D&D General Pact of the Chain + Wild Companion =?

[mellored]

As a Magic action, you can expend a spell slot or a use of Wild Shape to cast the Find Familiar spell without material components.

You learn the Find Familiar spell and can cast it as a Magic action without expending a spell slot.
When you cast the spell, you choose one of the normal forms for your familiar or one of the following special forms: Imp, Pseudodragon, Quasit, Skeleton, Slaad Tadpole, Sphinx of Wonder, Sprite, or Venomous Snake.



So could I use a Magic Action, expend Wild Shape without spending material components, and then summon a Sphinx?


Then probably go Conjuration Wizard for Durable Summon. And a few more warlock levels for Gaze of two Minds.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Then probably go Conjuration Wizard for Durable Summon

No to this.

When you cast a Conjuration spell to summon or create a creature using a spell slot

It doesn't work on familiars.

 

[mellored]

No to this.

It doesn't work on familiars.

But I could still use Wild Companion, cast with a pact magic spell slot without material components, upgrade to Sphinx via Chain, then quality for Durable.

Not sure it's worth while, but seems fun to launch a Sphinx around a corner to roll Moonbeam around or remotely spam Eldritch Blast. And then not worry when they die. Possibly Badger for burrow.


Also, just to confirm, Meld into Stone doesn't prevent you from casting spells. It only prevents sight and movment. So a GOO warlock could still use Mind Spkke though their familiar.

Also, could land Druid 3 can be cast on other sides of a wall?

And since they can't see you. You have advantage on Eldritch Blast, even if can see your familiar?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

So far as I know, the wild companion ability hasn't been updated to 2024 rules? So it's not intended to work with 2024 familiars.

When you cast the spell in this way, the familiar is a fey instead of a beast

Implies the familiar summoned must be a beast. So I would not allow it with 2024 familiars. Nor would I allow a 2024 druid to select the ability in the first place.

the familiar disappears after a number of hours equal to half your druid level.

Whatever, this is a limited duration familiar (hence the lack of a summoning cost) not a permanent familiar as normally summoned by the spell.

Note that in normal usage a familiar only benefits from the temporary hp when it is first summoned. If it looses them it can't get them back.

Having three different casting stats seems an awfully high cost for a pet that will be garbage after the first couple of levels in any case. Check out artificer pets.

 

[mellored]

So far as I know, the wild companion ability hasn't been updated to 2024 rules? So it's not intended to work with 2024 familiars.

It has been.
Character Classes

"When you cast the spell in this way, the familiar is Fey and disappears when you finish a Long Rest."

Whatever, this is a limited duration familiar (hence the lack of a summoning cost) not a permanent familiar as normally summoned by the spell.

Sure, but doesn't cost GP and comes back on a short rest.
I expect them to die often, especially as levels go up.

Note that in normal usage a familiar only benefits from the temporary hp when it is first summoned. If it looses them it can't get the back.

Yea, but that could be the difference between 1 shot and 2 shot. Doubling the rounds i have remote attack.

And to be clear I'm talking the new UA Conjurer where they get resistance to all.

So a Sphinx would have (24+12)* 2 = 72 effective HP. Should keep be able to survive a hit most of the time.

If not, summon another one next turn.

Having three different casting stats seems an awfully high cost for a pet that will be garbage after the first couple of levels in any case.

Mostly Cha, as Eldritch Blast will still scale or quietly Mknd Spkke them.
And I can use other slots on Warlock spells.
Plus plenty of no-stat utility, like Spiked Growth (+ Repelling Blast), Misty Step, Dimension Door to escape, Summon Beast/Undead, and Moonbeam will still deal half damage on a save.

I e.
8 Str, 13+1 Dex, 11 Con, 13 Int, 13, 15+2 Cha

Low defenses, but the goal is to stay safe behind a wall. Spell Sniper and Eldritch Spear iif there is no wall.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

So a Sphinx would have (24+12)* 2 = 72 effective HP. Should keep be able to survive a hit most of the time.

Its damage and hit bonus doesn't scale though. So at high level it's just wandering around the battlefield with whiffling attacks and hogging a a place in the initiative queue.

Given that there is nothing to prevent it RAW, I would allow it if there was a good backstory to explain the strange mix of powers and the characters relationship with sphinxes. It's a good illustration of why the 2014 rules had a 13 ability score requirement on multiclassing though.

I'm of the view that combat pets can be antisocial, and are not keen to encourage them.

 

[mellored]

Its damage and hit bonus doesn't scale though. So at high level it's just wandering around the battlefield with whiffling attacks and hogging a a place in the initiative queue.

It only attacks at low levels.

Once I get Gaze of Two Minds, i cast Eldritch Blast/ Spiked Growth/ Moonbeam from a different room.

Certainly won't be high damage, or have strong defenses.

I'm of the view that combat pets can be antisocial, and are not keen to encourage them.

I imagine it will mostly go something like.

Familiar with Gaze of Two Minds goes into a room, and you cast Moonbeam/Spiked Growth/Hunger of Hadar or whatever..

Telepathically warn your party and they can buffs / readies actions for when the monsters come out of the room. Effectively giving them a surprise rounds.

If they don't come out. Send in another Familiar to harass them.


Also, I think Wizard might be too much. I can get resistance to 1 attack from Investment of the Chain Master and give THP via Inspiring Leader. And then use pact slota to upcast Moonbeam better.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

As I alluded to earlier, I think you might find artificer gives you a considerably more effective combat pet, although the final 2024 version isn’t available at the moment.

 

[mellored]

As I alluded to earlier, I think you might find artificer gives you a considerably more effective combat pet, although the final 2024 version isn’t available at the moment.

I guess that brings up another question.

If i have Gaze of Two Minds on the steel defender, and it dies, can I still cast spells as if I was in that space?

But artificers do get sanctuary, which could be nice to cast on the defender. Then it goes in to the other room and it's Dodge + Sanctuary, plus proficiency on all saves.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

If i have Gaze of Two Minds on the steel defender, and it dies, can I still cast spells as if I was in that space

That’s an important question, since you might use it on another player character or other ally. Making it quite common. Logically, the effect should end if the recipient is dead our unconscious - but the text doesn’t actually say that. I - do not know.

The archivist subclass has a pet that is invulnerable and can be used to cast spells from its space though.