D&D 5E Displacer Beast Kitten As A Sidekick?

[O-Castitatis-Lilium]

So, here's the breakdown I would offer (as DM) to a player. Others can double-check my numbers, but I think I got it all.

Level 1 Expert:
Size Small
AC 12
HP 9
Hit Dice 2d6 + 2
Speed 30
Proficiency +2
STR 12, DEX 13, CON 12, INT 4, WIS 10, CHA 6
Skills Athletics +3, Insight +2, Perception +2, Stealth +3, Survival +2
Saves DEX +3
Light Armor Proficiency
Features Displacement, Helpful
Attack +3
Damage 2 bludgeoning + 1 piercing

Level 2 Expert:
HP 14
Hit Dice 3d6 + 3
Features Cunning Action

Level 3 Expert:
HP 19
Hit Dice 4d6 + 4
Features Expertise (choose two skills for expertise, not included in skill bonuses below...)

Level 4 Expert:
Size Medium
AC 13 (same as Displacer Beast)
HP 30
Hit Dice 4d6, 1d8 + 10
Speed 35
STR 14, DEX 14, CON 14, INT 5, WIS 11, CHA 7 (add +1 to all ability scores, then apply ASI below)
Skills Athletics +4, Insight +2, Perception +2, Stealth +4, Survival +2
Saves DEX +4
Features ASI (STR +1, CON +1)
Attack +4
Damage 4 (1d4+2) bludgeoning + 2 (1d4) piercing

Level 5 Expert:
HP 37
Hit Dice 4d6, 2d8 + 12
Proficiency +3
Skills Athletics +5, Insight +3, Perception +3, Stealth +5, Survival +3
Saves DEX +5
Attack +5

Level 6 Expert:
HP 44
Hit Dice 4d6, 3d8 + 14
Features Coordinated Strike (or Multiattack, player's choice)

Level 7 Expert:
HP 51
Hit Dice 4d6, 4d8 + 16
Features Evasion (replaces Avoidance, or the DM could just let you get Avoidance)

Level 8 Expert:
Size Large (same as Displacer Beast)
HP 68
Hit Dice 4d6, 4d8, 1d10 + 27
Speed 40 (same as Displacer Beast)
STR 16, DEX 15, CON 16, INT 6, WIS 12, CHA 8 (add +1 to all ability scores, then apply ASI below)
Skills Athletics +6, Insight +4, Perception +4, Stealth +5, Survival +4
Features ASI (STR +1, CON +1)
Attack +6
Damage 6 (1d4+3) bludgeoning + 3 (1d6) piercing

Level 9 Expert:
HP 77
Hit Dice 4d6, 4d8, 2d10 + 30
Proficiency +4
Skills Athletics +5, Insight +3, Perception +3, Stealth +5, Survival +3
Saves DEX +6
Attack +7

Level 10 Expert:
HP 86 (+1 higher than Displacer Beast); can change to 85 (to match Displacer Beast)
Hit Dice 4d6, 4d8, 3d10 + 33; can change to 10d10+30 (to match Displacer Beast)
STR 18, DEX 15, CON 16, INT 6, WIS 12, CHA 8 (same as Displacer Beast)
Skills Athletics +6, Insight +3, Perception +3, Stealth +5, Survival +3 (Displacer Beast has no skills)
Features ASI (STR +2)
Attack +8 (+2 higher than Displacer Beast)
Damage 7 (1d4+4) bludgeoning + 3 (1d6) piercing (same as Displacer Beast)

This, for the most part, makes your sidekick a full Displacer Beast with some extras.

I absolutely love this...and I'm kind of embarrassed that this makes total sense...and the fact that being a player looking at this instead of a DM it made it seem so much more complicated. I could see myself offering this too LOL! I was kind of looking at the Warrior profile for this, but this seems to fit perfectly. I don't think the warrior would fit now really lol

 

[ezo]

I absolutely love this...and I'm kind of embarrassed that this makes total sense...and the fact that being a player looking at this instead of a DM it made it seem so much more complicated. I could see myself offering this too LOL! I was kind of looking at the Warrior profile for this, but this seems to fit perfectly. I don't think the warrior would fit now really lol

Glad it helps! Frankly, it works so well I'm tempted to bring something like this into my own game as a DMPC! In such a case I would use Expertise on Perception and Stealth, allowing it to help scout with the rogue.

The two "growth" levels at 4th and 8th make it work IMO. As long as the DM is ok with that concept, I think they'll probably approve the overall build progression.

At a growth level: size increases along with new HD, speed +5, all ability scores get +1, and damage dice increase. With the Constitution modifier also jumping at those levels due to the ASI (with +1 for growth) corresponds with nice leaps in HP, again representing the size bump.

Otherwise, it is really not far from the Expert sidekick class. Getting skills is really probably the biggest bump over the normal Displacer Beast. But, IMO they should have skills already. Most creatures in D&D should have skills but few have them.

 

[O-Castitatis-Lilium]

Glad it helps! Frankly, it works so well I'm tempted to bring something like this into my own game as a DMPC! In such a case I would use Expertise on Perception and Stealth, allowing it to help scout with the rogue.

The two "growth" levels at 4th and 8th make it work IMO. As long as the DM is ok with that concept, I think they'll probably approve the overall build progression.

At a growth level: size increases along with new HD, speed +5, all ability scores get +1, and damage dice increase. With the Constitution modifier also jumping at those levels due to the ASI (with +1 for growth) corresponds with nice leaps in HP, again representing the size bump.

Otherwise, it is really not far from the Expert sidekick class. Getting skills is really probably the biggest bump over the normal Displacer Beast. But, IMO they should have skills already. Most creatures in D&D should have skills but few have them.

Yeah I was thinking the same thing with the Expertise. My DM is pretty easy going for things like that, so far anyways. Apparently this campaign is going to be a tough one, so it's the reason she let me have it in the first place lol. Also agreed for the skills thing! So many other creatures do, why not them lol? Also i think the only other gripe I have with Displacer Beasts is that, they are touted as very smart creatures in the texts, their intellect should be a little higher no? That's just me though lol, and now I've gotten off topic. Thank you so much for your help, hopefully it won't be too differnet from DMing, being able to play that is!

 

[Alzrius]

While slightly off-topic, I should mention that the Baby Bestiary 5E Beast Companion (affiliate link) rules are specifically about having a young monster as an adventuring companion. They don't mention displacer beasts specifically, but it shouldn't be hard to work them into that framework.

 

[O-Castitatis-Lilium]

While slightly off-topic, I should mention that the Baby Bestiary 5E Beast Companion (affiliate link) rules are specifically about having a young monster as an adventuring companion. They don't mention displacer beasts specifically, but it shouldn't be hard to work them into that framework.

OMG! This is CUTE! Thank you for showing me these! Though my bookshelf will probably despise you for yet more books to be shoved onto it LOL! I can get them hardcover and the covers look absolutely adorable!

 

[Alzrius]

OMG! This is CUTE! Thank you for showing me these! Though my bookshelf will probably despise you for yet more books to be shoved onto it LOL! I can get them hardcover and the covers look absolutely adorable!

Glad you like them! I bought several myself.

Be aware that some of the books don't have game stats, being illustrations and flavor text only (the one I linked to above is a supplement that deals specifically with stats, but they're not all like that).

 

[ezo]

Also agreed for the skills thing! So many other creatures do, why not them lol? Also i think the only other gripe I have with Displacer Beasts is that, they are touted as very smart creatures in the texts, their intellect should be a little higher no? That's just me though lol, and now I've gotten off topic. Thank you so much for your help, hopefully it won't be too differnet from DMing, being able to play that is!

Actually, a lot of creatures don't have them but they should IMO.

Most "predators" should have Perception and/or Survival, for instance. However, instead they give them keen senses instead (they should have BOTH!). It is why beasts (in particular) have better WIS scores than INT or CHA, because WIS is what is used for noticing things, tracking, etc.

But it is for a different thread. I think you should be fine with the outline I posted. Enjoy and let us know how it goes playing!

 

[O-Castitatis-Lilium]

Actually, a lot of creatures don't have them but they should IMO.

Most "predators" should have Perception and/or Survival, for instance. However, instead they give them keen senses instead (they should have BOTH!). It is why beasts (in particular) have better WIS scores than INT or CHA, because WIS is what is used for noticing things, tracking, etc.

But it is for a different thread. I think you should be fine with the outline I posted. Enjoy and let us know how it goes playing!

Oh, I misread it, I'm sorry on that. Agreed though! I definitely will let you know when the game starts lol! I'll make a separate thread for it.

 

[Quickleaf]

I think as long as you're taking Sleight of Hand to steal little things from the party and Athletics to tentacle-grapple-hug, you're doing it right.

 

[O-Castitatis-Lilium]

I think as long as you're taking Sleight of Hand to steal little things from the party and Athletics to tentacle-grapple-hug, you're doing it right.

That was the first thing I thought of when I saw the kitten lol! Sleight of Hand on small baubles and "toys" and atheltics to see how hard he can launch himself into people to snuggles and head boops! He's going to enjoy the bongos as well, if anyone knows what that means lol! It's going to be so cute and fun!