A long time friend out of the blue asked to play D&D for the first time, which of course got me all excited! She has an interesting idea for a character, and of course I try to keep my players happy in their choices.
The issue is that she's never played and has an idea "to play a non-human character that was magically tied to an enchanted mouse" (her words). While I know that she is super creative and would probably play this well, I don't know what class I could set up for her where I can fulfill her wishes. I had the thought that the "mouse" could be a deity in disguise and is her patron to her being a sorcerer, but I am not sure if that is what she is going for.
Does anyone else have an idea that would help me fit her wishes into 5e rules? (I can be a bit loose on the rules for her)
Would her character even need to be a magic user, or could we find a mechanic that would work for her within the 5e rules?
I see her in two days to hash out her character, so any suggestions are welcome!
If you feel the need to make it a mechanical thing, you can have her pick a subclass that has a familiar (like a pact of the chain warlock or a wizard with the Find Familiar spell), or you can just give her character the Magic Initiate feat and have the first-level spell be Find Familiar. However, you can go one simpler and just...give her a magic pet mouse.
Is it a mouse, or a miniature giant space hamster?
Anyway. I’d start it off as just a pet in her pocket. Nothing special, she just has it, and it won’t leave her side. Then, as the story progresses, find a way to give it a bigger hook. But I usually like to leave things open, so I can fit them in as I go along. I know others prefer to have everything planned out ahead. I just find the more open you leave it, the greater impact it can have when it turns out to be an unexpected and large piece of the puzzle.
That really all depends. I can’t answer without first asking a question myself. What precisely does she mean by “magically tied to an enchanted mouse.”
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” - Mark Twain - Innocents Abroad
I played a Bard with the Urchin background. In that, my backstory involved my pet mouse and an interaction with a Wizard, where my pet became "immortal" of sorts. He would never die, and if something happened that WOULD kill him, he would reappear in my pocket later, whole and healthy. He was a normal mouse otherwise, with no special abilities or anything, so it was an eternal pet for him. I used him to access small spaces at times, but his super low Intelligence made him close to useless, but still fun to have around.
It's an answer that eliminates much chance for any exploits, but keeps it as a fun little extra to give the character a bit more personality and RP options.
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Talk to your Players.Talk to your DM. If more people used this advice, there would be 24.74% fewer threads on Tactics, Rules and DM discussions.
The simplest answer is Warlock... it's the class that most overtly ties the player to an NPC that grants them power. Cleric is the same vein, but it has the caveat that it basically confirms that the mouse is the avatar of a deity of some kind.
Without knowing any more details, I would suggest an Archfey Warlock with Pact of the Chain, with the mouse as the familiar, but using Almiraj stats instead of mouse stats.
I like the idea of the companion getting a stronger bond as they level up.
Something like gaining one of the abilities in Find Familiar every other level or some such.
I like it too, but what if the player wants the mouse to be their peer, superior, ora transformation/alt form of sorts? Then they’re likely looking at a Beastmaster/Steel Defender situation, a Warlock Patron/Diety, or race/spell. That’s why I’m currently filing this under “needs more information.” (For all we know, she may want to play a furling?)
Really, you can go wild with it. Give the mouse a Martin of Redwall/Reepacheep from Narnia slant and make an echo knight where the echo attacks are from her valiant little friend
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Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
I like the idea of the companion getting a stronger bond as they level up.
Something like gaining one of the abilities in Find Familiar every other level or some such.
I was thinking something similar, but my first thought was to make the "enchanted mouse" using the sidekick rules from Tasha's Cauldron. Figured that it would be pretty easy to take the rat statblock and just add sidekick levels to that, which would allow the mouse to become stronger and more useful as the main character levels up. The Expert class seems like a pretty suitable fit for a mouse-like character (although it'd need to be able to speak per RAW). Or, if the mouse is supposed to be more magical, then the Spellcaster class might be a better fit to allow it some spellcasting ability.
Maybe sidekick doesn't really fit with what the player wants for the "enchanted mouse" aspect, but this particular route means that the player's character can be whatever they want it to be without having to worry about class, subclass, spells, or otherwise. The mouse is just along for the ride, but it can still grow and develop along with the PC.
That really all depends. I can’t answer without first asking a question myself. What precisely does she mean by “magically tied to an enchanted mouse.”
That's my big question as well, and I won't find out until tomorrow!
However, these replies are helping me get an idea of ways to present to her versions of her idea that will work for the game.
I like the idea of the companion getting a stronger bond as they level up.
Something like gaining one of the abilities in Find Familiar every other level or some such.
I was thinking something similar, but my first thought was to make the "enchanted mouse" using the sidekick rules from Tasha's Cauldron. Figured that it would be pretty easy to take the rat statblock and just add sidekick levels to that, which would allow the mouse to become stronger and more useful as the main character levels up. The Expert class seems like a pretty suitable fit for a mouse-like character (although it'd need to be able to speak per RAW). Or, if the mouse is supposed to be more magical, then the Spellcaster class might be a better fit to allow it some spellcasting ability.
Maybe sidekick doesn't really fit with what the player wants for the "enchanted mouse" aspect, but this particular route means that the player's character can be whatever they want it to be without having to worry about class, subclass, spells, or otherwise. The mouse is just along for the ride, but it can still grow and develop along with the PC.
I hadn't thought of the sidekick version...I like this idea. I will do some reading in Tasha's and see what I can come up with for her.
My friend played a Reborn, but the body was literally a corpse. The bow(Arcane Archer fighter) had gained sentience and when in contact with corpse bestowed his spirit onto it. In fact it’s how he met the party. A drunk monk heard the bow mentally ask for help. Once the bow was within 120ft of the corpse, who just blankly stood and stared where he was, would make its way to the bow. It was a fun arch. Maybe you can totally do some Ratatouille style thing where the mouse is the player and controls the thrall…
My friend played a Reborn, but the body was literally a corpse. The bow(Arcane Archer fighter) had gained sentience and when in contact with corpse bestowed his spirit onto it. In fact it’s how he met the party. A drunk monk heard the bow mentally ask for help. Once the bow was within 120ft of the corpse, who just blankly stood and stared where he was, would make its way to the bow. It was a fun arch. Maybe you can totally do some Ratatouille style thing where the mouse is the player and controls the thrall…
A warforged that's basically just a big mecha for the mouse
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Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock) Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric) Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue) Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
Lots of good ideas posted but it really depends what sort of relationship the player wants with the mouse and powerful it is. Most of this list has been mentioned but it goes from least powerful to most. It also depends what level they will be as some would not generally be available at level 1
reflavoured pet rat from urchin backgroud. Almost entirely roleplay very little mechanical benefit
Familiar, lots of ways to get this one that hasn't been mentioned is druid wild companion, still a very weak character with some mechanical benefits
Find steed: A Paladin riding in on a on a giant magical mouse!
"Pets" Beastmaster ranger, reflavors steel defender or Homunculas servent not as powerful as the players but are mechanically useful
NPC If the mouse isn't going to be adventuring with them all the time but will be appearing now and then in the storyline, you can use the stat block for a standard rat or Traxigor or anything in between (you could also use archdruid though RAW they can only be a mouse 18 hours a day). Doesn't restrict the player character choisces at all
Sidekick, of equal power to the players, as this is the players first time playing I wouldn't have her control two players I think it would be best contolled by the DM
Warlock Patron, Archfey is the obvious pact though if you are familiar with hitch hikers guide to the galaxy I think a mouse genie also fits. Now th mouse is much more powerful than the player
God (people think cleric at this point but any class can worship a God)
She's going to play a tiefling warlock with a brand on her forearm that can turn into her patron in the form of a mouse with a command word. The mouse will have two modes: one where she uses the command word to bring the mouse out of the brand and is, to her, just a mouse that can do basic mouse like things, as well as some basic communications using charades to pass info onto the player (imagine the mouse snuck under a door, witnessed something and using charades to tell her what the mouse saw). The other mode is when the patron is in charge, whispering little things to her telepathically or, the patron has the ability to bring itself out of the brand on her arm as the mouse and speak with others. When the patron is out of the brand by itself, the character will "freeze"and have a blank look on her face, and have no memory of the mouse/patron having been active.
One of the things that we will do as well is that if any of the party tries to tell her about this talking mouse, she will go into the frozen state and have no memories of the conversation. If effect, she doesn't know that the mouse is her patron, is unaware of where the brand/mouse came from and when others try to explain it to her, she goes blank and doesn't have any recollection of the conversation.
This should be a fun character to play and for me to DM!
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A long time friend out of the blue asked to play D&D for the first time, which of course got me all excited! She has an interesting idea for a character, and of course I try to keep my players happy in their choices.
The issue is that she's never played and has an idea "to play a non-human character that was magically tied to an enchanted mouse" (her words). While I know that she is super creative and would probably play this well, I don't know what class I could set up for her where I can fulfill her wishes. I had the thought that the "mouse" could be a deity in disguise and is her patron to her being a sorcerer, but I am not sure if that is what she is going for.
Does anyone else have an idea that would help me fit her wishes into 5e rules? (I can be a bit loose on the rules for her)
Would her character even need to be a magic user, or could we find a mechanic that would work for her within the 5e rules?
I see her in two days to hash out her character, so any suggestions are welcome!
If you feel the need to make it a mechanical thing, you can have her pick a subclass that has a familiar (like a pact of the chain warlock or a wizard with the Find Familiar spell), or you can just give her character the Magic Initiate feat and have the first-level spell be Find Familiar. However, you can go one simpler and just...give her a magic pet mouse.
Is it a mouse, or a miniature giant space hamster?
Anyway. I’d start it off as just a pet in her pocket. Nothing special, she just has it, and it won’t leave her side. Then, as the story progresses, find a way to give it a bigger hook. But I usually like to leave things open, so I can fit them in as I go along. I know others prefer to have everything planned out ahead. I just find the more open you leave it, the greater impact it can have when it turns out to be an unexpected and large piece of the puzzle.
That really all depends. I can’t answer without first asking a question myself. What precisely does she mean by “magically tied to an enchanted mouse.”
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Perhaps the mouse is her warlock patron.
Only spilt the party if you see something shiny.
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I like the idea of the companion getting a stronger bond as they level up.
Something like gaining one of the abilities in Find Familiar every other level or some such.
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“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry, and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things cannot be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one's lifetime.” - Mark Twain - Innocents Abroad
I played a Bard with the Urchin background. In that, my backstory involved my pet mouse and an interaction with a Wizard, where my pet became "immortal" of sorts. He would never die, and if something happened that WOULD kill him, he would reappear in my pocket later, whole and healthy. He was a normal mouse otherwise, with no special abilities or anything, so it was an eternal pet for him. I used him to access small spaces at times, but his super low Intelligence made him close to useless, but still fun to have around.
It's an answer that eliminates much chance for any exploits, but keeps it as a fun little extra to give the character a bit more personality and RP options.
Talk to your Players. Talk to your DM. If more people used this advice, there would be 24.74% fewer threads on Tactics, Rules and DM discussions.
The simplest answer is Warlock... it's the class that most overtly ties the player to an NPC that grants them power. Cleric is the same vein, but it has the caveat that it basically confirms that the mouse is the avatar of a deity of some kind.
Without knowing any more details, I would suggest an Archfey Warlock with Pact of the Chain, with the mouse as the familiar, but using Almiraj stats instead of mouse stats.
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I like it too, but what if the player wants the mouse to be their peer, superior, ora transformation/alt form of sorts? Then they’re likely looking at a Beastmaster/Steel Defender situation, a Warlock Patron/Diety, or race/spell. That’s why I’m currently filing this under “needs more information.” (For all we know, she may want to play a furling?)
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
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Content Troubleshooting
Really, you can go wild with it. Give the mouse a Martin of Redwall/Reepacheep from Narnia slant and make an echo knight where the echo attacks are from her valiant little friend
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
I was thinking something similar, but my first thought was to make the "enchanted mouse" using the sidekick rules from Tasha's Cauldron. Figured that it would be pretty easy to take the rat statblock and just add sidekick levels to that, which would allow the mouse to become stronger and more useful as the main character levels up. The Expert class seems like a pretty suitable fit for a mouse-like character (although it'd need to be able to speak per RAW). Or, if the mouse is supposed to be more magical, then the Spellcaster class might be a better fit to allow it some spellcasting ability.
Maybe sidekick doesn't really fit with what the player wants for the "enchanted mouse" aspect, but this particular route means that the player's character can be whatever they want it to be without having to worry about class, subclass, spells, or otherwise. The mouse is just along for the ride, but it can still grow and develop along with the PC.
That's my big question as well, and I won't find out until tomorrow!
However, these replies are helping me get an idea of ways to present to her versions of her idea that will work for the game.
This, actually, was my first idea. I will need to hash it out with her when I see her, but if I were playing her character, I would go this route.
I hadn't thought of the sidekick version...I like this idea. I will do some reading in Tasha's and see what I can come up with for her.
My friend played a Reborn, but the body was literally a corpse. The bow(Arcane Archer fighter) had gained sentience and when in contact with corpse bestowed his spirit onto it. In fact it’s how he met the party. A drunk monk heard the bow mentally ask for help. Once the bow was within 120ft of the corpse, who just blankly stood and stared where he was, would make its way to the bow. It was a fun arch. Maybe you can totally do some Ratatouille style thing where the mouse is the player and controls the thrall…
A warforged that's basically just a big mecha for the mouse
Active characters:
Carric Aquissar, elven wannabe artist in his deconstructionist period (Archfey warlock)
Lan Kidogo, mapach archaeologist and treasure hunter (Knowledge cleric)
Mardan Ferres, elven private investigator obsessed with that one unsolved murder (Assassin rogue)
Xhekhetiel, halfling survivor of a Betrayer Gods cult (Runechild sorcerer/fighter)
Ooooh yea! Ratatouille Power Rangers!
Lots of good ideas posted but it really depends what sort of relationship the player wants with the mouse and powerful it is. Most of this list has been mentioned but it goes from least powerful to most. It also depends what level they will be as some would not generally be available at level 1
Alright, here''s the plan.
She's going to play a tiefling warlock with a brand on her forearm that can turn into her patron in the form of a mouse with a command word. The mouse will have two modes: one where she uses the command word to bring the mouse out of the brand and is, to her, just a mouse that can do basic mouse like things, as well as some basic communications using charades to pass info onto the player (imagine the mouse snuck under a door, witnessed something and using charades to tell her what the mouse saw). The other mode is when the patron is in charge, whispering little things to her telepathically or, the patron has the ability to bring itself out of the brand on her arm as the mouse and speak with others. When the patron is out of the brand by itself, the character will "freeze"and have a blank look on her face, and have no memory of the mouse/patron having been active.
One of the things that we will do as well is that if any of the party tries to tell her about this talking mouse, she will go into the frozen state and have no memories of the conversation. If effect, she doesn't know that the mouse is her patron, is unaware of where the brand/mouse came from and when others try to explain it to her, she goes blank and doesn't have any recollection of the conversation.
This should be a fun character to play and for me to DM!