I'm a new DM and our campaign is currently at four sessions. Until now I have only been using monster blocks taken directly from the Monster Manual, but as I'm getting more confident with DM-ing and the campaign is heading into a territory where I want more fleshed-out and personalized villains, I've started looking into the "Creating a monster" part of chapter 9 of the DMG. And I really like the option on giving a monster class levels.
However, being new at this, I have an idea I would love to get other DMs' feedback on, so that I know whether I interpret the rules correctly or not.
Here's the thing: I want to take a werewolf, and give it three class levels of sorcerer. My first impulse was: "Okay, it makes sense for her to be able to cast spells in human or hybrid mode, but since she can't speak in wolf mode, any spell with a verbal component is clearly off the table."
But ... With certain named exceptions, the DMG states that a monster with class levels get all class features for all class levels I add ... and when I read up on sorcerers, I see that they have the 3rd level feature Metamagic, which gives me a couple of extra spell options, one of which is Subtle Spell:
When you cast a spell, you can spend 1 sorcery point to cast it without any somatic or verbal components.
So you've probably guessed my question by now ... If I create a Werewolf, 3rd-level sorcerer, I make one of its metamagic options Subtle Spell, and said werewolf is carrying an arcane focus, would you agree that it could cast spells in wolf form (by spending a sorcery point)?
The other option, of course, is to just declare because you're the GM that a werewolf has a language, even in wolf mode, and can therefore cast spells. Same thing for somatic components. A wolf can't 'point' with a finger at anything, but it can point with a nose, and it can whine a certain whine.
There's no requirement in the rules that a spell's components are the same across all races, cultures, languages, species, etc. If a spell has V and S, just use your DM powers to declare that they're different for a wolf, but still exist. Problem solved :)
I know that I *could* change any rule I want to for no other reason than "I'm the DM", but at this point, when I'm brand new and so are the players, I really prefer not to. When the rules clearly state "This is a humanoid who can't speak in wolf form" and "this spell requires speech", I much prefer "Aha, but you see, this character is actually a sorcerer, so they have that option" to "The rules don't count here because I say so".
I know that I *could* change any rule I want to for no other reason than "I'm the DM", but at this point, when I'm brand new and so are the players, I really prefer not to. When the rules clearly state "This is a humanoid who can't speak in wolf form" and "this spell requires speech", I much prefer "Aha, but you see, this character is actually a sorcerer, so they have that option" to "The rules don't count here because I say so".
That's fine. I just don't see it as a rule violation. Wolves can communicate with sound, coming from their mouths, to each other. This would be particularly true with wolves that had human intelligence. The rules do not establish that the V in a spell has to be of a certain language. That's all I'm saying.
That aside, my personal preference as a player is to appreciate when things don't always work like I expect. My character doesn't know the intricacies of the world. It's more fun for me if magic is surprising and mysterious, rather than knowing how it all works. YMMV
Hello everybody,
I'm a new DM and our campaign is currently at four sessions. Until now I have only been using monster blocks taken directly from the Monster Manual, but as I'm getting more confident with DM-ing and the campaign is heading into a territory where I want more fleshed-out and personalized villains, I've started looking into the "Creating a monster" part of chapter 9 of the DMG. And I really like the option on giving a monster class levels.
However, being new at this, I have an idea I would love to get other DMs' feedback on, so that I know whether I interpret the rules correctly or not.
Here's the thing: I want to take a werewolf, and give it three class levels of sorcerer. My first impulse was: "Okay, it makes sense for her to be able to cast spells in human or hybrid mode, but since she can't speak in wolf mode, any spell with a verbal component is clearly off the table."
But ... With certain named exceptions, the DMG states that a monster with class levels get all class features for all class levels I add ... and when I read up on sorcerers, I see that they have the 3rd level feature Metamagic, which gives me a couple of extra spell options, one of which is Subtle Spell:
So you've probably guessed my question by now ... If I create a Werewolf, 3rd-level sorcerer, I make one of its metamagic options Subtle Spell, and said werewolf is carrying an arcane focus, would you agree that it could cast spells in wolf form (by spending a sorcery point)?
Sounds reasonable.
The other option, of course, is to just declare because you're the GM that a werewolf has a language, even in wolf mode, and can therefore cast spells. Same thing for somatic components. A wolf can't 'point' with a finger at anything, but it can point with a nose, and it can whine a certain whine.
There's no requirement in the rules that a spell's components are the same across all races, cultures, languages, species, etc. If a spell has V and S, just use your DM powers to declare that they're different for a wolf, but still exist. Problem solved :)
Looking for new subclasses, spells, magic items, feats, and races? Opinions welcome :)
Thanks!
I know that I *could* change any rule I want to for no other reason than "I'm the DM", but at this point, when I'm brand new and so are the players, I really prefer not to. When the rules clearly state "This is a humanoid who can't speak in wolf form" and "this spell requires speech", I much prefer "Aha, but you see, this character is actually a sorcerer, so they have that option" to "The rules don't count here because I say so".
That's fine. I just don't see it as a rule violation. Wolves can communicate with sound, coming from their mouths, to each other. This would be particularly true with wolves that had human intelligence. The rules do not establish that the V in a spell has to be of a certain language. That's all I'm saying.
That aside, my personal preference as a player is to appreciate when things don't always work like I expect. My character doesn't know the intricacies of the world. It's more fun for me if magic is surprising and mysterious, rather than knowing how it all works. YMMV
Looking for new subclasses, spells, magic items, feats, and races? Opinions welcome :)