Diabolist Imp Animal Companion question


Rules Questions

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Alright, the Diabolist gets an Imp for an ANIMAL COMPANION, not a familiar. This aside, it changes quite a few things, including what type of hit die they get (d10s) and the saves. Now, for BAB, it juts says "This is the BAB of the Imp", without upgrading it to full fighter BAB (which would fit with the pathfinder rule of d10s equal full BAB) and the fact that outsiders (which the imp is and counts ass, with all the benefits and negatives) get full BAB. It already loses a lot of it's perks, like it's DR and fast healing, getting a third of the skill points, and most of it's alternate shapes. I dont think upgrading the imp to full fighter BAB would be that unreasonable (yes I'm the GM). I'm curious if anyone has seen this class and this companion in action and has any input on this idea.


I have and I think that the imp is not underpowered, assuming the player doesn't currently have a familiar. Assuming the character is an arcane spell caster, their plethora of polymorph spells and spells they can only cast on themselves normally can now be cast on their imp through share spell, and the players can still cast spells not normally allowed on their imp if they could cast it on themselves (again through share spell). When they get access to 6th level spells, they can use transformation on their imp to give it decent bonuses and full BAB, as well as spells like form of the dragon which give more attacks and other bonuses.

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Hmm good point, I never thought of that. He was going to use the imp as an archer actually. Since they have Martial weapon, but this is a much better idea. I'll keep it as is then.

Grand Lodge

If you are an Aasimar Nature Oracle, this is a very powerful Imp.

Also, possibly a Celestial Imp.


Divine spell casters are good too, since they have more personal battle spells, but the imp may be better for an arcane caster since polymorph spells give it more natural attacks, plus the hit dice means it can take feats.

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yeah he's going conjurer wizard into diabolist


That'll be a little bit of a wait though, since he can't cast lesser planar binding until level 9, unless he can figure out how to cast it earlier


I've never seen a diabolist's imp played, but i don't mind it's weak.
Sure, it's tiny, but it has 2 hands and can use items.
Same BAB as a druid of equivalent HD and can have UMD skill to use wands for instance.


And with the new FAQ, i mind the imp could even take Craft Wand feat...

Shadow Lodge

I have seen a diabolist imp being played (from conjurer wizard), and it was crazy overpowered. Add a ring of translocation, flight, invisibility - all at will, and whatever else there was that I can't remember off the top of my head; think of the possibilities.

Darkvision. No handle animals checks like an animal companion - I can't remember the name of that ability; I think the diabolist can see/feel what the imp sees/feels.

Thank god it doesn't get full BAB or DR or fast healing.

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partyrico wrote:
That'll be a little bit of a wait though, since he can't cast lesser planar binding until level 9, unless he can figure out how to cast it earlier

Well, you could purchase a scroll of lesser planar binding, make the CL check to cast it (even if you cant cast it normally yet), and succeed at convincing the devil to do what you want, and you're in.

Also, what's a "Ring of Translocation"?

Also also, what new FAQ allows the imp to make wands?

Shadow Lodge

A ring of translocation (oops, ring of transposition) is a wondrous item that can be keyed to any mundane ring. On command, the wearers swap places.

Which is great if what you're translocating with is invisible and can fly away from the scene of the crime.


Xavier319 wrote:

Also, what's a "Ring of Translocation"?

Also also, what new FAQ allows the imp to make wands?

I think he would say Ring of transposition

See FAQ
With its SLA, the imp may meet the prerequisite for some item creation feat...

EDIT:
With 1/day-- suggestion; spell-like ability (CL 12th), the imp may even select Craft Staff as soon as you obtain it.
So you have your imp-crafter...
If you don't need to craft, you just release it and 24 H after, a new imp with new feats...
so another imp-crafter or imp-scout or imp-fighter

Better than a cohort!!!!

hum... i don't like at all this FAQ... too much a kingdom for munchkin...or abuse...

Dark Archive

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so would his idea to use a scroll to summon something with lesser planar binding at an earlier level work to satisfy the entry requirement into the class? I personally dont see why not, as he is still doing all of the prep work and taking an even bigger risk, considering that he is lower level and less able to deal with what he summons.


Well he could just summon a Lemure, that's a CR 1 devil that's core and easy to defeat if it gets out of hand

Grand Lodge

Huh.

It does not state you have to cast the spells through your own casting class.

So, a decent UMD can get you in the class very early.

At least, for a spontaneous or multiclassed PC.

This means a Ranger can go in at 5th.

Weird.

Dark Archive

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That's what I thought. Very interesting. Alright, thanks!


In addition, this animal companion doesn't stack with similar animal companion abilities, so a class with an animal companion could get two animals companions.

Grand Lodge

No.

You need a special archetype to have multiple Animal Companions.

The levels that grant an Animal Companion would stack.

This is a general rule that cannot be circumvented without special abilities.

Please read the Druid's class feature.

Liberty's Edge

but not familiars, so go wizard and get an imp familiar than go diabolist which all your character levels will stack, thus 2 imps.


I have read the animal companion rules for druids.

"A diabolist forms a close bond with a particular imp, similar to a druid's bond with an animal companion . The imp is loyal to the diabolist (though ultimately loyal to Hell). The imp companion's abilities, feats, Hit Dice, and skills advance as the diabolist advances in level (see sidebar). If the imp is slain or the diabolist release it from her service, she may gain a new one by performing a ceremony requiring a 24-hour ritual to conjure and bind the new imp to herself."

Maybe its just semantics, but I see the imp as only having abilities similar to the druid's where stated.

Grand Lodge

It is not a Familiar.

Weird, but it is specifically called out as functioning as an Animal Companion.

Grand Lodge

Reread the ability.

It calls out not stacking with other classes.

Still, Boon Companion feat should work.


Yea but it functions similarly to the druid's bond with an animal companion, not in the same way, and it advances as the sidebar, not the druid's standard progression. Its similar to the druid's bond because it gets similar abilities and progression.

Grand Lodge

I guess the better question is:

Does the Imp companion count as an Animal Companion for feats and abilities?

Liberty's Edge

Class Level

This is the diabolist's class level plus her highest caster level. This does not stack with class levels that grant an animal companion.

so no stacking with AC.


Not RAW, since this ability is not (Animal Companion) but rather (Imp Companion).

Liberty's Edge

i copied it from the PC listing, under class level and its definition.


I was replying to blackbloodtroll

Dark Archive

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Taking levels in Diabolist wont advance your familiar. Though you could take improved familiar and get an Imp, and have an imp familiar and imp companion, it just wouldnt advance any of the familiar abilities based on wizard level. so you could go wizard5/diabolist 2 and take improved familiar and grab an imp.


"I cast animate thread!"

I know I'm a bit late, but how does one enter the diabolist class after only advancing 5 levels in the wizard class? Don't you have to be able to cast lesser planar binding to take levels in the prestige class (and thus reach 9th level as a wizard before doing so)?

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