If I have a familiar summoned via the Find Familiar spell and it's small enough to realistically sit on my shoulders, can it I just have it on my shoulders at all times and move it around with me during combat encounters without needing to command it to move or use ana action to move it?
Example: A character with a venomous snake wrapped around their neck like a scarf.
It will be your DM’s call. Personally, I say no, as two creatures can’t be in the same square during combat.
That's false actually, they can be in the same square if one is at least 2 size categories smaller than the other, which is the case for a familiar and a Medium sized PC. Similarly "grappling" a creature 2 sizes smaller than you doesn't affect your movement. It's clumsy using the RAW, sure but it does work.
It will be your DM’s call. Personally, I say no, as two creatures can’t be in the same square during combat.
That's false actually, they can be in the same square if one is at least 2 size categories smaller than the other, which is the case for a familiar and a Medium sized PC. Similarly "grappling" a creature 2 sizes smaller than you doesn't affect your movement. It's clumsy using the RAW, sure but it does work.
Oh, good point.
But now the question is if you need to use mounted combat rules, and the PC is the mount.
I've never allowed familiars to occupy the same space as a character, nor allowed them to count for flanking or taking the help action - it's just too easy to abuse.
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Playing D&D since 1982
Have played every version of the game since Basic (Red Box Set), except that abomination sometimes called 4e.
It will be your DM’s call. Personally, I say no, as two creatures can’t be in the same square during combat.
That's false actually, they can be in the same square if one is at least 2 size categories smaller than the other, which is the case for a familiar and a Medium sized PC. Similarly "grappling" a creature 2 sizes smaller than you doesn't affect your movement. It's clumsy using the RAW, sure but it does work.
Oh, good point.
But now the question is if you need to use mounted combat rules, and the PC is the mount.
The PC would always be an "independent mount" which means there are no special rules for mounted combat other than it costing the familiar half their movement to "mount" or "dismount" from the PC.
It will be your DM’s call. Personally, I say no, as two creatures can’t be in the same square during combat.
That's false actually, they can be in the same square if one is at least 2 size categories smaller than the other, which is the case for a familiar and a Medium sized PC. Similarly "grappling" a creature 2 sizes smaller than you doesn't affect your movement. It's clumsy using the RAW, sure but it does work.
Oh, good point.
But now the question is if you need to use mounted combat rules, and the PC is the mount.
I would actually use the "Climb onto a Bigger Creature" rules from the 2014 DMG, and allow the player to intentionally fail the check.
In short: a smaller creature can treat a sufficiently large creature as terrain by climbing on its back, clinging to its arm, etc. It doesn't say what size difference is required, it just says "sufficiently large". Personally I would allow a Tiny creature to do so with a Medium creature. You then cling to its body and move with it. That's it.
Normally it would require an Athletics/Acrobatics check contested by the target's Acrobatics check, but I would simply allow the player to fail it intentionally.
If I have a familiar summoned via the Find Familiar spell and it's small enough to realistically sit on my shoulders, can it I just have it on my shoulders at all times and move it around with me during combat encounters without needing to command it to move or use ana action to move it?
Example: A character with a venomous snake wrapped around their neck like a scarf.
It will be your DM’s call. Personally, I say no, as two creatures can’t be in the same square during combat.
That's false actually, they can be in the same square if one is at least 2 size categories smaller than the other, which is the case for a familiar and a Medium sized PC. Similarly "grappling" a creature 2 sizes smaller than you doesn't affect your movement. It's clumsy using the RAW, sure but it does work.
Oh, good point.
But now the question is if you need to use mounted combat rules, and the PC is the mount.
I've never allowed familiars to occupy the same space as a character, nor allowed them to count for flanking or taking the help action - it's just too easy to abuse.
Playing D&D since 1982
Have played every version of the game since Basic (Red Box Set), except that abomination sometimes called 4e.
I allow it. I don't think it would break the game in any way, and it's honestly just realistic.
The PC would always be an "independent mount" which means there are no special rules for mounted combat other than it costing the familiar half their movement to "mount" or "dismount" from the PC.
I would actually use the "Climb onto a Bigger Creature" rules from the 2014 DMG, and allow the player to intentionally fail the check.
In short: a smaller creature can treat a sufficiently large creature as terrain by climbing on its back, clinging to its arm, etc. It doesn't say what size difference is required, it just says "sufficiently large". Personally I would allow a Tiny creature to do so with a Medium creature. You then cling to its body and move with it. That's it.
Normally it would require an Athletics/Acrobatics check contested by the target's Acrobatics check, but I would simply allow the player to fail it intentionally.