Upgrade your account to a Community Supporter account and remove most of the site ads.

Reply to thread

Message: <blockquote data-quote="steeldragons" data-source="post: 8573851" data-attributes="member: 92511">Well, yes. But I suppose I would argue that that isn't so much "creating" something as summoning something that exists on its own. The Find Familiar simply (depending on the flavor you prefer) either place said magical spirit into a small/tiny animal (which is also, already existing), or it gives the already existing spirit a physical (again small/tiny) form.The spirit is bonded to the mage for very specific magical purposes and benefits. Would you like a small/tiny undead familiar? Fine. An Addam's Family "Thing" hand? A hovering skull -not a skeleton, just the skull- that you could chat with? Fine.  "Alas, poor Yorrick" your socks off.  A full-sized humanoid form that you can just have fight for you, set off traps without consequence, send into flooded or gas-filled chambers? Forget about fetch your water and firewood or carry your stuff. Use a spell to do it once? Good. Seems a fair trade of resources (use a spell, get around/through a challenge). Use a 1st level spell to give you an auto-trap detector/tripper? Nuh no. The potential for shenanigans is, imo, too high/much.How long is Unseen Servant lasting these days? It certainly shouldn't last longer than that.I would disagree. Again, the general/overall usefulness of a rat or raven is not the same as a humanoid body.I am totally on board with first level Necromancy spells! I am. There have never been enough and I've homebrewed my share. In my homebrew, specialist mages get their own spell lists, roughly half that overlap with the general Arcane Magic spell list (all the greatest hits you would expect) and half that are specific to their school. Necromancy was always one of the toughest ones to fill.You are looking/asking for a Burning Hands to a Fireball, a Featherfall to a Fly. Take/look at the 3rd level Animate Dead...You want an undead companion? First sentence of the animate dead spell (in the 5e SRD) "This spell creates an undead servant." ...so a 1st level version has to do less than that. 24 hour duration for control and must renew...1st level version has to be less than that. Creatures are permanent -whether they go nuts or not...1st level version has to be less than that. You can recast for control on up to 4 creatures you've made...1st level has to allow less than that. Higher slot casting Animates 2 extra creatures per level higher...1st level version has to do less than that, if higher slot casting is to be an option.Basically, there is a reason -agree with it or not- that Animate Dead is, and has been, a 3rd level spell for 5(+) editions. A 1st level version of the spell is not simply "make the permanent skeleton/zombie weaker and it'll be fine."</blockquote>

Verification