ideas for mundane pc with spell casting companion?

[marshmandr]

Hi everyone. My first post here and my first ever dnd campaign (I have watched the group play before).

Quickly...I'm not a massive fan of magic. My logical brain battles against magic's irrationality but I like the options it provides. So I was going with Cleric as magic is gifted. For some reason I don't want my character to be an individual powerhouse. I then thought that maybe he would be a Cleric but the magic part is actually a guardian angel that casts all the spells.

Then it struck me as odd that Clerics have our Christian / Catholic themes. Just feels odd to me (yes I'm awkward!).

Now I'm thinking a Bard (because lots of utility) but spells are cast from a companion. I was thinking up a spirit like creature that can be released from a tome. Thought it would be fun to have this mischievous creature casting all the fun bard spells. Maybe it has its own agenda a bit like Warlock pacts (don't really like the Warlock spells).

Anyway, I just wondered if you have come across a similar homebrew class or published class that fits? Or even a creature from monster manual that fits my companion idea.

Much appreciated! I like to be different.

 

[Hjorimir]

First off, welcome! We're a generally friendly bunch here. Please make yourself at home.

So, I think you can just hand-wave this stuff and describe it as you've said here (this spirit is bound to my character and the true source of magic...I lured it to me through my beautiful music...neat, says I.). I think the only possible "concern" about this is to make sure that you understand as a player that if your character is hit (i.e. not the spirit), that you still need to make a concentration check to maintain such spells (no, but the spell comes from the spirit shenanigans).

 

[marshmandr]

Thanks for the reply. I realised I can't have a spirit going around casting spells and then have PC free to attack as well. If I could say I have to open the tome and concentrate to maintain the spirit?

Are there any spell casting spirits you could imagine that exist in dnd that fit being able to cast bard type spells?

 

[Cap'n Kobold]

Lots of fey-like spirits, and some celestial or similar creatures have bardic, or at least bard-like abilities.

It doesn't have to be a statted creature though, since it only manifests as a spirit in a book. It could be the original author of the tome, who trapped their soul in the book, either deliberately or by accident.

Ultimately, the most important thing is to talk to your DM. They need tio be OK with it, and they might have some ideas to tie it into their plot.

 

[Hjorimir]

I think Cap'n Kobold is on point. Talking with your DM is the most important thing here.

 

[marshmandr]

The DM is quite busy at the moment, her campaign is a long way off. I just wanted to have a clear idea of my character first.

I love the idea of the spirit being the actual author of the tome - thanks for that.

I am hoping that this idea could provide the DM with more story telling options. I'm okay with DM taking control of the spirit. Things like it wandering off to point the way to another discovery. A completed side quest seemingly gives it more power and becomes nearer to being able to free itself etc. Maybe DM can use it to just cause general chaos.

 

[ccs]

Then it struck me as odd that Clerics have our Christian / Catholic themes. Just feels odd to me (yes I'm awkward!).

That's not odd, that's intentional. D&D clerics were originally inspired by militant church orders from the Crusades.

 

[aco175]

I originally thought you were bringing another character with you, typically called a companion, or cohort. As a DM, I may steal your idea and make a few bad guys have something similar or temporarily steal your power.

 

[MarkB]

The tricky part is that there are no full spellcaster classes who can have a companion that's in any way durable. Arcane casters can have familiars, and you could flavour it that your familiar is the one with the spellcasting - but familiars have minimal hitpoints and can generally be slain in a single hit.

Rangers can have companions that are tough enough to take some hits, but their spellcasting capability is limited, and beastmaster rangers are generally considered fairly weak, even with revisions to the class.

What you need is a way for you to have a spellcasting companion, while avoiding or mitigating both the advantages and disadvantages that come with controlling two characters.

 

[marshmandr]

The tricky part is that there are no full spellcaster classes who can have a companion that's in any way durable. Arcane casters can have familiars, and you could flavour it that your familiar is the one with the spellcasting - but familiars have minimal hitpoints and can generally be slain in a single hit.

What you need is a way for you to have a spellcasting companion, while avoiding or mitigating both the advantages and disadvantages that come with controlling two characters.

I didn't want a physical companion. I guess my spirit creature won't have any hit points and stays near my character.

I was thinking that my character has to have the book open to release the spirit so won't be able to attack and has to keep concentration.

If I allow the spirit to roam further it requires penalties to tests?