I recently created a character that used the Urchin background and as a result has a pet mouse. I never had a pet in a d&d game before. So I wanted to ask for any advice regarding pets.
What are some creative things you've done with your pet?
What are some things to be careful of?
Favorite pet moment?
What do you recommend to ensure a pet survives a campaign?
Pets really are not something that affects gameplay at all. You might have trained your pet mouse to do tricks, but it's still just an ordinary mouse, it doesn't have the utility of a familiar or animal companion.
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Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
It's nit nearly as useful as familiars. They can't speak, communicate, and most aren't smart enough to tell you stuff, even with simple points and pictures. Anything with 6 or higher intelligence is decently smart.
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'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
It's nit nearly as useful as familiars. They can't speak, communicate, and most aren't smart enough to tell you stuff, even with simple points and pictures. Anything with 6 or higher intelligence is decently smart.
depends on your race/class and what magic items you're able to find. if you look at the spell, [spell]speak with animals[/spells], even a rat with int 2 can tell you stuff. how is the only question. ring of animal influence would be great for someone with a pet mouse.
A Circle of the Shepherd has Speech of the Woods, in which case the mouse can be quite useful.
Fibolgs have Speech of Beast and Leaf, while limited, could probably get the mouse to fetch something.
things to watch out for? the mouse has 1 hp and if it dies, its dead...two damage and no death saves.
how to survive a campaign? leave it at home. its going to die if you're talking a whole campaign unless you're willing to spend 300gp per death to bring it back with revivify or something.
My Artificer keeps his pet mouse Cosmo in a pouch on his belt. Has to Prestidigitate that pouch clean pretty often though. But Cos is mostly for RP as it’s my PC’s best friend.
Yes, the whole fun of a pet is RP, and sometimes can assist. However, for Shepard druids, it doesn't say that they are necessarily smart enough to communicate proper things.
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'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
Yes, the whole fun of a pet is RP, and sometimes can assist. However, for Shepard druids, it doesn't say that they are necessarily smart enough to communicate proper things.
Cosmo doesn’t communicate at all except to squeak a bit and rub my nose with his. And he likes to be tickled.
The only one of my characters who had a pet was a cursed blackbear named Blooddrinker. He was from one of the Adventure League modules. I carried him around in a purse like bag (think Paris Hilton with her little yipper dog). He didn't really /do/ anything useful, but when we'd get to villages I'd pull him out for children to play with.
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Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
For surviving the campaign, it depends on how cooperative your DM is. If they let the pet avoid attacks as long as it's on your person and not specifically targeted, it probably has a better chance of surviving than you do. If they stick to the rules, the first AoE will kill it, leave it at home.
You should really talk to your DM about it. Often it’s easy to negotiate something like, you only use it for flavor/rp and in exchange there won’t be a hungry owl flying by. But if you start using it for scouting or to otherwise help you overcome challenges, then it’s going to be at risk. Best you come to an agreement beforehand and head off anyone getting angry.
I wouldn't worry about it. A pet mouse is more a roleplaying prop than something you or the DM need to worry about mechanics for. Unless the character is actively throwing it in the face of enemies or something. Otherwise you should just be able to hand wave it's continued existence, like "oh Squeaky was safe in your jacket pocket and was protected by the fireball" or "after the fight, Squeaky runs back up to you from his safe hiding place," or even if you're underwater for extended periods "Squeaky is so small that he's able to use the water breathing effect on you provided he stays on your person".
Unless they're in a situation where the only thing that makes sense is that the mouse dies (which I can't think of many), I wouldn't worry about it.
I wouldn't worry about it. A pet mouse is more a roleplaying prop than something you or the DM need to worry about mechanics for. Unless the character is actively throwing it in the face of enemies or something. Otherwise you should just be able to hand wave it's continued existence, like "oh Squeaky was safe in your jacket pocket and was protected by the fireball" or "after the fight, Squeaky runs back up to you from his safe hiding place," or even if you're underwater for extended periods "Squeaky is so small that he's able to use the water breathing effect on you provided he stays on your person".
Unless they're in a situation where the only thing that makes sense is that the mouse dies (which I can't think of many), I wouldn't worry about it.
This^
Ellalladrille (my PC) is level 11, and Cosmo (a pet mouse that lives in a pouch on Ellall’s belt) somehow miraculously manages to survive Ellall getting set on fire or doused in acid all the time. A little prestidigitation to clean out the pouch and some food and tickles and Cosmo is as happy as can be.
I fo not care for pets that much. I agree that the mouse is mainly a RP device. They are not that smart, would not be able to so much, and 1 AoE spell kills them dead. Even communication spells would only get so much from them.
That being said; they could be live props during a performance, I remember a movie where prisoners used rodents to pass messages, and even miniature giant space hamsters can be deadly. "Go for the eyes, Boo, go for the eyes!"
My urchin’s pet mouse is strictly an RP device for the same reasons as stated above - if I started using him in combat, for instance, he would be much more at risk.
She (Callie the halfling rogue) has a kind of Mr Jingles thing going on with him where he’s been with her through some tough times and she’s disproportionately proud of all the dumb little tricks she teaches him. One of her major arcs is her longing for a home and somewhere to belong, and although he’s her closest companion she’s decided not to give him a name until they find someplace that feels like home (yes it’s a shameless Breakfast at Tiffany’s rip-off). Maybe he’ll have a name by the end of the campaign!
I had a tabaxi rogue with a mouse as a pet in a Strahd game. It lived in a large inside pocket of his coat. He kept talking to the mouse and pinching scraps of food off peoples plates, putting it in the pocket to feed the mouse. It kept the party amused no end for a couple of sessions as they didn’t know about the mouse until it died in the grinder house. They just thought my character was a bit bonkers.
So, my character "lost" his ability to speak with humans or any kinds of beings except my mouse. He said to me what he wanted when I asked him to tell what someone said and I believed it. It was alot of fun, I know that it's a late answer but you may use this as inspiration for other characters.
I play with a DM who has a fun rule for pets/tagalong NPC's: They're functionally immortal until the party decides to do something useful with them.
As long as its just a fun RP thing, he makes them un-targetable and intangible for attacks and aoes, but the second we decide "Why don't we use [pet] to distract the guards!" Then it becomes mortal from that point on lol
I would ask your GM how they want to deal with "pets" and provide them with some info on how you would like to use the "pet". Try and do this before the game and give them time to think about it before making any rulings.
I have played in a game where pets and personal side projects (RP) were beneficial at first and then became a burden and distraction on the game and the GM then ruled that "such" things were going to be minimized in the future. But I have also played in games where it was encouraged and the GM did not mind spending 3 hours of face to face time dealing with pet issues and expected it (and thus when it did not happen it caused problems as the GM did not have things prepared for other encounters).
In general I think RP can be good but it can also be distracting and each group has its tolerance for various game aspects.
Coming late to the party here, but in rl mice are actually quite intelligent little critters. So I guess I have been fortunate with the DMs I have had the good fortune to play with, as they have allowed some really neat possibilities: For instance, with animal handling checks, in-game (and actually in rl), it is actually possible to train a mouse. In-game this is done by training it to do up to 3 simple tasks, the training done during long rests.
@Zero405 in answer to most of your questions - # 1 So, for instance, I have trained my mouse to A) look for trip wires: It's usually light enough not to set one off so I let it go ahead and find them and follow it like a tightrope, by painting its feet with chalk or ashes, it 'illuminates' where the wire is. B) It is also trained to steal coins off a table, and finally, C) If given to someone, it finds its way back to me with a message if it's released onto a path I have been on within a 48 hr period. I also, had a DM allow a choice of either a sugar glider, chinchilla, mouse, rat, or oil bird (they have dark vision - so usually for Deep Gnomes or other Underdark dwellers), and as above, can be trained for up to 3 simple tasks that are reasonable, and agreed upon with the DM.
Most recently, in yet another campaign, I have been playing a berserker barbarian hummingbird aarakocra with an urchin background (yes I really did just say all that, LOL) and it uses its mouse as its steed (such as for inside buildings, or for stealth reasons, or other times it's not flying). When the aarakocra doesn't need a steed there is a druid in the party that is willing to carry the mouse until it is needed.
# 2 Feed it (care for it). And during long rests, use animal handling checks and food to keep the rapport. But when it comes to 'sending out into the field' I always go for it. I think the DM finds the creative role play its added to the game that he, like us would hate to see it go. :D # 3 Using the mouse as a means for cheating at the gaming table in a tavern. I would release the mouse during a throwing dagger game as a distraction to the opponent. # 4 Don't overuse it; use it when risk is guessed to be low, but high return in what it's been trained to do.
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I recently created a character that used the Urchin background and as a result has a pet mouse. I never had a pet in a d&d game before. So I wanted to ask for any advice regarding pets.
Pets really are not something that affects gameplay at all. You might have trained your pet mouse to do tricks, but it's still just an ordinary mouse, it doesn't have the utility of a familiar or animal companion.
Find your own truth, choose your enemies carefully, and never deal with a dragon.
"Canon" is what's factual to D&D lore. "Cannon" is what you're going to be shot with if you keep getting the word wrong.
It's nit nearly as useful as familiars. They can't speak, communicate, and most aren't smart enough to tell you stuff, even with simple points and pictures. Anything with 6 or higher intelligence is decently smart.
'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
I'll worldbuild for your DnD games!
Just a D&D enjoyer, check out my fiverr page if you need any worldbuilding done for ya!
depends on your race/class and what magic items you're able to find. if you look at the spell, [spell]speak with animals[/spells], even a rat with int 2 can tell you stuff. how is the only question. ring of animal influence would be great for someone with a pet mouse.
A Circle of the Shepherd has Speech of the Woods, in which case the mouse can be quite useful.
Fibolgs have Speech of Beast and Leaf, while limited, could probably get the mouse to fetch something.
things to watch out for? the mouse has 1 hp and if it dies, its dead...two damage and no death saves.
how to survive a campaign? leave it at home. its going to die if you're talking a whole campaign unless you're willing to spend 300gp per death to bring it back with revivify or something.
Guide to the Five Factions (PWYW)
Deck of Decks
Forest gnomes can also speak to tiny animals, so that could work, too.
Canto alla vita
alla sua bellezza
ad ogni sua ferita
ogni sua carezza!
I sing to life and to its tragic beauty
To pain and to strife, but all that dances through me
The rise and the fall, I've lived through it all!
My Artificer keeps his pet mouse Cosmo in a pouch on his belt. Has to Prestidigitate that pouch clean pretty often though. But Cos is mostly for RP as it’s my PC’s best friend.
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Yes, the whole fun of a pet is RP, and sometimes can assist. However, for Shepard druids, it doesn't say that they are necessarily smart enough to communicate proper things.
'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
I'll worldbuild for your DnD games!
Just a D&D enjoyer, check out my fiverr page if you need any worldbuilding done for ya!
Cosmo doesn’t communicate at all except to squeak a bit and rub my nose with his. And he likes to be tickled.
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The only one of my characters who had a pet was a cursed blackbear named Blooddrinker. He was from one of the Adventure League modules. I carried him around in a purse like bag (think Paris Hilton with her little yipper dog). He didn't really /do/ anything useful, but when we'd get to villages I'd pull him out for children to play with.
Any time an unfathomably powerful entity sweeps in and offers godlike rewards in return for just a few teensy favors, it’s a scam. Unless it’s me. I’d never lie to you, reader dearest.
Tasha
For surviving the campaign, it depends on how cooperative your DM is. If they let the pet avoid attacks as long as it's on your person and not specifically targeted, it probably has a better chance of surviving than you do. If they stick to the rules, the first AoE will kill it, leave it at home.
You should really talk to your DM about it. Often it’s easy to negotiate something like, you only use it for flavor/rp and in exchange there won’t be a hungry owl flying by. But if you start using it for scouting or to otherwise help you overcome challenges, then it’s going to be at risk. Best you come to an agreement beforehand and head off anyone getting angry.
I wouldn't worry about it. A pet mouse is more a roleplaying prop than something you or the DM need to worry about mechanics for. Unless the character is actively throwing it in the face of enemies or something. Otherwise you should just be able to hand wave it's continued existence, like "oh Squeaky was safe in your jacket pocket and was protected by the fireball" or "after the fight, Squeaky runs back up to you from his safe hiding place," or even if you're underwater for extended periods "Squeaky is so small that he's able to use the water breathing effect on you provided he stays on your person".
Unless they're in a situation where the only thing that makes sense is that the mouse dies (which I can't think of many), I wouldn't worry about it.
This^
Ellalladrille (my PC) is level 11, and Cosmo (a pet mouse that lives in a pouch on Ellall’s belt) somehow miraculously manages to survive Ellall getting set on fire or doused in acid all the time. A little prestidigitation to clean out the pouch and some food and tickles and Cosmo is as happy as can be.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting
I fo not care for pets that much. I agree that the mouse is mainly a RP device. They are not that smart, would not be able to so much, and 1 AoE spell kills them dead. Even communication spells would only get so much from them.
That being said; they could be live props during a performance, I remember a movie where prisoners used rodents to pass messages, and even miniature giant space hamsters can be deadly. "Go for the eyes, Boo, go for the eyes!"
My urchin’s pet mouse is strictly an RP device for the same reasons as stated above - if I started using him in combat, for instance, he would be much more at risk.
She (Callie the halfling rogue) has a kind of Mr Jingles thing going on with him where he’s been with her through some tough times and she’s disproportionately proud of all the dumb little tricks she teaches him. One of her major arcs is her longing for a home and somewhere to belong, and although he’s her closest companion she’s decided not to give him a name until they find someplace that feels like home (yes it’s a shameless Breakfast at Tiffany’s rip-off). Maybe he’ll have a name by the end of the campaign!
I had a tabaxi rogue with a mouse as a pet in a Strahd game. It lived in a large inside pocket of his coat. He kept talking to the mouse and pinching scraps of food off peoples plates, putting it in the pocket to feed the mouse. It kept the party amused no end for a couple of sessions as they didn’t know about the mouse until it died in the grinder house. They just thought my character was a bit bonkers.
So, my character "lost" his ability to speak with humans or any kinds of beings except my mouse. He said to me what he wanted when I asked him to tell what someone said and I believed it. It was alot of fun, I know that it's a late answer but you may use this as inspiration for other characters.
I play with a DM who has a fun rule for pets/tagalong NPC's: They're functionally immortal until the party decides to do something useful with them.
As long as its just a fun RP thing, he makes them un-targetable and intangible for attacks and aoes, but the second we decide "Why don't we use [pet] to distract the guards!" Then it becomes mortal from that point on lol
I would ask your GM how they want to deal with "pets" and provide them with some info on how you would like to use the "pet". Try and do this before the game and give them time to think about it before making any rulings.
I have played in a game where pets and personal side projects (RP) were beneficial at first and then became a burden and distraction on the game and the GM then ruled that "such" things were going to be minimized in the future. But I have also played in games where it was encouraged and the GM did not mind spending 3 hours of face to face time dealing with pet issues and expected it (and thus when it did not happen it caused problems as the GM did not have things prepared for other encounters).
In general I think RP can be good but it can also be distracting and each group has its tolerance for various game aspects.
Coming late to the party here, but in rl mice are actually quite intelligent little critters. So I guess I have been fortunate with the DMs I have had the good fortune to play with, as they have allowed some really neat possibilities: For instance, with animal handling checks, in-game (and actually in rl), it is actually possible to train a mouse. In-game this is done by training it to do up to 3 simple tasks, the training done during long rests.
@Zero405 in answer to most of your questions -
# 1
So, for instance, I have trained my mouse to A) look for trip wires: It's usually light enough not to set one off so I let it go ahead and find them and follow it like a tightrope, by painting its feet with chalk or ashes, it 'illuminates' where the wire is. B) It is also trained to steal coins off a table, and finally, C) If given to someone, it finds its way back to me with a message if it's released onto a path I have been on within a 48 hr period.
I also, had a DM allow a choice of either a sugar glider, chinchilla, mouse, rat, or oil bird (they have dark vision - so usually for Deep Gnomes or other Underdark dwellers), and as above, can be trained for up to 3 simple tasks that are reasonable, and agreed upon with the DM.
Most recently, in yet another campaign, I have been playing a berserker barbarian hummingbird aarakocra with an urchin background (yes I really did just say all that, LOL) and it uses its mouse as its steed (such as for inside buildings, or for stealth reasons, or other times it's not flying). When the aarakocra doesn't need a steed there is a druid in the party that is willing to carry the mouse until it is needed.
# 2 Feed it (care for it). And during long rests, use animal handling checks and food to keep the rapport. But when it comes to 'sending out into the field' I always go for it. I think the DM finds the creative role play its added to the game that he, like us would hate to see it go. :D
# 3 Using the mouse as a means for cheating at the gaming table in a tavern. I would release the mouse during a throwing dagger game as a distraction to the opponent.
# 4 Don't overuse it; use it when risk is guessed to be low, but high return in what it's been trained to do.