Goober4473
Explorer
In planning an Out of the Abyss game, I came across a problem. There are a lot of NPCs that could end up tagging along with the players. I like all of them, and want them to be available, but I don't want to bog down combat with tons of extra turns for all these extra characters, even if the players get to control them. But neither do I want them to sit back and do nothing.
So, my solution was this, the Companion System: Companion System
The gist is, companion NPCs don't normally use their stat blocks. Instead, they are sort of equipped to PCs, and grant one or more bonuses to special abilities to that PC. Most have an ability that requires them to spend their inspiration, which they regain by having conversations with the players. This means they get to be there and provide mechanical benefits, but aren't bogging anything down, and it provides an extra incentive to interact with them.
As a secondary benefit, it provided a platform to simplify mounts and familiars, and make beast master rangers both more effective and less complex.
Here is the document I put together for the companions for OotA (spoilers, of course), to be printed on index cards:
OotA Cards
Some notes:
I also didn't include any damage immunities in the cards, but companions shouldn't take injuries from critical hits or area attack that deal a damage type they are immune to. For instance, Topsy and Turvy should be immune to injuries from damage dealt by non-magic/non-silver weapons, Glabbagool should be immune to injuries from acid damage, and the red dragon wyrmling should be immune to injuries from fire damage.[/sblock]
And here are some I put together for a D&D In Space game that I'm currently running:
So far the system is working out pretty well, and I'm excited to use it in OotA, which it was originally created for. It allows for a sort of Bioware style acquisition of NPCs in a game where you already have a full party of characters.
So, my solution was this, the Companion System: Companion System
The gist is, companion NPCs don't normally use their stat blocks. Instead, they are sort of equipped to PCs, and grant one or more bonuses to special abilities to that PC. Most have an ability that requires them to spend their inspiration, which they regain by having conversations with the players. This means they get to be there and provide mechanical benefits, but aren't bogging anything down, and it provides an extra incentive to interact with them.
As a secondary benefit, it provided a platform to simplify mounts and familiars, and make beast master rangers both more effective and less complex.
Here is the document I put together for the companions for OotA (spoilers, of course), to be printed on index cards:
OotA Cards
Some notes:
- Keep track of the madness avoided with Buppido's Desensitized. It all comes back, all at once, when he eventually betrays the party.
- Sarith's Restorative Salve also causes disadvantage on saving throws against spores for 24 hours. He's probably not consciously aware of that fact, or at least can't control himself enough to say anything.
- Dawnbringer's Restoration ability replaces the 1/dawn ability it normally has.
- The earth elemental becomes loyal in place of gaining bonus hit points if the temple is cleansed.
- An infant hook horror cannot be used as a companion. Once it is young (1 month old), the companion stats apply. Check off an age box at juvenile (3 months old) and adult (6 months old).
- For the basilisk, check off an age box at young (3 months) and adult (12 months).
- For the wyrmling red dragon, check off a box at 1 month and 6 months. At an age of 5 years, the dragon is no longer a companion, and becomes a full fledged young dragon.
I also didn't include any damage immunities in the cards, but companions shouldn't take injuries from critical hits or area attack that deal a damage type they are immune to. For instance, Topsy and Turvy should be immune to injuries from damage dealt by non-magic/non-silver weapons, Glabbagool should be immune to injuries from acid damage, and the red dragon wyrmling should be immune to injuries from fire damage.[/sblock]
And here are some I put together for a D&D In Space game that I'm currently running:
So far the system is working out pretty well, and I'm excited to use it in OotA, which it was originally created for. It allows for a sort of Bioware style acquisition of NPCs in a game where you already have a full party of characters.
Last edited:
