Someone in my game wanted a possessed cactus as his "personal item" ... I wasn't sure how to deal with this..
I decided most spells would deal with illusory and be ways to communicate with players rather than directly help them. Although he may help where necessary... at a cost!
I made this character sheet, does it seem balanced to you?
Cactus sheet
Name - Kev the Cactus
level 1 warlock/ level 1 bard
Backstory:
I was originally a bard... village was ransacked. Traded body for power with a fiend. In search of my human form so I can fight for my real body.
Sometimes the fiend gets hungry..
To ask the cactus to cast a spell you must prick yourself on it's bristles, it will then drain your blood for: 1d4 (cantrip) or 1d6 (level 1)
On roll of 1 cactus will use vicious mockery on you... putting together a string of enchanted insults. You must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or take 1d4 psychic damage and have disadvantage on the next attack roll you make.
The cactus has a mind of it's own.... it also likes to sleep.
Traits
I don’t talk about the thing that torments me. I’d rather not burden others with my curse.
Ideals
I’ll stop the spirits that haunt me or die trying.
Bonds
There’s evil in me, I can feel it. It must never be set free.
Flaws
I talk to spirits that no one else can see.
=== WARLOCK FEATURES ===
* Otherworldly Patron • PHB 107 You have struck a bargain with an otherworldly being.
| The Fiend
* Pact Magic • PHB 107 You can cast known warlock spells using CHA as your spellcasting modifier (Spell DC 13, Spell Attack +5). You can use an arcane focus as a spellcasting focus.
* Expanded Spell List • PHB 109 Additional spells are added to the warlock spell list for you.
* Dark One’s Blessing • PHB 109 When you reduce a hostile creature to 0 HP, you gain 4 temp HP.
=== BARD FEATURES ===
* Spellcasting • PHB 52 You can cast known bard spells using CHA as your spellcasting modifier (Spell DC 13, Spell Attack +5) and known bard spells as rituals if they have the ritual tag. You can use a musical instrument as a spellcasting focus.
* Bardic Inspiration • PHB 53 As a bonus action, a creature (other than you) within 60 ft. that can hear you gains an inspiration die (1d6). For 10 minutes, the creature can add it to one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw. This can be added after seeing the roll, but before knowing the outcome.
I would suggest that you use the awakened shrub stat block at first and slowly introduce more of Kev's abilities as you go. Perhaps when in a moment of danger, Kev casts eldritch blast at someone attacking the player character.
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
I would suggest that you use the awakened shrub stat block at first and slowly introduce more of Kev's abilities as you go. Perhaps when in a moment of danger, Kev casts eldritch blast at someone attacking the player character.
Great feedback thanks. On introduction Kev's stats will be the same as awakened shrub.
The more Kev gets "fed" the stronger he becomes.
I would have loved to give it eldrich blast, but this would mean swapping out minor illusion which is really important for the feel of the character.
Instead, I decided to swap out "identify" for "Thunderclap". I feel that this would have more role-playing effect and with the pushback, allows for a nice "I saved you dude" moment. Your thoughts @astromancer?
My foremost suggestion is to keep it simple. Treat Kev like an awakened shrub for the most part, introducing one spell or ability or important piece of information every once in a while. I also don't believe an awakened shrub, or cactus, has the fine motor skills necessary for using somatic components to spells to begin with so that will limit what you're able to do.
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
I agree with Astromancer. There's no reason to give it class levels. You can just have it so something interesting occasionally as appropriate. It wouldn't be able to cast spells so these would just be innate abilities that it can rarely trigger.
Someone in my game wanted a possessed cactus as his "personal item" ... I wasn't sure how to deal with this..
I decided most spells would deal with illusory and be ways to communicate with players rather than directly help them. Although he may help where necessary... at a cost!
I made this character sheet, does it seem balanced to you?
Cactus sheet
Name - Kev the Cactus
level 1 warlock/ level 1 bard
Backstory:
I was originally a bard... village was ransacked. Traded body for power with a fiend. In search of my human form so I can fight for my real body.
Sometimes the fiend gets hungry..
To ask the cactus to cast a spell you must prick yourself on it's bristles, it will then drain your blood for:
1d4 (cantrip) or 1d6 (level 1)
On roll of 1 cactus will use vicious mockery on you... putting together a string of enchanted insults. You must succeed on a Wisdom saving throw or take 1d4 psychic damage and have disadvantage on the next attack roll you make.
The cactus has a mind of it's own.... it also likes to sleep.
Traits
I don’t talk about the thing that torments me. I’d rather not burden others with my curse.
Ideals
I’ll stop the spirits that haunt me or die trying.
Bonds
There’s evil in me, I can feel it. It must never be set free.
Flaws
I talk to spirits that no one else can see.
=== WARLOCK FEATURES ===
* Otherworldly Patron • PHB 107
You have struck a bargain with an otherworldly being.
| The Fiend
* Pact Magic • PHB 107
You can cast known warlock spells using CHA as your spellcasting modifier (Spell DC 13, Spell Attack +5). You can use an arcane focus as a spellcasting focus.
* Expanded Spell List • PHB 109
Additional spells are added to the warlock spell list for you.
* Dark One’s Blessing • PHB 109
When you reduce a hostile creature to 0 HP, you gain 4 temp HP.
=== BARD FEATURES ===
* Spellcasting • PHB 52
You can cast known bard spells using CHA as your spellcasting modifier (Spell DC 13, Spell Attack +5) and known bard spells as rituals if they have the ritual tag. You can use a musical instrument as a spellcasting focus.
* Bardic Inspiration • PHB 53
As a bonus action, a creature (other than you) within 60 ft. that can hear you gains an inspiration die (1d6). For 10 minutes, the creature can add it to one ability check, attack roll, or saving throw. This can be added after seeing the roll, but before knowing the outcome.
| 3 / Long Rest • 1 Bonus Action
=== LANGUAGES ===
Abyssal, Common, Primordial
Spells
=== CANTRIPS ===
Vicious Mockery
Dancing Lights <C>
Minor Illusion
Magic Stone
=== 1st LEVEL ===
Illusory Script [R]
Silent Image <C>
Disguise Self
Identify [R]
Unseen Servant
Comprehend Languages
Stats
Charisma + 3
Wisdom +2
Intelligence +2
constitution + 1
Dexterity -1
Strength + 0
HP 15 (will try to avoid combat anyway)
see full sheet here ddb.ac/characters/9562766/dAOrU2
I would suggest that you use the awakened shrub stat block at first and slowly introduce more of Kev's abilities as you go. Perhaps when in a moment of danger, Kev casts eldritch blast at someone attacking the player character.
You may also want to look at the Unearthed Arcana article on Sidekicks for guidance.
Tooltips | Snippet Code | How to Homebrew on D&D Beyond | Subclass Guide | Feature Roadmap
Astromancer's Homebrew Assembly
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
Great feedback thanks. On introduction Kev's stats will be the same as awakened shrub.
The more Kev gets "fed" the stronger he becomes.
I would have loved to give it eldrich blast, but this would mean swapping out minor illusion which is really important for the feel of the character.
Instead, I decided to swap out "identify" for "Thunderclap". I feel that this would have more role-playing effect and with the pushback, allows for a nice "I saved you dude" moment. Your thoughts @astromancer?
Level 1 it has awakened shrub statblock, but only 1 action:
Action: "EAT! Feed the cactus to increase it's power. The cactus hasn't eaten in a while.... The fiend is becoming tiresome of this pact..."
My foremost suggestion is to keep it simple. Treat Kev like an awakened shrub for the most part, introducing one spell or ability or important piece of information every once in a while. I also don't believe an awakened shrub, or cactus, has the fine motor skills necessary for using somatic components to spells to begin with so that will limit what you're able to do.
Tooltips | Snippet Code | How to Homebrew on D&D Beyond | Subclass Guide | Feature Roadmap
Astromancer's Homebrew Assembly
"The relevant equation is: Knowledge = power = energy = matter = mass; a good bookshop is just a genteel Black Hole that knows how to read." - Terry Pratchett
I agree with Astromancer. There's no reason to give it class levels. You can just have it so something interesting occasionally as appropriate. It wouldn't be able to cast spells so these would just be innate abilities that it can rarely trigger.
I really wanna do hoard of the dragon queen but it's too hard. Any other recommendations?
wrong thread
I am leader of the yep cult:https://www.dndbeyond.com/forums/off-topic/adohands-kitchen/82135-yep-cult Pronouns are she/her