Hey all I'm new to the forums and not sure if this is the proper place to ask this or if there is a small questions thread I should post this to instead.
Anyways I'm slowly fleshing out some ideas for a custom dungeon and I was wondering if there are any incorporeal or ethereal plane aligned monsters that can possess inanimate objects as an action (think a poltergeist jumping between and animating a tiny doll, to a suit of armor, to a tea set).
I know there's things like animated objects and weapons, but those don't quite have the spirit (ha) of what I'm trying to accomplish.
Are there any monsters that do this kind of thing as a special action that I can't find with my searching?
I’d just use a ghost. By RAW, it can’t possess objects, but you can always house rule that it can, or this particular ghost can. Then when it’s in whatever object, use the stats for the animated objects you mention.
FWIW, my DM did pretty much exactly what you’re discussing. The room was was a mess hall/kitchen full of furniture, and the ghost kept jumping from tables to ovens, etc. It did give us some interesting tactical choices, like is it better to attack the possessed item, or just start smashing tables to deprive it of things to possess.
Apologies for being a tad late to respond but have you consiodered using Skulk's? They're in Mordenakinens Tome of Foes and whilst not Incorporeal but they are naturally invisible which could potentially through your party a bit of a curve ball with lots of spooky sheninigans with them only being visible in reflective surfaces (windows, mirrors etc), as a ghostly form if viewed in the light shed by a specially made candle or, the most spooky, they can be seen by humanoid children under the age of 10, so you have the sterotypically 'I see dead people' or 'there's a monster under my bed' type of interaction. The Skulks can manipulate all manner of objects to mess with your party and all their attack rolls willbe at advantage due to their invisibilty.
Hey all I'm new to the forums and not sure if this is the proper place to ask this or if there is a small questions thread I should post this to instead.
Anyways I'm slowly fleshing out some ideas for a custom dungeon and I was wondering if there are any incorporeal or ethereal plane aligned monsters that can possess inanimate objects as an action (think a poltergeist jumping between and animating a tiny doll, to a suit of armor, to a tea set).
I know there's things like animated objects and weapons, but those don't quite have the spirit (ha) of what I'm trying to accomplish.
Are there any monsters that do this kind of thing as a special action that I can't find with my searching?
I’d just use a ghost. By RAW, it can’t possess objects, but you can always house rule that it can, or this particular ghost can. Then when it’s in whatever object, use the stats for the animated objects you mention.
FWIW, my DM did pretty much exactly what you’re discussing. The room was was a mess hall/kitchen full of furniture, and the ghost kept jumping from tables to ovens, etc. It did give us some interesting tactical choices, like is it better to attack the possessed item, or just start smashing tables to deprive it of things to possess.
Welcome! The new draconic shard has an action like this.
Apologies for being a tad late to respond but have you consiodered using Skulk's? They're in Mordenakinens Tome of Foes and whilst not Incorporeal but they are naturally invisible which could potentially through your party a bit of a curve ball with lots of spooky sheninigans with them only being visible in reflective surfaces (windows, mirrors etc), as a ghostly form if viewed in the light shed by a specially made candle or, the most spooky, they can be seen by humanoid children under the age of 10, so you have the sterotypically 'I see dead people' or 'there's a monster under my bed' type of interaction. The Skulks can manipulate all manner of objects to mess with your party and all their attack rolls willbe at advantage due to their invisibilty.