So... our campaign has come across a baby giant spider that was playing a piano. We affectionately called it Spooderbard and one of us used animal handling to coerce it into joining our party as a pet. The question I pose to you, how would you write up a character that is a spider but actually has bard characteristics and is a pet?
Well, if you want it to use a character sheet I would create a homebrewed race for it with a few spidery traits like Spider Climb.
But frankly, I wouldn’t make it as a PC character sheet. I would make a statblock-mashup of a giant spider, a bard, and a bard, and then add it as an Extra on the character sheet of whoever tamed it.
Song of Rest. Spiderbard can perform a song while taking a short rest. Any ally who hears the song regains an extra (1d6) hit points if it spends any Hit Dice to regain hit points at the end of that rest. Spiderbard can confer this benefit on itself as well.
Spider Climb. Spiderbard can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.
Web Sense. While in contact with a web, Spiderbard knows the exact location of any other creature in contact with the same web.
Web Walker. Spiderbard ignores movement restrictions caused by webbing.
Actions
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack:+5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage, and the target must make a DC 11 Constitution saving throw, taking 9 (2d8) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. If the poison damage reduces the target to 0 hit points, the target is stable but poisoned for 1 hour, even after regaining hit points, and is paralyzed while poisoned in this way.
Web (Recharge 5–6). Ranged Weapon Attack:+5 to hit, range 30/60 ft., one creature. Hit: The target is restrained by webbing. As an action, the restrained target can make a DC 12 Strength check, bursting the webbing on a success. The webbing can also be attacked and destroyed (AC 10; hp 5; vulnerability to fire damage; immunity to bludgeoning, poison, and psychic damage).
Cacophony (Recharge 4–6). Each creature in a 15-foot cube originating from Spiderbard must make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 9 (2d8) thunder damage and is pushed up to 10 feet away from Spiderbard. On a successful save, a creature takes half as much damage and isn’t pushed.
Spellcasting. Spiderbard casts one of the following spells, using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 12):
Taunt (2/Day). Spiderbard can use a bonus action on its turn to target one creature within 30 feet of it. If the target can hear Spiderbard, the target must succeed on a DC 12 Charisma saving throw or have disadvantage on ability checks, attack rolls, and saving throws until the start of Spiderbard’s next turn.
Description
To snare its prey, Spiderbard spins elaborate webs or shoots sticky strands of webbing from its abdomen. Spiderbard most commonly lives underground, making his lair on ceilings or in dark, web-filled crevices. Such lairs are often festooned with web cocoons holding past victims.
Spiderbard is a gifted pianist and entertainer who has traveled far and wide, but is commonly found in taverns or in the company of jolly bands of adventurers, rough-and-tumble mercenaries, and wealthy patrons.
That's a great monster stat-block, I might also borrow it for a campaign. OP did describe a "baby giant spider" though so it maybe should be Medium. I initially thought to drop its HP as well, but since it has levels in Bard it's reasonable for it to keep them as-is?
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
Thanks! 😂 If youse all want, the actual statblock even has the rollables coded. I doubt it’s original enough to publish, but PM me a join link to a private campaign and I’ll hook youse up.
So... our campaign has come across a baby giant spider that was playing a piano. We affectionately called it Spooderbard and one of us used animal handling to coerce it into joining our party as a pet. The question I pose to you, how would you write up a character that is a spider but actually has bard characteristics and is a pet?
Well, if you want it to use a character sheet I would create a homebrewed race for it with a few spidery traits like Spider Climb.
But frankly, I wouldn’t make it as a PC character sheet. I would make a statblock-mashup of a giant spider, a bard, and a bard, and then add it as an Extra on the character sheet of whoever tamed it.
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This is what I would use for Spiderbard:
Song of Rest. Spiderbard can perform a song while taking a short rest. Any ally who hears the song regains an extra (1d6) hit points if it spends any Hit Dice to regain hit points at the end of that rest. Spiderbard can confer this benefit on itself as well.
Spider Climb. Spiderbard can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.
Web Sense. While in contact with a web, Spiderbard knows the exact location of any other creature in contact with the same web.
Web Walker. Spiderbard ignores movement restrictions caused by webbing.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 7 (1d8 + 3) piercing damage, and the target must make a DC 11 Constitution saving throw, taking 9 (2d8) poison damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. If the poison damage reduces the target to 0 hit points, the target is stable but poisoned for 1 hour, even after regaining hit points, and is paralyzed while poisoned in this way.
Web (Recharge 5–6). Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 30/60 ft., one creature. Hit: The target is restrained by webbing. As an action, the restrained target can make a DC 12 Strength check, bursting the webbing on a success. The webbing can also be attacked and destroyed (AC 10; hp 5; vulnerability to fire damage; immunity to bludgeoning, poison, and psychic damage).
Cacophony (Recharge 4–6). Each creature in a 15-foot cube originating from Spiderbard must make a DC 12 Constitution saving throw. On a failed save, a creature takes 9 (2d8) thunder damage and is pushed up to 10 feet away from Spiderbard. On a successful save, a creature takes half as much damage and isn’t pushed.
Spellcasting. Spiderbard casts one of the following spells, using Charisma as the spellcasting ability (spell save DC 12):
At will: dancing lights, mage hand, prestidigitation
1/day each: charm person, invisibility, sleep
Taunt (2/Day). Spiderbard can use a bonus action on its turn to target one creature within 30 feet of it. If the target can hear Spiderbard, the target must succeed on a DC 12 Charisma saving throw or have disadvantage on ability checks, attack rolls, and saving throws until the start of Spiderbard’s next turn.
Description
To snare its prey, Spiderbard spins elaborate webs or shoots sticky strands of webbing from its abdomen. Spiderbard most commonly lives underground, making his lair on ceilings or in dark, web-filled crevices. Such lairs are often festooned with web cocoons holding past victims.
Spiderbard is a gifted pianist and entertainer who has traveled far and wide, but is commonly found in taverns or in the company of jolly bands of adventurers, rough-and-tumble mercenaries, and wealthy patrons.
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I may just steal that for my campaign 😁
Wisea$$ DM and Player since 1979.
That's a great monster stat-block, I might also borrow it for a campaign. OP did describe a "baby giant spider" though so it maybe should be Medium. I initially thought to drop its HP as well, but since it has levels in Bard it's reasonable for it to keep them as-is?
Former D&D Beyond Customer of six years: With the axing of piecemeal purchasing, lack of meaningful development, and toxic moderation the site isn't worth paying for anymore. I remain a free user only until my groups are done migrating from DDB, and if necessary D&D, after which I'm done. There are better systems owned by better companies out there.
I have unsubscribed from all topics and will not reply to messages. My homebrew is now 100% unsupported.
Thanks! 😂 If youse all want, the actual statblock even has the rollables coded. I doubt it’s original enough to publish, but PM me a join link to a private campaign and I’ll hook youse up.
Creating Epic Boons on DDB
DDB Buyers' Guide
Hardcovers, DDB & You
Content Troubleshooting