There are certain other pets that upgrade as you level- the drakewarden’s drake being the first to come to mind. In the absence of specific language in your class/subclass describing how this will happen, there’s no RAW way for it to occur short of True Polymorph/Wish shenanigans.
The Slaad Tadpole actually has two items on it's monster's stat block that I find interesting. First, it has Magic Resistance, which may help it stay alive a little longer against (at least low-level) AOE's. Also, it has a Burrow speed. This means that it can hide underground, then pop up to use the Help before dropping back undergound. This could be a nice way for it to not be targeted by enemies, since it will be underground.
I agree with the above statements about it being able to age. But irregardless of the above statements that it is some sort of force, there are a multitude of other reasons.
To grow means it needs sustenance, and proper rest to allow the "cells" to grow. I don't think a familiar will eat nor actually rest.
What is the time needed for that familiar to actually mature? Several years, if not longer?
If you need a familiar time to grow, then you are effectively losing that spell, as if you cast a 2nd familiar, the 1st one disappears. Every time you cast the spell, you restart the "clock" for it to age.
Effectively, is losing a spell worth growing a familiar that takes years to occur?
This familiar only needs 2d12 hours to age/grow up, which could be easily done since find familiar lasts until it dies, on a low role, it could happen just travelling from point a to b
This familiar only needs 2d12 hours to age/grow up,
Where is that found?
It's in the Slaad Tadpole's description: (EDIT: I was referring to the "2d12 hours" part only, I don't agree with the idea of a familiar aging)
Under most conditions, a slaad tadpole transforms into a blue slaad—or a green slaad if its host was able to cast spells of level 3 or higher—within 2d12 hours of hatching.
This familiar only needs 2d12 hours to age/grow up, which could be easily done since find familiar lasts until it dies, on a low role, it could happen just travelling from point a to b
Thank you for all the replies!
I would say 90-95% chance your DM rules that once "grown up" it turns on you and tries to infect you & your party or simply kill you.
This familiar only needs 2d12 hours to age/grow up, which could be easily done since find familiar lasts until it dies, on a low role, it could happen just travelling from point a to b
No this familiar is a spirit that takes the form of a Tadpole, it has never hatched or been an egg at all and thus none of the rules about it transforming are relevant.
This familiar only needs 2d12 hours to age/grow up, which could be easily done since find familiar lasts until it dies, on a low role, it could happen just travelling from point a to b
No this familiar is a spirit that takes the form of a Tadpole, it has never hatched or been an egg at all and thus none of the rules about it transforming are relevant.
There is a small bit of logic on that answer I disagree with. My disclaimer, A familiar should never be allowed to "grow up" and mature into an adult.
If it is a spirit that takes the form, why is the form limiting from one type of form to another form type? An imp has the ability to shape shift so an Imp can change forms. But if you use a Sprite or a raven etc. they will always be that initial form until a new spell is cast.
Wouldn't it be a spirt that transforms into a XXX?
This familiar only needs 2d12 hours to age/grow up, which could be easily done since find familiar lasts until it dies, on a low role, it could happen just travelling from point a to b
No this familiar is a spirit that takes the form of a Tadpole, it has never hatched or been an egg at all and thus none of the rules about it transforming are relevant.
There is a small bit of logic on that answer I disagree with. My disclaimer, A familiar should never be allowed to "grow up" and mature into an adult.
If it is a spirit that takes the form, why is the form limiting from one type of form to another form type? An imp has the ability to shape shift so an Imp can change forms. But if you use a Sprite or a raven etc. they will always be that initial form until a new spell is cast.
Wouldn't it be a spirt that transforms into a XXX?
vice
Takes the form of XXX?
I think your logic is the leap actually. It is not a tadpole, which alters in form as it grows up. It is a static spirit taking the form of a tadpole. It is not becoming that creature, it's just 'wearing' that creature as a disguise.
If you used disguise self to look like a person on their deathbed, would you die if the you held that form too long? Of course not. Because you're not actually a person on their deathbed. And the familiar is not actually a tadpole. It is a spirit using magic to gain a specific form that is spelled out in its stat block. Nothing more, nothing less.
I mean, the “but it’s actually just a spirit mimicking the form of X” bit has never really held up for Chain options, imo. Yes, that’s technically what the spell says, but I expect most players using the feature prefer to treat it as being given an appropriate minion by their patron.
I mean, the “but it’s actually just a spirit mimicking the form of X” bit has never really held up for Chain options, imo. Yes, that’s technically what the spell says, but I expect most players using the feature prefer to treat it as being given an appropriate minion by their patron.
Wouldn't that mean that the minion couldn't change its form or go to the pocket dimension? And that the patron would need to supply a new minion takes enough damage to go to 0hp?
I mean, the “but it’s actually just a spirit mimicking the form of X” bit has never really held up for Chain options, imo. Yes, that’s technically what the spell says, but I expect most players using the feature prefer to treat it as being given an appropriate minion by their patron.
Wouldn't that mean that the minion couldn't change its form or go to the pocket dimension? And that the patron would need to supply a new minion takes enough damage to go to 0hp?
Depends a bit on the minion- the fiends wouldn't need any special explanation. I'm not saying the other interpretation perfectly lines up with the effects either, just that a lot of people don't consider a chain familiar to be some random spirit that happens to be shaped like one of the options.
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Hello!
Quick question about the Slaad Tadpole
Can it age as a familiar? or will it always be a tadpole?
I'm mainly asking because it seems to be the least exciting/useful of the familiars, but if it can age into a Slaad it will be alot more powerful
There is no mechanic in the rules as written for any of the familiar forms to "age" or otherwise change their stats.
pronouns: he/she/they
Your DM would be crazy to allow it to age, familiars are plenty powerful enough as scouts they should not be powerful combatants.
There are certain other pets that upgrade as you level- the drakewarden’s drake being the first to come to mind. In the absence of specific language in your class/subclass describing how this will happen, there’s no RAW way for it to occur short of True Polymorph/Wish shenanigans.
The Slaad Tadpole actually has two items on it's monster's stat block that I find interesting. First, it has Magic Resistance, which may help it stay alive a little longer against (at least low-level) AOE's. Also, it has a Burrow speed. This means that it can hide underground, then pop up to use the Help before dropping back undergound. This could be a nice way for it to not be targeted by enemies, since it will be underground.
I agree with the above statements about it being able to age. But irregardless of the above statements that it is some sort of force, there are a multitude of other reasons.
To grow means it needs sustenance, and proper rest to allow the "cells" to grow. I don't think a familiar will eat nor actually rest.
What is the time needed for that familiar to actually mature? Several years, if not longer?
If you need a familiar time to grow, then you are effectively losing that spell, as if you cast a 2nd familiar, the 1st one disappears. Every time you cast the spell, you restart the "clock" for it to age.
Effectively, is losing a spell worth growing a familiar that takes years to occur?
This familiar only needs 2d12 hours to age/grow up, which could be easily done since find familiar lasts until it dies, on a low role, it could happen just travelling from point a to b
Thank you for all the replies!
Where is that found?
It's in the Slaad Tadpole's description: (EDIT: I was referring to the "2d12 hours" part only, I don't agree with the idea of a familiar aging)
I would say 90-95% chance your DM rules that once "grown up" it turns on you and tries to infect you & your party or simply kill you.
No this familiar is a spirit that takes the form of a Tadpole, it has never hatched or been an egg at all and thus none of the rules about it transforming are relevant.
There is a small bit of logic on that answer I disagree with. My disclaimer, A familiar should never be allowed to "grow up" and mature into an adult.
If it is a spirit that takes the form, why is the form limiting from one type of form to another form type? An imp has the ability to shape shift so an Imp can change forms. But if you use a Sprite or a raven etc. they will always be that initial form until a new spell is cast.
Wouldn't it be a spirt that transforms into a XXX?
vice
Takes the form of XXX?
I think your logic is the leap actually. It is not a tadpole, which alters in form as it grows up. It is a static spirit taking the form of a tadpole. It is not becoming that creature, it's just 'wearing' that creature as a disguise.
If you used disguise self to look like a person on their deathbed, would you die if the you held that form too long? Of course not. Because you're not actually a person on their deathbed. And the familiar is not actually a tadpole. It is a spirit using magic to gain a specific form that is spelled out in its stat block. Nothing more, nothing less.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
I mean, the “but it’s actually just a spirit mimicking the form of X” bit has never really held up for Chain options, imo. Yes, that’s technically what the spell says, but I expect most players using the feature prefer to treat it as being given an appropriate minion by their patron.
Could you have fun and learn Summon Aberration and have your tadpole grow up for short periods of time to be the summon?
Wouldn't that mean that the minion couldn't change its form or go to the pocket dimension? And that the patron would need to supply a new minion takes enough damage to go to 0hp?
Depends a bit on the minion- the fiends wouldn't need any special explanation. I'm not saying the other interpretation perfectly lines up with the effects either, just that a lot of people don't consider a chain familiar to be some random spirit that happens to be shaped like one of the options.