D&D General Simulacrum - uses, not abuses

[kigmatzomat]

This is not a thread on how to get infinite simulacra or the like. Its uses for Simulacrum that, at least at first blush, are fully inside the RAW and the spirit of the game where you can make a complete duplicate of a sentient being who will obey your every command.

At 17th level, when arcane casters can Wish for a simulacra in one action with no material components, having a simulacra should be the norm, not the exception. Trade one 9th level spell slot for all your cantrip-through-8th spells & slots? A steal!

Simulacra of PCs

• the Automatic Scroll - its much faster and cheaper to dupe the spellcaster with the most useful spells than to make scrolls. Plus these spells don't consume your concentration nor use your slots!
• The Ringer - choose the most useful PC for a given scenario and have 2 of them
• The Ritualist - ritual spells don't require spell slots or rests to recover. Oracle is a good role as several divination spells are rituals. Saints are a divine variant able to ritual cast Forbiddance, allowing them to make holy ground. A good scenario for an Automatic Scroll out of spell slots, assuming they have useful Ritual spells prepared.
• The Crafter - write the histories of the party, immortalize them in an epic poem, perhaps portraits....oh, who am I kidding, this is for magic items. Have all the scrolls and potions you want but never have the time to make. The best options are spells used very frequently or spells the party rarely has prepares. Maybe a spare scroll of Simulacrum. (This is a good time for GMs to decide to house rule Simulacra making scrolls expend spell slots) The Scribe is a specific form of crafter who duplicates spell books.
• True Polymorphee - someone who can cast True Polymorph may not want to polymorph themselves or risk a treant-cum-tree deciding your campfire made from its family's corpses is offensive. So...polymorph a simulacra for an always Friendly ally! This is a good use of an Automatic Scroll out of spell slots or a Combatant low on hit points.
• The Decoy - leave a simulacrum to be seen while someone goes on a secret mission.
• The Disposable Hero - send a simulacra on a mission while the real person does something more important. Like napping.

Simulacra of allies

• The Decider - You shouldn't take a sitting ruler on an adventure to negotiate with something dangerous....but you can take a simulacra. However the lack of ability to really learn new things may limit them if situations change drastically.
• the Navigator - you need someone to take you somewhere and while they would love to help, they just don't want to go. Great, they can stay home while a simulacrum leads the way!

Simulacra of enemies

• the Confessor- do you have a prisoner who refuses to talk but due to pesky ethical and moral reasons, coersion & mind control are off the table? Fear not! Make a simulacra who will be Friendly to their creator (and designated individuals), compelled to obey your every command! Surely there's no pesky ethical or moral issues with that, right?!?
• the Turncoat - Confessor+Navigator - a simulacra who travels with the heroes to betray their organization. This is not without risks as the Friendly status only applies to those you explicitly designate; everyone else is. The world is fair game for their inherent (presumably evil) nature. Be sure to give good commands....

 

[aco175]

The Teacher- Although similar to many of the other roles, this person trains up-and-coming wizards. Great for some side gold or when needing to get out of parent-teacher conferences.

The Line Stander- You know how when you make a photocopy of a photocopy some of the lines do not look right after a while, every once in a while a simulacrum may not be top-notch and not very useful for much. The line stander is great for holding your place in line for tickets to the concert, ordering the correct coffee, needing to renew your wagon driver license, whatever.

The Bystander- With enough of these running around town nobody can cast doubt that one did not see what happened. Need a witness for a crime or to point out which way they went to the guard, the bystander always seems to be in the right place, and at the right cost.

 

[Stormonu]

The Scapegoat - Ticked off the BBEG? Make a copy of yourself and put them in a prominent position to be assassinated (by you or them). With the enemy now thinking you are dead, you are free to retire in safety or pursue their demise undetected.

Bodyguard - copy the fighter or rogue, whose abilities never need to refresh. As long as you are willing to invest in healing them back up, they'll serve you perfectly.

The Librarian - your copy may not be able to recover spells, but there's nothing to prevent them from staying home and constructing potions, scrolls or doing research for you while you are away. They never need to rest or sleep, so they can put in the hours so you don't have to.

 

[Stalker0]

The therapist - make a simul of yourself and ask it the tough questions you are afraid to answer about yourself.

 

[TaranTheWanderer]

The Ward-En

Fill them up with defensive spells like alarm and glyph of warding to fortify a location in a dungeon or stronghold.

The frenemy

Combine with Magic Jar: make a duplicate of yourself while inhabiting an enemy. Have fun with it.

 

[kigmatzomat]

The therapist - make a simul of yourself and ask it the tough questions you are afraid to answer about yourself.

Think that's more "the echo chamber". You are literally talking to yourself.

Except sim-you is always Friendly to you and may like you more than actual-you likes you. Not sure if that is better or worse.

 

[Stalker0]

Think that's more "the echo chamber". You are literally talking to yourself.

Except sim-you is always Friendly to you and may like you more than actual-you likes you. Not sure if that is better or worse.

It follows your commands though, so if you tell it to answer your questions truthfully it will likely give you the "real deal" that you yourself have trouble admitting.

 

[Lakesidefantasy]

I once used a simulacrum of a powerful wizard to telegraph the power of the actual wizard.

If my Players' Characters were to have gone up against the actual wizard they all would have died. But, the simulacrum allowed us to go up against the wizard, without going up against whole wizard.

The simulacrum allowed us to have fun twice. It also allowed us to explore the character of the wizard as well as build up tension for the eventual encounter with him.

OOPS: I did not read the assignment.

 

[kigmatzomat]

I once used a simulacrum of a powerful wizard to telegraph the power of the actual wizard.

If my Players' Characters were to have gone up against the actual wizard they all would have died. But, the simulacrum allowed us to go up against the wizard, without going up against whole wizard.

The simulacrum allowed us to have fun twice. It also allowed us to explore the character of the wizard as well as build up tension for the eventual encounter with him.

OOPS: I did not read the assignment.

Let's go with "the only minion a BBEG can really trust"

 

[Baron Opal II]

The Council

A collection of advisors from the various allies and enemies that you've been able to copy.