you read the title, can mind flayers be sorcerers?
for those of you not familiar with the mind flayer reproductive system, let me enlighten you.
mind flayers will put a mind flayer tadpole into the brain of a medium creature (some exceptions may apply). let sit for #-# days, and the creature has tuned into a mind flayer!
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Pronouns: Any/All
About Me: Godless monster in human form bent on extending their natural life to unnatural extremes /general of the goose horde /Moderator of Vinstreb School for the Gifted /holder of the evil storyteller badge of no honor /king of madness /The FBI/ The Archmage of I CAST...!
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Fun Fact: i gain more power the more you post on my forum threads. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
DMs can add class levels or features to whatever they want, and that includes mind flayers, though the players will likely give you funny looks if you introduce a gelatinous cube sorcerer.
if you mean can a sorcerer be turned into a mind flayer then yes, absolutely.
if you mean can a mind flayer use sorcerous powers however, that’s a totally different matter. As I understand it, yes, a mind flayer could be a sorcerer, but mind flayers tend to frown upon the use of arcane magic, so they would likely be pariah. See the Mind Flayer Arcanist for example, its description reads as follows:
“A few mind flayers supplement their psionic power with arcane spells. However, they are regarded as deviants by their illithid peers and usually shunned.”
DMs can add class levels or features to whatever they want, and that includes mind flayers, though the players will likely give you funny looks if you introduce a gelatinous cube sorcerer.
SensesBlindsight 60 ft. (blind beyond this radius), Passive Perception 8
LanguagesDraconic
Challenge3 (700 XP)
Proficiency Bonus+2
Ooze Cube. The cube takes up its entire space. Other creatures can enter the space, but a creature that does so is subjected to the cube's Engulf and has disadvantage on the saving throw.
Creatures inside the cube can be seen but have total cover.
A creature within 5 feet of the cube can take an action to pull a creature or object out of the cube. Doing so requires a successful DC 12 Strength check, and the creature making the attempt takes 10 (3d6) acid damage.
The cube can hold only one Large creature or up to four Medium or smaller creatures inside it at a time.
Transparent. Even when the cube is in plain sight, it takes a successful DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check to spot a cube that has neither moved nor attacked. A creature that tries to enter the cube's space while unaware of the cube is surprised by the cube.
Actions
Pseudopod. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 10 (3d6) acid damage.
Engulf. The cube moves up to its speed. While doing so, it can enter Large or smaller creatures' spaces. Whenever the cube enters a creature's space, the creature must make a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw.
On a successful save, the creature can choose to be pushed 5 feet back or to the side of the cube. A creature that chooses not to be pushed suffers the consequences of a failed saving throw.
On a failed save, the cube enters the creature's space, and the creature takes 10 acid damage and is engulfed. The engulfed creature can't breathe, is restrained, and takes 21 (6d6) acid damage at the start of each of the cube's turns. When the cube moves, the engulfed creature moves with it.
An engulfed creature can try to escape by taking an action to make a DC 12 Strength check. On a success, the creature escapes and enters a space of its choice within 5 feet of the cube.
Spellcasting. Billy casts one of the following socercer spells (+3 to hit will spell attacks, save DC 13)
Sorcery points(3/long rest). for two uses, billy regains a 1st level spell slot. for 3 uses, billy regains a 2nd level spell slot. by spending spell slots, billy regains uses equal to the slot's level. for 1 use, he can cast the spell with no verbal or somatic components. for 1 use, he can double the duration of a spell up to 24 hours
I spent way to much time on this joke. I even made a backstory.
About Me: Godless monster in human form bent on extending their natural life to unnatural extremes /general of the goose horde /Moderator of Vinstreb School for the Gifted /holder of the evil storyteller badge of no honor /king of madness /The FBI/ The Archmage of I CAST...!
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Fun Fact: i gain more power the more you post on my forum threads. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
There is an intelligent Gellatinous Cube in the Out of the Abyss hardcover that I could certainly see working hard to become a spell caster of some sort - cleric, wizard or sorcerer. So a spell casting ooze isn't that far-fetched.
An Illithid might unknowingly put a tadpole in the brain of a sorcerer and accidently create one. But Illithids frown on such things.
Clarota from Critical Role's Vox Machina campaign is an example of a mind flayer with arcane powers. He was ostracized by the Hive Mind and was living as a hermit when they first encountered him.
In the Monster Manual, page 222 there is a Mindflayer Arcanist, being a Wizard. Int based spells, from the Wizard list. Casts up to 5th level.
Have him know 2 less spells, replace any non-sorcerer spells, give him two metamagics and 10 sorcery points, and reset his spell DC for Charisma 17 rather than Intelligence 19. No subclass abilities.
Reminder that not all sorcerers are born sorcerers. I look at sorcerous origins as much more akin to superhero origins. Maybe you were born with powers by a genetic accident or inheritance from otherworldly ancestors, but they can also come from experiments-gone-wrong, supernatural storms, monster encounters (spider-bite anyone?) or whatever else you can think of.
A sorcerer I like to play is a Clockwork Soul who used to be a thief until he stole a magic sword from a powerful wizard, and in return the wizard cursed the sword so he couldn't get rid of it and had to be Lawful as long as be carried it. Over time, the magic from the curse seeped into his blood and, tainted by concentrated Law, resulted in him learning to control it in the form of sorcerers powers.
If you wanted the origin for a mind flayer sorcerer, you could say it's even a mind flayer who consumed the brain of a powerful sorcerer and absorbed their powers.
In the Monster Manual, page 222 there is a Mindflayer Arcanist, being a Wizard. Int based spells, from the Wizard list. Casts up to 5th level.
Have him know 2 less spells, replace any non-sorcerer spells, give him two metamagics and 10 sorcery points, and reset his spell DC for Charisma 17 rather than Intelligence 19. No subclass abilities.
Boom, you have a Mindflayer Sorcerer
I
You could do it that way, but I wouldn’t. I mean, I would do it, like, 85% that way, but I gotta tell you through personal experience that tracking sorcery points on a monster is a pain in the butt. Instead of giving them sorcery points at all I would give them 2-3 Metamagic options and just say that they can use any one of them they want once per turn and be done with it. If you ever end up using this thing in combat against the party, it’s pro’ly gonna be dead in somewhere between 2½—4½ rounds anyway, so it won’t make any significant difference whatsoever. That’s about as long as 10 sorcery points would last anyway, so it comes out in a wash. If it ends up using, say, 1 more Metamagic than it would have had you actually tracked the points, the players will have absolutely no idea, and the overall difference it’s gonna to make to the campaign will likely be negligible.
Oshundo the Alhoon is a mind flayer wizard tho who doesn’t use psyionics. He believes however that most of the mind flayers are conservative in the way the hive could expand. Unfortunately it is an undead lich kinda mind flayer, where a tadpole was inserted into a wizard.
Mind Flayers don’t develop arcane tradition tadpoles, since they rely on their psionic abilities. One who wants to learn, use and control the arcane are quickly thrown out of the hive. Probably because the Elder Brain wouldn’t be able to control them.
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"Time, like hope, is an illusion" - Lumalee "Time is relative" - Albert Einstein "It's a joke. It's all a joke. Mother forgive me" - Edward 'The Comedian' Blake "Do I look like the kind of clown that can start a movement?" - Arthur Fleck
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you read the title, can mind flayers be sorcerers?
for those of you not familiar with the mind flayer reproductive system, let me enlighten you.
mind flayers will put a mind flayer tadpole into the brain of a medium creature (some exceptions may apply). let sit for #-# days, and the creature has tuned into a mind flayer!
Pronouns: Any/All
About Me: Godless monster in human form bent on extending their natural life to unnatural extremes /general of the goose horde /Moderator of Vinstreb School for the Gifted /holder of the evil storyteller badge of no honor /king of madness /The FBI/ The Archmage of I CAST...!
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Fun Fact: i gain more power the more you post on my forum threads. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
DMs can add class levels or features to whatever they want, and that includes mind flayers, though the players will likely give you funny looks if you introduce a gelatinous cube sorcerer.
if you mean can a sorcerer be turned into a mind flayer then yes, absolutely.
if you mean can a mind flayer use sorcerous powers however, that’s a totally different matter. As I understand it, yes, a mind flayer could be a sorcerer, but mind flayers tend to frown upon the use of arcane magic, so they would likely be pariah. See the Mind Flayer Arcanist for example, its description reads as follows:
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they wouldn't dare bad mouth billy!
Ooze Cube. The cube takes up its entire space. Other creatures can enter the space, but a creature that does so is subjected to the cube's Engulf and has disadvantage on the saving throw.
Creatures inside the cube can be seen but have total cover.
A creature within 5 feet of the cube can take an action to pull a creature or object out of the cube. Doing so requires a successful DC 12 Strength check, and the creature making the attempt takes 10 (3d6) acid damage.
The cube can hold only one Large creature or up to four Medium or smaller creatures inside it at a time.
Transparent. Even when the cube is in plain sight, it takes a successful DC 15 Wisdom (Perception) check to spot a cube that has neither moved nor attacked. A creature that tries to enter the cube's space while unaware of the cube is surprised by the cube.
Pseudopod. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 10 (3d6) acid damage.
Engulf. The cube moves up to its speed. While doing so, it can enter Large or smaller creatures' spaces. Whenever the cube enters a creature's space, the creature must make a DC 12 Dexterity saving throw.
On a successful save, the creature can choose to be pushed 5 feet back or to the side of the cube. A creature that chooses not to be pushed suffers the consequences of a failed saving throw.
On a failed save, the cube enters the creature's space, and the creature takes 10 acid damage and is engulfed. The engulfed creature can't breathe, is restrained, and takes 21 (6d6) acid damage at the start of each of the cube's turns. When the cube moves, the engulfed creature moves with it.
An engulfed creature can try to escape by taking an action to make a DC 12 Strength check. On a success, the creature escapes and enters a space of its choice within 5 feet of the cube.
Spellcasting. Billy casts one of the following socercer spells (+3 to hit will spell attacks, save DC 13)
Cantrips. mage hand, message, presdigitation, dancing lights
1st level(4 slots). comprehend languages, magic missile
2nd level(2 slots). alter self, knock
Sorcery points(3/long rest). for two uses, billy regains a 1st level spell slot. for 3 uses, billy regains a 2nd level spell slot. by spending spell slots, billy regains uses equal to the slot's level. for 1 use, he can cast the spell with no verbal or somatic components. for 1 use, he can double the duration of a spell up to 24 hours
I spent way to much time on this joke. I even made a backstory.
Pronouns: Any/All
About Me: Godless monster in human form bent on extending their natural life to unnatural extremes /general of the goose horde /Moderator of Vinstreb School for the Gifted /holder of the evil storyteller badge of no honor /king of madness /The FBI/ The Archmage of I CAST...!
Alignment: Lawful Evil
Fun Fact: i gain more power the more you post on my forum threads. MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!!!
There is an intelligent Gellatinous Cube in the Out of the Abyss hardcover that I could certainly see working hard to become a spell caster of some sort - cleric, wizard or sorcerer. So a spell casting ooze isn't that far-fetched.
An Illithid might unknowingly put a tadpole in the brain of a sorcerer and accidently create one. But Illithids frown on such things.
Clarota from Critical Role's Vox Machina campaign is an example of a mind flayer with arcane powers. He was ostracized by the Hive Mind and was living as a hermit when they first encountered him.
In the Monster Manual, page 222 there is a Mindflayer Arcanist, being a Wizard. Int based spells, from the Wizard list. Casts up to 5th level.
Have him know 2 less spells, replace any non-sorcerer spells, give him two metamagics and 10 sorcery points, and reset his spell DC for Charisma 17 rather than Intelligence 19. No subclass abilities.
Boom, you have a Mindflayer Sorcerer
Reminder that not all sorcerers are born sorcerers. I look at sorcerous origins as much more akin to superhero origins. Maybe you were born with powers by a genetic accident or inheritance from otherworldly ancestors, but they can also come from experiments-gone-wrong, supernatural storms, monster encounters (spider-bite anyone?) or whatever else you can think of.
A sorcerer I like to play is a Clockwork Soul who used to be a thief until he stole a magic sword from a powerful wizard, and in return the wizard cursed the sword so he couldn't get rid of it and had to be Lawful as long as be carried it. Over time, the magic from the curse seeped into his blood and, tainted by concentrated Law, resulted in him learning to control it in the form of sorcerers powers.
If you wanted the origin for a mind flayer sorcerer, you could say it's even a mind flayer who consumed the brain of a powerful sorcerer and absorbed their powers.
You could do it that way, but I wouldn’t. I mean, I would do it, like, 85% that way, but I gotta tell you through personal experience that tracking sorcery points on a monster is a pain in the butt. Instead of giving them sorcery points at all I would give them 2-3 Metamagic options and just say that they can use any one of them they want once per turn and be done with it. If you ever end up using this thing in combat against the party, it’s pro’ly gonna be dead in somewhere between 2½—4½ rounds anyway, so it won’t make any significant difference whatsoever. That’s about as long as 10 sorcery points would last anyway, so it comes out in a wash. If it ends up using, say, 1 more Metamagic than it would have had you actually tracked the points, the players will have absolutely no idea, and the overall difference it’s gonna to make to the campaign will likely be negligible.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
Oshundo the Alhoon is a mind flayer wizard tho who doesn’t use psyionics. He believes however that most of the mind flayers are conservative in the way the hive could expand. Unfortunately it is an undead lich kinda mind flayer, where a tadpole was inserted into a wizard.
Mind Flayers don’t develop arcane tradition tadpoles, since they rely on their psionic abilities. One who wants to learn, use and control the arcane are quickly thrown out of the hive. Probably because the Elder Brain wouldn’t be able to control them.
"Time, like hope, is an illusion" - Lumalee
"Time is relative" - Albert Einstein
"It's a joke. It's all a joke. Mother forgive me" - Edward 'The Comedian' Blake
"Do I look like the kind of clown that can start a movement?" - Arthur Fleck