D&D 5E Pact of the chain - how did it work out?

[Cap'n Kobold]

Given that it's categorically an imp, I'd suggest it might not always be happy to throw itself into danger on behalf of its master. It might decide not to be available at times. It could also get sidetracked when exploring. This is both a way of the DM controlling just how effective it is, and an excellent role-playing opportunity.

Note that a Pact of the Chain familiar isn't categorically an Imp. It is a spirit sent by your patron that just happens to look like an imp.

 

[Khelon Testudo]

Yeah, ok, you got me.

 

[ccs]

Familiars acquired through other channels are functionally different. Most notably, if they die they stay dead.

Hmm. Depends upon what exactly that other channel is & details.
My pseudo-dragon? Yes, he's very real. He's also very powerful - a great wym of a P.Dragon! - & is actually my warlocks fey patron. Scales lives in a cave back home under the families inn, snoozing on a pile-o-treasure. He simply projects himself to the warlock as her familiar when she's out adventuring.
But even though his projection can be re-summoned/the link restored, and Bree knows this, she's still not going to get him splatted. Because even if they can reform, that's not how you treat your friends & partners!
I suppose if something terrible were to happen back home though....

 

[Shiroiken]

I've yet to have anyone play Pact of the Chain in any game I've been in. They've played it in other games and found it "meh." It's useful in the exploration pillar, but not much in the combat pillar (they die regularly). The usefulness in the exploration pillar could be done just as easily with a skilled rogue or other scout, with the added benefit of not pissing off the DM. They consider it not worth the effort, especially with so many other options available.

 

[Ancalagon]

I've yet to have anyone play Pact of the Chain in any game I've been in. They've played it in other games and found it "meh." It's useful in the exploration pillar, but not much in the combat pillar (they die regularly). The usefulness in the exploration pillar could be done just as easily with a skilled rogue or other scout, with the added benefit of not pissing off the DM. They consider it not worth the effort, especially with so many other options available.

Who's they? a friend, a partner, some person on the internet? I know it's not actually relevant to the story, but without that missing detail the paragraph above is strange....

 

[Shiroiken]

Who's they? a friend, a partner, some person on the internet? I know it's not actually relevant to the story, but without that missing detail the paragraph above is strange....

My players. I thought that was obvious, but I guess not. My bad.

 

[Ancalagon]

The 100 foot range of the "basic" familiar has been mentioned a fair bit, but I'm not sure it's as limiting as some people say.

Supposed it's daytime, and you have a hawk familiar (or another good flier with good eyesight). You send it up with instructions. "Go fly over that valley, look around, tell me what you see". It flies off, you very quickly lose telepathic contact... but it comes back and you get a report.

It won't have the same level of initiative a smarter familiar (or another PC...) will have, but you will still gain valuable information.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

The 100 foot range of the "basic" familiar has been mentioned a fair bit, but I'm not sure it's as limiting as some people say.

Supposed it's daytime, and you have a hawk familiar (or another good flier with good eyesight). You send it up with instructions. "Go fly over that valley, look around, tell me what you see". It flies off, you very quickly lose telepathic contact... but it comes back and you get a report.

It won't have the same level of initiative a smarter familiar (or another PC...) will have, but you will still gain valuable information.

Sure, and it's well worth having one if you are a tomblock, but you do realise that the bstd DM will have your hawk shot down by enemy archers?

 

[Ancalagon]

Sure, and it's well worth having one if you are a tomblock, but you do realise that the bstd DM will have your hawk shot down by enemy archers?

That's ridiculous.

1: Are archers shooting down every birds from the sky?
2: shooting a bird in the sky is very hard
3: They don't have the range - a gliding bird can easily fly thousands of feet
4: Birds of prey can see very far, much more so than humans.

That being said, the hawk's scouting flight might get notice, and might put the enemy on a higher alert level.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

That's ridiculous.

1: Are archers shooting down every birds from the sky?

If they have reason to suspect they might be scouted by familiars or wildshaped druids, sure.

Or target practice.

2: shooting a bird in the sky is very hard

Hawk, AC 13.

Not hard in D&Dland.

3: They don't have the range - a gliding bird can easily fly thousands of feet.


4: Birds of prey can see very far, much more so than humans.

Did the player specify the bird was flying higher than 400 ft.?

No?

Then bstd DM is a bstd.