arcane bond or familiar?

[666bender]

i play a cleric.
lvl 9.
heroism & trade domain.
caster > melee, although, as we play long adventures - running our of spells is something that happens, so some times i fight more than i want.
20% of spells = heal and utility
20% of the time = fighting
rest = casting, summoning etc.

i am taking eldritch heritage, at first i was dead set on a bonded item - but after reading the improved familiars... it got me thinking. i just love the idea and utility both option offer.

why take a bonded item?
1) a free, extra spell per day, that i don't have to memorize pre-hand. this is better for a cleric than it is for a wizard, and CAN save our lives infinite times - yet it's once per day only.
2) the ability to enchant a single item, in a world where items cant be bought or created is a big thing. take a simple +10 to a skill for example.

why not take it?
1) a familiar double your actions per round.
2) the "bond" can shut you down - without the item you cant really cast spell.

why take a familiar?
1) a good familiar (see below), can use items. like scrolls and wands. hence doubling your actions per round. (first level spells)
2) super scout, super sensor (darkvision, detect evil constant etc.)
3)it's just cool .
4)help with touching \ healing the party.

why not take a familiar?
1) we got many pets :)
2) the extra "floating" spell from the arcane item is really hard to let go.
3) it cost another feat (i will take improve one ).

great options for familiars:

angel-cassisian..
1) can shape change as a helmet, dove or small size angel that got hands, hence, can use items.
2) amazing constant detection spells.
3) can "appear" as a helmet, as if "hiding".
4) can speak to any creature
5) fly, DR, immunitiy = can survive
6) perfect memory = nice to have .
7) charisma only of 10, will make use magic device hard.

azata-lyrakien..
1) flying, tiny = good move
2) great sensors. (detect evil, darkvision, detect magic always on).
3) DR and resistance for survival
4) human shape = can use items (tiny though)
5) charisma = 20, use magic device master.
6) truespeech with my ranks in diplomacy and charisma of 20 = wow.

kami-shikigami..
1) not flying, no unique sensors.
2) invisible at will & can turn to an item (although heavy...) = good survival.
3) good charisma = good use magic device & good diplomacy as messenger.
4) good DR and resistnace.
5) hands = use use items.
6) most important - the ability to merge with the caster = ultimate defense.

[VRMH]

Seems like you have your options all thought out - so what exactly is the question here?

(also: take a look at the Valet archetype for familiars.)

[Arcane Addict]

Personally, I'd take the familiar over the object almost every time. I prefer their constant utility over the power of a single-use additional spell. In addition an Improved Familiar (or even the humble monkey) actually allows you to break the action economy on a regular basis, provided with a wand and UMD. That is invaluable!

[666bender]

VRMH wrote:

Seems like you have your options all thought out - so what exactly is the question here?

(also: take a look at the Valet archetype for familiars.)

Q's are:

1)) item Vs familiar?
2) improved worth 3 feats?
3)which of the familiars to take?

[Eltacolibre]

Familiars, they have the strange metagaming power of being conveniently forgotten and popping up suddenly out of nowhere when they are needed. I have only seen a familiar owned by a player dying once in all the years that I have played.

[Arcane Addict]

Apparently I haven't answered your question to your satisfaction than!

1. Obviously, I advocate the familiar.
2. Three feats? I count two. Eldritch Heritage (Arcane Bloodline), which you're apparently taking regardless of the decision you make, and Improved Familiar itself. I believe that it is worth it. There are very few feats that grant you that amount of utility. There are probably more straightforward and powerful feats you can take instead for your build, but chances are good they won't be used as often and for as many different purposes as the familiar. To me THAT is power.
3. Of the three you've listed I like the Cassian Angel the best. That said, the others are fine choices too. I'd just pick the one I'd like for that particular character rather than pick the one that is the most powerful (which is admittedly hard to judge).

[Big Blue 22]

666bender wrote:

why not take a familiar?
1) we got many pets :)
2) the extra "floating" spell from the arcane item is really hard to let go.
3) it cost another feat (i will take improve one ).

I think the largest reason not to get a familiar, is if you use them they constantly get killed. Fireball, oops even if it saves its cooked, etc. Any little creature flitting around is a familiar that any enemy of intelligence will target.

[DinosaursOnIce]

Big Blue 22 wrote:

666bender wrote:

why not take a familiar?
1) we got many pets :)
2) the extra "floating" spell from the arcane item is really hard to let go.
3) it cost another feat (i will take improve one ).

I think the largest reason not to get a familiar, is if you use them they constantly get killed. Fireball, oops even if it saves its cooked, etc. Any little creature flitting around is a familiar that any enemy of intelligence will target.

Familiars get improved evasion, if they make the save they are absolutely fine, if they fail the save they are doing as well as you are (relatively speaking) after said fireball.

I'm not saying they aren't vulnerable, but they have some built in defenses and a smart player will make it harder for them to be hurt.

Besides, any mook who actually takes time to go familiar hunting isn't coming after someone who can't be replaced.

[Fruian Thistlefoot]

Because your a cleric with NO arcane spells or spellbook it seems that the bonded item will offer you nothing.

So familiar.

I like the bonded ring myself on my wizards as it is a cheap entry to a ring of invisibility. But like I said you do not have any arcane casting so all of the objects abilities are dead on you.

[master_marshmallow]

An Amulet of Spell Mastery could prove to be very useful.
Six additional level 1 spells, three extra level 2s, and so on could be beyond useful.

Unfortunately since you don't have the Defense domain, it may not be as attractive as the Amulet of Natural Armor.