and Celestial, but that's not important right now). The player glanced over the available familiars and has the same issue with the options I do, hence why he was hoping I'd suggest some alternative options for familiars.
My best ideas right now is to either suggest he take the pseudodragon (an option he was considering anyway), allow him to take a gazer (which I'm slightly worried might be a bit too powerful), or re-skin the imp/quasit as a creepy aberration so it's more thematically appropriate (though I worry allowing a player to take a non-fiend, fey, or celestial option for a familiar may give it some unforeseen immunities to common spells).
Any suggestions for good Great Old One familiars or re-skin options that are safe but maybe have a little more flavor? Most things I've run across online seem to focus less on utility and more on damage (which misses the point of the Pact of Chain), and most creatures in published materials that fall into the same category as the other familiars (small or smaller, CR 1 or less, not a beast) don't seem conducive to the Pact of Chain for similar reasons.
I had a similar discussion with my DM about playing a Celestial Warlock, since half of the advanced familiars for that subclass seem to be wholly inappropriate. That said, you should be able to just reskin an existing creature. Consider the following wording from the Find Familiar spell:
This gives you quite a bit of room to reskin one of the four expanded familiar forms. A familiar could, for instance, use the statistics of an imp, but be a celestial with a good alignment and bearing no resemblance to the creature whose stats it is based off of. For an Old One warlock, you could have a familiar use the statistics of one of the expanded options, but be an aberration and have a completely different appearance.
Pseudodragon shares alot of flavor with GOO locks, there limited telepathy synergies really well with the Awakened mind feature. Have the Dragon project sensations while the Warlock communicates wordlessly.
If your looking for an aesthetic reskin, the Pukei-Pukei from Monster Hunter World is a great amphibianesque dragon that share well with its bug eyes and chameleon tongue.
I've occasionally considered the Darkmantle as an alternate familiar for the GOO Patron / Chain Pact. Its CR of 1/2 is okay, but it has more HP (22) than the other familiar options. So it might need some adjusting.
DICE FALL, EVERYONE ROCKS!
Gazer rocks and works as a familiar for Great Old One patron.
I've been playing an Old One warlock for quite a few years now, I've alternated these options for my familiar(since they tend to die so easily, I alternated the forms with each summoning). https://www.reddit.com/r/dndnext/comments/3dsj8f/homebrewwip_great_old_one_pact_familiars_journey/
A miniature Phase Spider with reduced HD and venom changed to one similar to the Imp (3d6 poison) could also work. In fact, just take the Phase Spider in the MM and give it the hit die of the Imp, decrease STR, increase INT, adjust poison damage and you're good to go.
Flumphling ... yeah I like it :)
Adjusting the poison damage is unnecessary since familiars can't attack.
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While familiars are not allowed to take the attack action, they should still be able to take Opportunity Attacks. In addition, you know that if you allow a poisonous familiar into the game, some Rogue PC will try to milk that poison. As DM, you might as well prepare for that eventuality.
Familiars acquired using Pact of the Chain ARE allowed to attack.
DICE FALL, EVERYONE ROCKS!
True. I knew Imps and Quasits had poison abilities for some reason.
This could be rather interesting to see what they decide on, and how they use it. Most people I've seen that have picked GOO haven't chosen PotC, so I'll have to take an interest in seeing how well this could work.
Bahahahaha....****y if you're an Ilithid or wereshark.
I am dealing with this conundrum right now, as a GOOLock with Pact of the Chain. I decided to go with the imp stats but reskin it as a night-gaunt (https://lovecraft.fandom.com/wiki/Night-gaunt).
My issue, however, is the requirement that the spirit be celestial, fiend, or fey. Why are there no options better suited to a Great Old One? I have yet to work this out, but hope my DM will allow me to just call it an extra-planar spirit.
Thoughts?
I think they list celestial, fiend or fey as the possible creature types for the familiar because the all creatures in 5e are categorized. Some are Beasts. Some are Monstrosities. Some are Humanoid. Some are Aberrations.
I would think that "Aberration" would be the closest "type" box with which to label a Night Gaunt.
n/a
I would suggest picking the best stat block for the character, and re-skinning as appropriate...
My Celestial 'Lock chose the imp, and re-skinned the appearance as a Cherubim.
For a GOO 'lock, I'd likely do the same (although I do like the pseudo dragon), but re-skin it as a mini-Cthulhu, or a floating Octopus with one eye, or swirling cloud of smoky blackness with tentacles that people can only see on the edge of their vision, or.... you get the point.
The important thing is to pick the stats/ability package that matches what you want the familiar to be able to do, and is in line with what everyone else in the game gets... the appearance is mostly flavor, although that's where the RP goodness comes in. While the gorgeous elf wizard with a tiny dragon wrapped around their shoulders will have no issues at the bar, the disturbingly intense dude in the corner with tentacles crawling out of his robes is going to have a hard time getting a room at a the local tavern.
I feel like unless said tavern was the Yawning Portal, the keeper would be way too afraid to say no to said disturbingly intense tentacled dude.
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Personally: I'd endorse the Gazer, or something equally "exotic" if only for flavor. But then again: I'm a bit fan of "odd" or "unusual" familiars.