So my players were getting bored so I gave them a pet. Now this pet isn’t just a regular dog or wolf or something. It’s a oytugh with the personality of a dog. He acts like a dog and they even named him. What do I do with him now?
I think that depends on what you and the players want to do with him. Is he just a novelty that’s following them around or are they expecting to use him in combat? If it’s the first I don’t think you’ll need to do more than just mention him occasionally and if it’s the latter then give them a stat block and warn them he might end up dead
In my experience the issue with pets is they are either ineffective and the novelty wears off fast or you need to make them about 1/2-3/4 as strong as a PC for them to be valuable and to hold the groups interest.
If the group is enjoying the pet figure out based on their playstyle where they are lacking - could they use a little more dps? Heals? Some help on finding traps or paths? Give the pet 3 abilities 1 BA, 1Action, 1 Random Investigative type thing that will be use full. Give the pet low hp but give it resistance to everything and the ability to take ethereal step if its about to die to go and rest and return next session - that way its a scalpel not a sledge hammer.
Conversely in some games if the DM allows it I LOVE having a sledge hammer pet that is about 95% as strong as a PC - but you need the right group, dm, & campaign for that to work
GL!
For context in my level 19 game this is one of my pets skills and not nearly the strongest - super useful!
3 - Primal Shadows: Caster can create magical grey/black natural-looking dark shadows pulled from Nature in a 30 ft Sphere to obscure the area and itself and all allies to it as 1/2 cover and enemy visibility is cut by 1/2. Caster and allies in range get a temporary boost of +2 to AC & +2 to all saves while in range. Cannot be negated.
In Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, there are rules for Sidekicks, which are simple, pseudo-PCs that can round out a small party. You take the statblock of a creature, give it a Sidekick class, and slap on features as it and the rest of the party gains levels.
In your case, I would give the otyugh the Warrior class. Normally, you can only give Sidekick levels to a creature of CR 1/2 or lower, but as a DM, I'd just keep the otyugh (CR 5) a few levels below the party to compensate.
Critically, let the party run the otyugh. Sidekicks can be played by anyone, including the DM, but to help keep the players engaged, let them control the otyugh. Give them the statblock, let them make decisions, and let them roll the dice for it.
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So my players were getting bored so I gave them a pet. Now this pet isn’t just a regular dog or wolf or something. It’s a oytugh with the personality of a dog. He acts like a dog and they even named him. What do I do with him now?
I think that depends on what you and the players want to do with him. Is he just a novelty that’s following them around or are they expecting to use him in combat? If it’s the first I don’t think you’ll need to do more than just mention him occasionally and if it’s the latter then give them a stat block and warn them he might end up dead
In my experience the issue with pets is they are either ineffective and the novelty wears off fast or you need to make them about 1/2-3/4 as strong as a PC for them to be valuable and to hold the groups interest.
If the group is enjoying the pet figure out based on their playstyle where they are lacking - could they use a little more dps? Heals? Some help on finding traps or paths? Give the pet 3 abilities 1 BA, 1Action, 1 Random Investigative type thing that will be use full. Give the pet low hp but give it resistance to everything and the ability to take ethereal step if its about to die to go and rest and return next session - that way its a scalpel not a sledge hammer.
Conversely in some games if the DM allows it I LOVE having a sledge hammer pet that is about 95% as strong as a PC - but you need the right group, dm, & campaign for that to work
GL!
For context in my level 19 game this is one of my pets skills and not nearly the strongest - super useful!
3 - Primal Shadows: Caster can create magical grey/black natural-looking dark shadows pulled from Nature in a 30 ft Sphere to obscure the area and itself and all allies to it as 1/2 cover and enemy visibility is cut by 1/2. Caster and allies in range get a temporary boost of +2 to AC & +2 to all saves while in range. Cannot be negated.
About the strength thing, I gave him one spell a saw fit, made his strength a little higher than usual.
In Tasha's Cauldron of Everything, there are rules for Sidekicks, which are simple, pseudo-PCs that can round out a small party. You take the statblock of a creature, give it a Sidekick class, and slap on features as it and the rest of the party gains levels.
In your case, I would give the otyugh the Warrior class. Normally, you can only give Sidekick levels to a creature of CR 1/2 or lower, but as a DM, I'd just keep the otyugh (CR 5) a few levels below the party to compensate.
Critically, let the party run the otyugh. Sidekicks can be played by anyone, including the DM, but to help keep the players engaged, let them control the otyugh. Give them the statblock, let them make decisions, and let them roll the dice for it.