Hello,

I know the question is ridiculous but let me explain. My wizard recently acquired a large frog. He also has the spell catapult which he uses consistently. I'd like to use the frog as the object launched with the catapult spell because my DM said he would allow me to add 1d4 psych damage because it's a frog. But I don't want the frog to also take bludgeoning damage and die. Are there any mechanics in game rules already whether it be items or spells that I could use to make my frog more resistant to bludgeoning damage so I can keep throwing him or is this something where I need to ask the DM for some type of homebrew mechanic?

I am extremely grateful for any help or ideas for this ridiculous problem.

If you can teach your Frog how to be a Barbarian or get him a warlock pact with a Dao. A Potion of invulnerability to get resistance or Heroism to get temp HP might also do something.

Thank you, I will look into this!

Frogs are creatures, not objects, and therefore not valid targets for catapult. I’m saying this not to mean you are doing it wrong, but more, you’re already well into the realm of homebrew. Maybe ask your DM for a solution. A tiny frog-sized helmet or something. Or just hand waving it. Check with them.

Death Ward would do the trick. On the other hand, it's a 4th level spell, you could just do a Fireball upcast fourth level and you get 9d6 to targets within a 20ft sphere for the same resource cost, so not the best idea. Plus it would take multiple turns to set up.

Blade Ward is a better resource cost, but only halves the damage, and so a Frog only has an average of 1 and max of 3) HP so will almost certainly die in the process. Plus you have the problem that it only lasts one turn and only affects you, so you'd have to get some changes made by the DM to make it work.

There might be a Class Feature that does it, but I don't remember any and don't think there are. It's possible there's a Subclass Feature somewhere, but I'm a bit dubious and even then, that's a hefty investment for 1d4 additional damage for a spell.

You're going to have to speak to the DM to get a reasonable way of getting this to work.

Personally, speaking as a DM (but IANYDM), I'd be fine just granting it temporary invulnerability. I'd probably either require you to take Blade Ward (but not require it to be cast) as a token sacrifice or tell you that there's a risk of losing the frog each time you catapult it. This situation isn't really catered for in the rules, but is a good example of why we're playing a TTRPG rather than a computer game - so DMs can make things work that the developers didn't entirely anticipate.

Quote from Xalthu >>

Frogs are creatures, not objects, and therefore not valid targets for catapult. I’m saying this not to mean you are doing it wrong, but more, you’re already well into the realm of homebrew. Maybe ask your DM for a solution. A tiny frog-sized helmet or something. Or just hand waving it. Check with them.

Build a little shell casing for the frog to ride in. Catapult the shell casing. 

Quote from Linklite >>

Death Ward would do the trick. On the other hand, it's a 4th level spell, you could just do a Fireball upcast fourth level and you get 9d6 to targets within a 20ft sphere for the same resource cost, so not the best idea. Plus it would take multiple turns to set up.

Blade Ward is a better resource cost, but only halves the damage, and so a Frog only has an average of 1 and max of 3) HP so will almost certainly die in the process. Plus you have the problem that it only lasts one turn and only affects you, so you'd have to get some changes made by the DM to make it work.

...

Personally, speaking as a DM (but IANYDM), I'd be fine just granting it temporary invulnerability. I'd probably either require you to take Blade Ward (but not require it to be cast) as a token sacrifice or tell you that there's a risk of losing the frog each time you catapult it.

Alternatively, the wizard could research a version of warding bond that would have them take the excess damage rather than their froggo

Quote from Xalthu >>

Frogs are creatures, not objects, and therefore not valid targets for catapult. I’m saying this not to mean you are doing it wrong, but more, you’re already well into the realm of homebrew. Maybe ask your DM for a solution. A tiny frog-sized helmet or something. Or just hand waving it. Check with them.

 This. You are already in the realm of homebrew here with the creature target and the 1d4 damage. And there's no rule that the catapulted object takes damage anyway. So this is all just a discussion with your DM about how you want it to work.

Quote from scatterbraind >>

Quote from Xalthu >>

Frogs are creatures, not objects, and therefore not valid targets for catapult. I’m saying this not to mean you are doing it wrong, but more, you’re already well into the realm of homebrew. Maybe ask your DM for a solution. A tiny frog-sized helmet or something. Or just hand waving it. Check with them.

 This. You are already in the realm of homebrew here with the creature target and the 1d4 damage. And there's no rule that the catapulted object takes damage anyway. So this is all just a discussion with your DM about how you want it to work.

 When the object strikes something, the object and what it strikes each take 3d8 bludgeoning damage.