D&D 5E Help finding a way for players to capture a monster and transport it easily.

[Soul Stigma]

Let the players figure it out, as [MENTION=6784990]Bupp[/MENTION] says. There's no reason to assume anyone would tell the PCs how monsters get transported from faraway places. If anything, it could open new avenues of adventure as the PCs set out to encroach on a small and competitive market. Kind of like real world poachers, the competition can be deadly.

 

[Caliban]

There have been stories of the legendary Spheres of Monster Storage. These are small spheres (small enough to store in your pocket), half red half white, with a button on one side. Once you have reduced the monster to single digit hit points you can engage in a contest of skill (Animal Handling vs Athletics/Acrobatics) to capture it and imprison it inside the sphere. You cannot capture an unconscious monster.

Once captured, you can release the monster by pressing the button on the side of the sphere and speaking the command phrase "I choose you" and engaging in another Animal Handling vs the monsters Wisdom saving throw to control it.

Not everyone is worthy of wielding the spheres. Only those whose goal is to be the very best, like no one ever was. You must quest across the land, searching far and wide to claim the power inside.

 

[Oofta]

As @Bupp said. Why would people who probably make a great deal of money from trade in exotic monsters help the PCs?

If anything, they're going to sabotage the efforts of the PCs which could be part of the challenge.

The normal monster hunters could be using any variety of equipment from special Nets of Subdual that magically entangle to specialized ballista that fire a pair of metal weights connected by chain that wrap around the target creature and immobilize it.

But the ancient Romans managed to capture all sorts of creatures from lions and crocodiles to rhinos and elephants without the aid of magic.

 

[Eltab]

Capturing a monster is not too hard. This is what Combat rules are for.

Transporting it back to the arena is the challenge: you travel aboard ship for say a month one-way. What does the monster do all that time - sleep? HA!

Consider a ritual version of Sleep that requires an already-unconscious target and lasts 24 hours, renewable. Let the Wizard PC hear the rumor while the existing capture teams tell the rest of the party tall tales. Now the Wizard has some research to do, and a reason to make a few Arcana rolls. And the group might just decide this "get-rich-quick scheme" will take too long...

 

[Zalan Lionheart]

Iron Flask

This iron bottle has a brass stopper. You can use an action to speak the flask's command word, targeting a creature that you can see with...

www.dndbeyond.com

The iron flask is great, and as my niece loves Pokémon, I made a modified version. Rules were non sentiments only, can only carry 3 at a time, and DC to catch was based on CR of creature and it’s condition (health, asleep, paralyzed, etc) and it’s willingness.

 

[Tonguez]

Dont use magic items, theyre not Pokemon are they?

When Orbril the gnome was running his Circus we had great fun hunting giant carniverous hamsters as well as griffons and other creatures. As PCs we had to do research, arrange equipment and then do the hunt itself.
We did have a magic net which helped to hold the creatures down, as well as using lots of rope and cages. Plus rangers and druids are already set up for calming wild beasties. We also tended to catch young monsters reasoning that they would be easier to tame.

 

[aco175]

@Zalan Lionheart welcome to the site. You did post to an old thread, but we bring them up a lot, I think the record is 16 years.

 

[Richards]

It's an expensive solution, but I think the mirror of life trapping fits the requirement rather nicely.

Johnathan

 

[MarkB]

It's an expensive solution, but I think the mirror of life trapping fits the requirement rather nicely.

Johnathan

That does look well suited to the task.

Curiously, the item's description gives its AC and hit points, but doesn't describe the result of its destruction. Are the creatures within it all freed, or are they lost forever in their extraplanar spaces?

 

[Richards]

Given it's a mirror, I'd probably go with "smash the mirror, release those trapped within," but you're right - there's no explicit right answer. To each DM their own, then,

Johnathan