Party gets a Vorpal Sword. Hires an NPC who is a Druid. When low on food, the party asks NPC to turn into a boar or cow. Use Vorpal Sword to cut off the head of the boar/cow. Since the NPC is a Druid, the hp removed by cutting off the Wildshaped Druid's head don't actually impact the Druid after being forced back to humanoid form. Let the NPC get the best cut of meat once in a while so they don't feel too bad about getting their head chopped off. Since Wildshapes are replenished on short rest, this means a new foodstuff can be made without a spell slot every short or long rest.
Keep in mind that Decapitation is "Instant Death" for a creature that needs its head to live, not just reducing HP to 0. Excess damage carries over to the Druid and decapitation is basically "All the Damage". That Druid is D.E.A.D.
If you want unlimited Food without a spell slot, go hunting. If you can spare a single 1st level spell slot, just eat Goodberries. Goodberries can provide 10 days worth of food and last for 24 hours, so you can feed a party of 5 for 2 days with a single casting.
A Warlock with Goodberry can potentially conjure 480 goodberries in a 24 hour period.
RAW? No. A Vorpal-ed creature is killed if it can’t survive without a head. Any of the extra damage of “killed” gets carried over to the druids original form, which leaves “killed” amount of damage.
You get one free cow though, which is a lot of meat. So really, if you have an endless supply of gullible druids, the plan can work with some minor adjustments.
Yeah you can eat your druid friend, druid makes good meal, but that is called "cannibalism", my dear dnd player, and is in fact frowned upon in most societies! unless your a lizardfolk xD
Joking aside, you can't do it. you might ended up killing your friendly druid friend and charge with murder. even if their in their animal form, they will still died with or without wildshape. since your vorpal sword will cut both their heads.
Technically, a giant beetle simply can't exist in a normal atmosphere due to the limitations of their anatomy, so who knows what actually sustains them. It would need a whole different circulatory system, lungs, etc.
The best bet would be to choose something massive and just take limbs. A 15th level Druid could turn into a Brontosaurus, but I would be amazed if they would be willing to be turned into food when they have so many other options.
When the form is dropped (at 0 hp, death or willingly dismissed) then the whole form reverts. Including bits dropped off. If you cut off the head, the instant the druid goes back to normal form, they remain headless and will be very dead.
If you want free food without a spell slot just take Magic Initiate: Druid to cast Goodberries once a day. Or be a Mark of Hospitality Halfling with a Bag of Bounty or live in wilderness as a ranger, or any of the other many ways to get food free in D&D that don't involve changing how stuff works to resort to pseudo cannibalism and murder. Or have one of the multiple backgrounds that get you free food and lodging. Or make a check like it says in PHB for foraging.
Or just pay the silver in a tavern. You're an adventurer, if you can't afford a meal - you need serious words with your DM.
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Okay, but what if the Druid turned into a Giant Lizard?
Use the sword to cut off the tail. If the original form of the Druid had no tail, then they won't miss it, right?
Sometimes your party is in the Astral Plane or Gehenna and doesn't have access to real food and you need all your spell slots for more important things. Slice up that tail and roast it on a spit.
Well, you couldn't use a vorpal sword then, in case you cut their head off by accident.
I think we're getting closer though. What if they turned into a swarm of crickets? What if you just left him a druid, but got him a ring of regeneration. Then you could cut off a leg a day.
This situation already includes having a druid, but saving one measly lvl 1 spell slot is worth more than just preparing goodberry and be done with it?
Okay, but what if the Druid turned into a Giant Lizard?
Use the sword to cut off the tail. If the original form of the Druid had no tail, then they won't miss it, right?
Sometimes your party is in the Astral Plane or Gehenna and doesn't have access to real food and you need all your spell slots for more important things. Slice up that tail and roast it on a spit.
If you go plane travelling without a plan you deserve to starve. And there are no called shots in 5E. And I would rule your friend druid now has a minor problem sitting. I would rule you have now ticked off the Druid's gawd and the Lizard gawds. You are trying for a cheesy tactic.
Just a reminder that Outlander and Fisher backgrounds exist. It won't help in all scenarios, but should help for some. If you're going somewhere those won't help, then spell slots and supply trains will be needed. Also, Wizards, Warlocks, and land Druids can recover some slots on a short rest. If your Druid isn't a Land druid, learning a few wizard spells or making a pact with a powerful being would be a reasonable way for a druid to try to survive... hope they didn't dump intelligence and charisma!
If this is your plan, why not just capture a Troll and slice off some troll burgers to fry up, or put a ring of regeneration on a cow/partymember.
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Check out my Disabled & Dragons Youtube Channel for 5e Monster and Player Tactics. Helping the Disabled Community and Players and DM’s (both new and experienced) get into D&D. Plus there is a talking Dragon named Quill.
The funniest part of this was "get a Vorpal Sword". As if they're 3.99 gp at Wizmart.
Seriously. If you can get your hands on a Vorpal Sword, you can probably get your hands on a few Rings of Sustenance or other magic items that also do the job.
Also, you have to hire a Druid to make it work, so it's not like this is a "Oh, crap, we're on a desert island and suddenly need food and all of us suck at Survival!" solution. And if you HAVE a Druid, as other pointed out, Goodberry exists. The spell slot is there anyway. Use it.
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Blood Frenzy. The quipper has advantage on melee attack rolls against any creature that doesn't have all its hit points.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage.
Would this work, by RAW?
Party gets a Vorpal Sword. Hires an NPC who is a Druid. When low on food, the party asks NPC to turn into a boar or cow. Use Vorpal Sword to cut off the head of the boar/cow. Since the NPC is a Druid, the hp removed by cutting off the Wildshaped Druid's head don't actually impact the Druid after being forced back to humanoid form. Let the NPC get the best cut of meat once in a while so they don't feel too bad about getting their head chopped off. Since Wildshapes are replenished on short rest, this means a new foodstuff can be made without a spell slot every short or long rest.
Keep in mind that Decapitation is "Instant Death" for a creature that needs its head to live, not just reducing HP to 0. Excess damage carries over to the Druid and decapitation is basically "All the Damage". That Druid is D.E.A.D.
If you want unlimited Food without a spell slot, go hunting. If you can spare a single 1st level spell slot, just eat Goodberries. Goodberries can provide 10 days worth of food and last for 24 hours, so you can feed a party of 5 for 2 days with a single casting.
A Warlock with Goodberry can potentially conjure 480 goodberries in a 24 hour period.
RAW? No. A Vorpal-ed creature is killed if it can’t survive without a head. Any of the extra damage of “killed” gets carried over to the druids original form, which leaves “killed” amount of damage.
You get one free cow though, which is a lot of meat. So really, if you have an endless supply of gullible druids, the plan can work with some minor adjustments.
Yeah you can eat your druid friend, druid makes good meal, but that is called "cannibalism", my dear dnd player, and is in fact frowned upon in most societies! unless your a lizardfolk xD
Joking aside, you can't do it. you might ended up killing your friendly druid friend and charge with murder. even if their in their animal form, they will still died with or without wildshape. since your vorpal sword will cut both their heads.
What if he turns into a Giant Cockroach?
Giant insects are a bit of a mystery.
Technically, a giant beetle simply can't exist in a normal atmosphere due to the limitations of their anatomy, so who knows what actually sustains them. It would need a whole different circulatory system, lungs, etc.
The best bet would be to choose something massive and just take limbs. A 15th level Druid could turn into a Brontosaurus, but I would be amazed if they would be willing to be turned into food when they have so many other options.
When the form is dropped (at 0 hp, death or willingly dismissed) then the whole form reverts. Including bits dropped off. If you cut off the head, the instant the druid goes back to normal form, they remain headless and will be very dead.
If you want free food without a spell slot just take Magic Initiate: Druid to cast Goodberries once a day. Or be a Mark of Hospitality Halfling with a Bag of Bounty or live in wilderness as a ranger, or any of the other many ways to get food free in D&D that don't involve changing how stuff works to resort to pseudo cannibalism and murder. Or have one of the multiple backgrounds that get you free food and lodging. Or make a check like it says in PHB for foraging.
Or just pay the silver in a tavern. You're an adventurer, if you can't afford a meal - you need serious words with your DM.
Click ✨ HERE ✨ For My Youtube Videos featuring Guides, Tips & Tricks for using D&D Beyond.
Need help with Homebrew? Check out ✨ this FAQ/Guide thread ✨ by IamSposta.
The funniest part of this was "get a Vorpal Sword". As if they're 3.99 gp at Wizmart.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
Okay, but what if the Druid turned into a Giant Lizard?
Use the sword to cut off the tail. If the original form of the Druid had no tail, then they won't miss it, right?
Sometimes your party is in the Astral Plane or Gehenna and doesn't have access to real food and you need all your spell slots for more important things. Slice up that tail and roast it on a spit.
Well, you couldn't use a vorpal sword then, in case you cut their head off by accident.
I think we're getting closer though. What if they turned into a swarm of crickets? What if you just left him a druid, but got him a ring of regeneration. Then you could cut off a leg a day.
How come nobody is suggesting a hydra?
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
One of the Order of the Stick webcomics had a barbecue restaurant sustained solely by a sleeping hydra, it was a pretty funny gag.
Wizard (Gandalf) of the Tolkien Club
This situation already includes having a druid, but saving one measly lvl 1 spell slot is worth more than just preparing goodberry and be done with it?
I am one with the Force. The Force is with me.
HEY YOU GOT THE BLACK FRIDAY DEAL EARLY.
No Gaming is Better than Bad Gaming.
If you go plane travelling without a plan you deserve to starve. And there are no called shots in 5E. And I would rule your friend druid now has a minor problem sitting. I would rule you have now ticked off the Druid's gawd and the Lizard gawds. You are trying for a cheesy tactic.
No Gaming is Better than Bad Gaming.
Just a reminder that Outlander and Fisher backgrounds exist. It won't help in all scenarios, but should help for some. If you're going somewhere those won't help, then spell slots and supply trains will be needed. Also, Wizards, Warlocks, and land Druids can recover some slots on a short rest. If your Druid isn't a Land druid, learning a few wizard spells or making a pact with a powerful being would be a reasonable way for a druid to try to survive... hope they didn't dump intelligence and charisma!
If this is your plan, why not just capture a Troll and slice off some troll burgers to fry up, or put a ring of regeneration on a cow/partymember.
Check out my Disabled & Dragons Youtube Channel for 5e Monster and Player Tactics. Helping the Disabled Community and Players and DM’s (both new and experienced) get into D&D. Plus there is a talking Dragon named Quill.
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCPPmyTI0tZ6nM-bzY0IG3ww
You couldn't really put the ring on a cow.
Troll flesh is rubbery and requires a long cook time. Recommend using a sous vide.
"Sooner or later, your Players are going to smash your railroad into a sandbox."
-Vedexent
"real life is a super high CR."
-OboeLauren
"............anybody got any potatoes? We could drop a potato in each hole an' see which ones get viciously mauled by horrible monsters?"
-Ilyara Thundertale
Seriously. If you can get your hands on a Vorpal Sword, you can probably get your hands on a few Rings of Sustenance or other magic items that also do the job.
Also, you have to hire a Druid to make it work, so it's not like this is a "Oh, crap, we're on a desert island and suddenly need food and all of us suck at Survival!" solution. And if you HAVE a Druid, as other pointed out, Goodberry exists. The spell slot is there anyway. Use it.
Blood Frenzy. The quipper has advantage on melee attack rolls against any creature that doesn't have all its hit points.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 1 piercing damage.
The other solution for food without a spell slot:
Bag of Holding + 250x Rations
Should hold a party of 5 for 50 days. (Or 250 days if the characters ration their food.)
The real problem is water. A character needs 1 Gallon (2 Gallons in hot weather) per day. Without that you'll risk death in just 4 days.