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There are a lot of factors that go into making that choice. If you're taking improved familiar at level 7, there's nothing more powerful than the familiar. If you're not, then you want to go bonded item.
Are you playing PFS? If so the bonded item is the only way to craft. Do you want a ring of freedom of movement as fast as possible? If so, ring is a good choice. If not, amulet will be better for you (your items never get destroyed in PFS so that's not a concern anyway).
There's no one right answer. At the very least you'll have to give us more info.
I would suggest taking the familiar. Aside from the many possibilities it opens in terms of roleplay, a familiar can be really useful. It allows you to roll most skill checks twice, and once you can communicate with it (either by leveling, or by getting the Raven or Parrot), you can effectively roll your knowledge skills twice, as well. They give fun bonuses, some of which are excellent, some of which are lackluster. The improved familiars can add some very useful abilities, for easy access.
I've always loved the familiars, and when I play wizard, I always take the opportunity to get one. Mechanically useful and lots of roleplaying goodness. How can you go wrong?! :D
-Nearyn
. . . I've always loved the familiars, and when I play wizard, I always take the opportunity to get one. Mechanically useful and lots of roleplaying goodness. How can you go wrong?! :D . . . .
I agree with this. Since your ranks are their ranks, anything you can try, the can help with. So you aren't just getting a +2 to perception and sense motive with the alertness feat, you're getting a +4 more than half the time statistically (better if your familiar has a wisdom bonus), and it gets better as you level.
At low levels, pick a shtick and work it. Flying Familiar? Drop tanglefoot bags, alchemist fires, and caltrops on an enemy. Tiny and natural stealth? Get that little weasel picking pockets. Viper or scorpion? Milk that venom for the fighter-type's weapons... or sell it. Have fun. :)
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I think an Arcane Bonded Item is much better than a Familiar in PFS, as they cannot activate magic items in society play.
This isn't exactly correct. Improved familiars with hands and languages can activate wands and some ioun stones. Since the reason you get familiars are for wands, it's still generally the more powerful option.
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From the Pathfinder Society FAQ:
Can my animal companion or familiar wear or use magic items?
It is intended that animal companions or familiars can not activate magic items.
Why don't you try reading the ENTIRE FAQ before you go spreading false information?
Here's a quote by Mike Brock: "No. The only activated item that can be used (with the exception of ioun stones) by a select list of improved familiars is a wand."
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As this character is for PFS, they can get more spells to work with through Mnemonic Enhancer provided the scenario isn't one where they have to rush out the door without prep. Once you can cast ME, pretty much state your Wizard always fills ALL his 4th level slots with it in preparation of getting a Society job. Then after the briefing, the night before the mission you use each casting to get 3 levels of spells that will last 12 or so hours the next day (base 24, minus 8 for rest, subtract casting and prep times, etc. A Ring of Sustenance is a great investment for this...)
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It is for PFS. I am a sloth sin wizard with the academy graduate feat and will likely be summoning a lot.
If by "sloth sin wizard", you mean "Thassilonian Wizard" from Inner Sea Magic, that is not legal for PFS. At least as far as I can tell.
And if it is now legal, I know what my next character is.
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I'd go with the ring, just 'cause familiars are a pain in the butt.
Won't familiars cost you more money though? Like you lose an effective highest level spell and have to buy a reasonably powerful wand for it to throw about.
A wand of Ill Omen is a good choice if your familiar has nothing else to do.
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Broken record alert:
Familiars + Improved Familiar are really that great.
However, you need to know how to use them. I'm strongly considering working on a mini-guide for making the most of your familiar. It is surprising how few players know the tricks to make them work so well for you.
Here's some basic tips:
1) Always improve at level 7. I think Mephit is pretty much the best choice possible for improved familiar. (personally I like Dust, you get perfect fly, blur and wind wall, great combo!)
2) Get your familiar some nets (small size + net = entangled condition for free on medium or smaller sized enemies, goodbye charge attacks and reflex saves)
3) Tanglefoot bags and smokesticks too (I think the uses here are pretty obvious, but let me just give an example: My character throws X (horrible debilitating spell) on the enemy, and my familiar throws a smokestick in front of me so the horrible enemy cannot see me to take revenge)
4) Max a few skills: Healing, Use Magic Device, Stealth. No, your wizard probably won't use these skills, but your familiar will! BTW get him a healing kit. Ally gets poisoned? Familiar goes with healing kit and fixes him up.
5) Wands. Yep, these are great by mid level (use the option in Advanced races to switch your familiars feat to Skill Focus: Use Magic Device for additional bonuses). Some obvious wands: Remove Fear, Protection from X, Delay Poison (Ranger wand), Lesser Restoration (Paladin wand), invigorate, silent image, Entangle, Faerie Fire, keen senses, Obscuring mist, Enlarge Person, Bless...these are all level 1 wands (and don't necessarily need 50 charges)
Treat your familiar like an extra action and reach spell put together every round. I generally use my familiars for light buffing/debuffing and then as a combat medic when party members get poisoned/diseased/frightened/panicked/exhausted/fatigued/mind controlled/ability drained etc.
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Everything Treantmonk said is great. Some of it doesn't quite work in PFS, though (if that's a consideration). Personally, I get a few wands for 2 PA each (so practically free). My typical list includes cure light wounds, infernal healing, enlarge person, grease, protection from evil, and vanish. All of these are great spells, but things you don't want to spend actions on (except grease, which is used to ready an action in order to prevent charges).
At later levels I also buy a wand of cure moderate wounds and a wand of haste, for much the same reason. Aside from that, he's an invisible scout, a second skill check, a way to detect good and magic without the enemy knowing, and an aid another when necessary.
I, of course, prefer the imp over the mephits. They all have positives and negatives, though, but they're all better than a bonded object except in rare cases.
Both are good, and I use both. But bonded item + diabolist gets you both (kind of, though the imp is technically an animal companion), but thats not until 10th level.
However, you need to know how to use them. I'm strongly considering working on a mini-guide for making the most of your familiar. It is surprising how few players know the tricks to make them work so well for you.Here's some basic tips:
1) Always improve at level 7. I think Mephit is pretty much the best choice possible for improved familiar. (personally I like Dust, you get perfect fly, blur and wind wall, great combo!)
I'd like to see your guide, but what makes Mephit so good? Faerie Dragon seems like the best because they have UMD +9 and 3 Sorcerer Levels so they don't need UMD to many wands. Not to mention they also have Greater Invisibility, Telepathy, etc.
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Mephits don't bother about your alignment, have cool slas. And you can toss fireballs around a steam mephit, she wont complain. Breath weapon for sickened too (used to be better when everyone thought hd scaled).
You never know when your imp familiar may decide to betray you, and also having an imp familiar tends to irritate paladins for some reason. Apparently they are allergic to imps and break out in sneezes. If they sneeze too much, they may lose their balance and fall.
Good familiars on the other hand, spend too much time sermonizing, and have really weak stomachs. The moment you planar bind a couple of bone devils to do your bidding, poof, off they go. Also may not take too well to intimidation tactics (or even torture) I've seen some parties use.
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I, of course, prefer the imp over the mephits. They all have positives and negatives, though, but they're all better than a bonded object except in rare cases.
Imps have better special abilities than Mephits have. I prefer Mephits because of the size issue. Can a tiny creature use a wand? Can a tiny creature throw a tanglefoot bag? Can a tiny creature carry a haversack full of goodies?
As a small creature a mephit can do all those things (since Halflings and Gnomes can)
(note I'm not looking for debate on those questions, the debate would need to be with your GM)
what makes Mephit so good? Faerie Dragon seems like the best because they have UMD +9 and 3 Sorcerer Levels so they don't need UMD to many wands. Not to mention they also have Greater Invisibility, Telepathy, etc.
I totally agree about abilities, same point as above though. Faerie Dragons are tiny, Mephits are small.
If your GM is clear that they will allow a tiny creature to carry a bunch of equipment and use it, then Faerie Dragon is the way to go.
My personal preference is the familiar, besides the advantages gained from having a normal familiar, at lower levels it is fairly useful for fighting a few little grunts, like goblins, while it does get outclassed eventually, at level 7 you can take the improved familiar feat, which provides some badass familiar options, imps, cassissians, tide pool dragons, oh my!
Plus the ones with hands can have UMD, and the warming can use scrolls, so you can fire your spell from two fronts. Which is better then a ring!
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However, you need to know how to use them. I'm strongly considering working on a mini-guide for making the most of your familiar.
In case there were any doubt... If you did decide to work on such a guide, it would be read, used, and much appreciated. :)
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However, you need to know how to use them. I'm strongly considering working on a mini-guide for making the most of your familiar.In case there were any doubt... If you did decide to work on such a guide, it would be read, used, and much appreciated. :)
One hundred percent agreed. Treantmonk, I am new, and found that the guides you made (as well as the ones inspired by you) to be wonderful sources of information so far. Thank you so much for all you do for this community.
Hmm
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I, of course, prefer the imp over the mephits. They all have positives and negatives, though, but they're all better than a bonded object except in rare cases.Imps have better special abilities than Mephits have. I prefer Mephits because of the size issue. Can a tiny creature use a wand? Can a tiny creature throw a tanglefoot bag? Can a tiny creature carry a haversack full of goodies?
As a small creature a mephit can do all those things (since Halflings and Gnomes can)
(note I'm not looking for debate on those questions, the debate would need to be with your GM)
The one you missed is that small creatures can threaten (and thus flank), which is sometimes very important. However, I solve all the other questions by just buying my wands in tiny form to begin with. ;)
Just remember the more of a threat your familiar becomes, the more of a legitimate target it becomes as well.
Even with item use, a familiar should be the least threatening member of the party. They can be hit by AOEs of course. Steps should be taken to protect one's familiar (Mage Armor, False Life, Toughness feat, Invisibility, cheap protective equipment, etc).