A question for the D&D Beyond hivemind--in particular those with experience as DMs:
How would you rule if a Paladin wanted to use her "Find Steed" spell to summon a creature to effectively function as a familiar, instead of a mount, up to and including the "steed" taking the form of a creature from the "Find Familiar" creature list, or one of the variant creatures that can be used as a familiar (e.g. Imp (Familiar Variant))?
On the one hand, the Find Steed spell literally says:
(Your GM might allow other animals to be summoned as steeds.)
But on the other hand, the rest of the spell makes it clear that RAI envisions creatures that could be used as a mount, like an Elephant or something.
Your steed serves you as a mount, both in combat and out, and you have an instinctive bond with it that allows you to fight as a seamless unit. While mounted on your steed, you can make any spell you cast that targets only you also target your steed.
But on the other other hand, it's not like "familiars" are game-breaking novel concepts. But on the other other other hand, a Paladin could easily take a multiclass dip or take a feat like Magic Initiate or Ritual Caster to get access to a spell list with Find Familiar in it anyways, if she really feels that strongly about it.
While Find Familiar and Find Steed both summon a Celestial/Fey/Fiend spirit in the form of a beast for you, the way they function is quite different. Find Steed isn't a ritual spell and takes just 10 minutes to cast, without any expensive material components. Steeds don't get to be put away into a "pocket universe" with an action. You can't cast Touch spells through your Steed, nor can you see/hear through their eyes/ears.
Even if you did allow the "steed" to be from the list of familiar beasts (Imps and such are specifically for Pact of the Chain Warlocks), the player probably shouldn't get to enjoy the benefits of the Find Familiar spell. And they wouldn't get the Find Steed benefits that require being mounted on the creature. So at best, they'd have an extra-smart tiny beast with 1 or a few hit points that they can communicate with from a mile away, at the cost of a 2nd-level spell slot.
Familiars can also perform the Help Action while your steed cannot.
I don't find Familiars are particularly overpowered. However, these are two distinct and separate spells, and Paladins don't have Find Familiar on their spell list - I imagine due to thematic concerns. I wouldn't be concerned if a DM allowed this while I was at the table.
Personally though, if I were inclined to allow something like this as DM, I'd probably just add Find Familiar to the Paladin spell list instead. They are distinct spells with different rules - this isn't a merely cosmetic change. The advantage for the Paladin is that it's a lower level slot.
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Considering that mounted combat requires a creature with the appropriate anatomy to serve as a mount, I wouldn't allow a familiar to be summoned with the spell. Find Steed specifically states that the creature you summon is a steed, i. e. it ought to serve as a mount. Find Familiar, on the other hand, lists very specific creatures which can serve as your familiar, none of which fulfill the requirement of appropriate anatomy.
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It's only got an intelligence of 6 and the spell says that it creates a bond between the two of you allowing you to fight as a seamless unit. It's not going to start second-guessing you in the middle of a fight.
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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.
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A question for the D&D Beyond hivemind--in particular those with experience as DMs:
How would you rule if a Paladin wanted to use her "Find Steed" spell to summon a creature to effectively function as a familiar, instead of a mount, up to and including the "steed" taking the form of a creature from the "Find Familiar" creature list, or one of the variant creatures that can be used as a familiar (e.g. Imp (Familiar Variant))?
On the one hand, the Find Steed spell literally says:
But on the other hand, the rest of the spell makes it clear that RAI envisions creatures that could be used as a mount, like an Elephant or something.
But on the other other hand, it's not like "familiars" are game-breaking novel concepts. But on the other other other hand, a Paladin could easily take a multiclass dip or take a feat like Magic Initiate or Ritual Caster to get access to a spell list with Find Familiar in it anyways, if she really feels that strongly about it.
Thoughts?
While Find Familiar and Find Steed both summon a Celestial/Fey/Fiend spirit in the form of a beast for you, the way they function is quite different. Find Steed isn't a ritual spell and takes just 10 minutes to cast, without any expensive material components. Steeds don't get to be put away into a "pocket universe" with an action. You can't cast Touch spells through your Steed, nor can you see/hear through their eyes/ears.
Even if you did allow the "steed" to be from the list of familiar beasts (Imps and such are specifically for Pact of the Chain Warlocks), the player probably shouldn't get to enjoy the benefits of the Find Familiar spell. And they wouldn't get the Find Steed benefits that require being mounted on the creature. So at best, they'd have an extra-smart tiny beast with 1 or a few hit points that they can communicate with from a mile away, at the cost of a 2nd-level spell slot.
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Familiars can also perform the Help Action while your steed cannot.
I don't find Familiars are particularly overpowered. However, these are two distinct and separate spells, and Paladins don't have Find Familiar on their spell list - I imagine due to thematic concerns. I wouldn't be concerned if a DM allowed this while I was at the table.
Personally though, if I were inclined to allow something like this as DM, I'd probably just add Find Familiar to the Paladin spell list instead. They are distinct spells with different rules - this isn't a merely cosmetic change. The advantage for the Paladin is that it's a lower level slot.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
Why can't the steed do that?
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.
Considering that mounted combat requires a creature with the appropriate anatomy to serve as a mount, I wouldn't allow a familiar to be summoned with the spell. Find Steed specifically states that the creature you summon is a steed, i. e. it ought to serve as a mount. Find Familiar, on the other hand, lists very specific creatures which can serve as your familiar, none of which fulfill the requirement of appropriate anatomy.
What's the worst that could happen?
That is not true RAW. Any creature can take any of the standard actions, including the Help action.
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I'm away from my books, but every online source I've seen says that mounts that you control can only take Dash, Disengage or Dodge.
If you're not willing or able to to discuss in good faith, then don't be surprised if I don't respond, there are better things in life for me to do than humour you. This signature is that response.
There's nothing saying that your steed cannot be independent.
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!
Just as you do not ride you familiars you can choose to leave your steed independent and thus they can do the help action if commanded to do so.
The first sentence in both spells highly suggests the steed will do your bidding.
It's only got an intelligence of 6 and the spell says that it creates a bond between the two of you allowing you to fight as a seamless unit. It's not going to start second-guessing you in the middle of a fight.
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.