Phoenix as an Improved Familiar


Homebrew and House Rules

Dark Archive

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Phoenix, Lesser
Tiny Magical Beast
Hit Die: 1d10 (5 hp)
Initiative: +4
Speed: 5 ft. (1 square), Fly 60 ft. (average)
Armor Class: 17 (+2 size, +4 Dex, +1 natural), touch 16, flat footed 13
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/-9
Attack: Claw +2 melee (1d3-1 damage)
Full Attack: 2 Claws +2 melee (1d3-1 damage), or Bite +2 melee (1d4-1 damage)
Space/Reach: 2 ½ ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: -----
Special Qualities: Immolation, Fire Resistance 10
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +6, Will +0
Abilities: Str 8, Dex 18, Con 10, Int 6, Wis 11, Cha 16
Skills: Spot +2, Listen +2
Feats: Flyby Attack
Alignment: Always Neutral
A small bird with red and orange plumage sits in a cage. With an intelligence that would suprise some, it has an aura of majesty around it as though it is something to be respected.
Lesser Phoenixes are cousins of the great birds that protect the good creatures of deserts. These creatures are rare like their greater versions, but are more commonly seen in the company of humanoids. Many keep Lesser Phoenixes as pets, as they can never truly die, which avoids the heartbreak associated with the deaths of most pets.

Combat
Lesser Phoenixes are not often seen in combat, but when forced to, they tend to head straight into the thick of it. They do not fear death. In fact, they fly as close to enemies as possible, so that when they die their slayer also takes damage.
Immolation (Su): When a Lesser Phoenix approaches death, a Lesser Phoenix may immolate itself as a full round action. This causes a cloud of fire that is 10 ft. high and has a 5 ft. radius spread. Anyone caught in the burst receives 2d6 fire damage. Reflex save DC 11 for half damage. This kills the original bird, but it is reborn as it rises out of the ashes in 1d4 rounds.

As a Familiar
Lesser phoenixes can be selected as familiars by those with the Improved Familiar feat. As a familiar, a lesser phoenix grants the ability to automatically give his master 2 hit points/level once a day when an enemy would have otherwise brought him to -10 Hit Points. If it uses its immolation power, the spellcaster gains the phoenix as hat of a familiar on the death of the old as opposed to waiting a year and a day. The spellcaster does not take an XP penalty for his or her familiar's temporary defeat.
The minimum level to gain this familiar is 5th.


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber

It sounds fairly interesting. I do some thing differently though.

My first question for how you wrote it, is what happens if the lesser phoenix dies from normal effects (damage/death effect/con damage) without spending the full round action for immolation?

This is homebrew, and I like your idea, the following is how I'd change it if a player asked me for it.

I don't really like that your pseudo self-resurrection doesn't have the restrictions the the big phoenix does though so I'd propose the following change making it more like its greater counterpart. This would make it slightly less immortal, depending on regeneration and more limited self resurrection, but much more phoenix like. I altar self resurrection to 1/week so it can actually die a few times over a campaign but should be avoided rather than embraced.

I'd give it:

base 2hd
fire subtype,
alignment: NG
constant detect magic
immunity to fire,
vulnerability to cold,
regeneration 2 (cold or evil)
SR 8 (that's 6+HD just like the normal phoenix)

2 talons +8 (1d2-1+1 fire), bite +8 (1d3-1+1 fire)

*(note tiny creatures add the dex in place of strength to hit, thats +2 BAB, +4 dex, +2 size)

Shround of Flame (Su) A phoenix can cause its feathers to burst into fire as a free action. As long as its feathers are burning, it inflicts an additional 1 points of fire damage with each natural attack, and any creature within reach (0 feet for a lesser phoenix) must make a DC 10 Reflex save each round to avoid taking 1d3 points of fire damage at the start of its turn. A creature that attacks the phoenix with natural or non-reach melee weapons takes 1 points of fire damage (no save) with each successful hit. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Self Resurrection (Su) A slain phoenix remains dead for only 1d4 rounds unless its body is completely destroyed by an effect such as disintegrate. Otherwise, a fully healed phoenix emerges from the remains 1d4 rounds after death, as if brought back to life via resurrection. The phoenix gains 1 permanent negative level when this occurs. A phoenix can self-resurrect only once per week . If a phoenix dies a second time before that week passes, its death is permanent. A phoenix that dies within the area of a desecrate spell cannot self-resurrect until the desecrate effect ends, at which point the phoenix immediately resurrects. A phoenix brought back to life by other means never gains negative levels as a result.

Immolation (Su) 1/day as an immediate action when reduced to 0 or fewer HP a lesser phoenix can release a 5' radius explosion of flame that deals 2d6 points of fire damage to every creature within the area. Reflex save DC 10 for half damage. This save DC is Constitution-based.

Minimum level for familiar is 7 within one step of NG alignment.

Dark Archive

They should be able to resurrect as normal if they die, though my first write up doesn't show this idea.
--------------------

Hmm... how about this. One of the thoughts I had involving resurrection is that one could take in consideration the process/mechanics of getting a new familiar in that when the phoenix is killed the character must carry their familiar's ashes around until the time it would take to gain a new familiar.

Perhaps though, in less time, since you are merely waiting for a resurrection and not seeking out a new familiar. I will say I have concern about the whole gaining a negative level as concerning, since rebirth is a natural process of a phoenix's physiology.

All around, I admit to being uncertain about the power boost you have offered. I purposefully was hoping to keep it down, with level 7 actually working against the player that wants a phoenix familiar.

Also, what do you mean by SR 8... Spell Resistance 8? Also the 2hd... 2 Hit Dice, so 2d10?

Updated Lesser Phoenix


Pathfinder Adventure Path, Lost Omens, Rulebook Subscriber

Familiar level 7... I think this is more a gut power level placement than anything. I think a player could talk me into level 5 (or starting with it) particular if a campaign wasn't going past level 10 or so. But if I were to place on a power curve (even how you had it written originally) it would have been among the level 7 familiars.

Most improved familiars base creature has 2 (or 3)hit die, so yeah 2d10 and 11 normal hit points. Not really relevant for familiars but you presented more as a bestiary entry so I thought it should change.

The phoenix has talons and bite attack so should the lesser phoenix. The die reduction was to put it more in line with other improved familiars with 3 attacks, like the Dweomercat or Silvershae.

A 5 step reduction for gargartuan to tiny (2d8,2d6 to 1d4,1d3)is what you had before so justifiable.) But I thought giving it Shroud of Flame like its big brother made it more phoenix like and was a better damage replacement source.

The SR is kind of pointless. The big phoenix has SR 26 (6+HD) so I gave it to the little phoenix. I could see dropping it, as so creatures that gain SR don't have it with fewer than 5HD. But I think its a bit of a balancing factor, making it slightly harder to heal via wands.

The fire subtype, immunity to fire, and vulnerable feels right for a phoenix to me. All copies from the greater phoenix. This is probably more a weakness than a boon.

Regeneration makes the phoenix really hard to kill. Unkillable for a huge percentage mosters as written. But it doesn't make it entirely immortal as you had presented. Also it copies how the bigger phoenix does it.

Self-Ressurection. Honestly. I'd probably drop this all together and force the lesser phoenix to depend on regeneration. But resurrection seemed to be a key focus of the original write up so again I basically copied the bigger phoenix ability. I cut it down to a week, because I'd like to see it be relevant in a campaign (where as 1/year is fine for an NPC you like will only see once). As so far as the negative level, again it was just a direct copy. I could see hand waving it away, particularly if its a low level/economy game. Particularly if you as a GM don't enforce the negative levels associated with raise dead/resurrection spells in general (a common house rule I see as it didn't exist in 3.x) But I'd leave it in, because it feels awkward to have the lesser phoenix have a stronger ability than the normal phoenix.

Dark Archive

I made a couple of more changes.

Is there a way of removing permanent negative levels, such as by spells?

Also, since I feel this could still use some editing... would you be willing to help me with such if I allow you access to edit, since there is a couple of details I'm not sure about how to add that you suggested by PMing me a name or email for Google Docs to do such?

Shadow Lodge

Restoration removes negative levels, but it costs 1,000gp per level. The normal phoenix gets Greater Restoration as a SLA and thus doesn't actually suffer from the negative level. I would recommend that the lesser version's negative level should disappear after a week (at the end of the vulnerable period) which would mean the negative level is more relevant to the lesser phoenix than the greater, but not a severe handicap.

Dark Archive

@Weirdo
Added this line within the Self Resurrection rules: "After a week has passed, this negative level is removed as per the rules of the restoration spell."

Dark Archive

Fairly Important update, made a number of small charges and addition to the Lesser Phoenix

Also, I am considering adding in the detail that a one can choose to have a cryophoenix instead of the default phoenix. Really it would only take a number of easy swaps, changing everything related to fire to cold and switching venerability to fire. Fluff would be a bit different as well understandably, though workable.

Really, apart from expanding flavor detail I belief I can say this is a 1st (2nd?) draft.

Shadow Lodge

Looks good, but what's that extra familiar power about? I've never seen those on other improved familiars.

Dark Archive

Weirdo wrote:
Looks good, but what's that extra familiar power about? I've never seen those on other improved familiars.

Huh, what do you mean an extra familiar power?

Shadow Lodge

Quote:

As a Familiar

A 7th-level spellcaster with the Improved Familiar feat can select a lesser phoenix as a familiar, though they must be within one step of Neutral Good alignment.

As a familiar, a lesser phoenix grants the ability to automatically give his master 2 hit points/level once a day when an enemy would have otherwise brought him to -10 Hit Points. If it uses its immolation power, the spellcaster regains the phoenix as that of a new familiar on the death of the old in a week and a day if they carry the ashes with them. The spellcaster does not take an XP penalty for his or her familiar's temporary defeat.

Dark Archive

Hmm... suggestions for rewriting?

Shadow Lodge

Well, why is it there? It's not a bad little power, it's just unusual given that other improved familiars don't grant their masters additional powers (beyond the creature's normal abilities).

Dark Archive

Honestly, I'm not sure I remember why. It may have been carried over from the original source for the above before making the changes and additions I did... unless you don't remember it being their before? It is possible it was added by one of the two people who helped me with this, other then you.

I'm willing to remove it... or have the above be the sole power given by the familiar to their master. Would that work?

Shadow Lodge

It's in your original post. I recall noticing it but being more concerned with the negative level issue.

When you say having it be the sole power, did you mean replacing share spells, speak with master, etc? That's not a good trade for the master, and it's also just as unusual as granting it for free.

If it doesn't bother you that the phoenix has a funny little familiar power that other familiars don't have, that's not a problem - it's not overpowered, and it's thematic.

If you prefer it to work more like other improved familiars, then you might get rid of the ability, move it into the statblock as something they can do for any ally, or turn it into a familiar feat (so that Phoenix that is a familiar could have that ability to heal its master instead of the Flyby Attack feat).

Dark Archive

Well this is for a home game, having created this because I have had a few players expressive interest in having a phoenix familiar/pet. What matters to be is that they are balanced, not exactly so much that the match up perfectly with other improved familiars.

It helps in motivation that one of the rulers of the land happens to have one has something of a pet, though I would treat it has her familiar and how it would seem in the setting this takes place phoenixes are just smaller, less... excessive in their size and power from Pathfinder/D&D examples of such.

I may even have the above replace phoenixes in general except perhaps one or two examples in which more closely match up with what is found in Pathfinder/D&D.

I actually had the idea of phoenixes having a similar progression to dragon in size and power based on age, though I put it aside because the ruler is over a 1000 years old and it is suggested the phoenix has been her companion for quite some time with many regeneration for the bird.

Shadow Lodge

Sounds like fun! I think the Lesser Pheonix looks pretty good and I hope you don't mind if I steal it for my games - maybe with that cool "they age like dragons" idea.


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Hey Jon, here's my rewrite. The math is corrected where necessary, tweaked some of the abilities for simplicity, easy of comparison with normal phoenixes, and put it in the proper monster stat block. Also compared to other tiny familiars summoned through the improved Familiar feat, like the Quasit and Imp.

PHOENIX, LESSER (CR2):

A small bird with red and orange plumage sits in a cage. With an intelligence that would surprise some, it has an aura of majesty around it as though it is something to be respected.

XP 600
NG Tiny magical beast (fire)
Init +4; Senses darkvision 60 ft., detect magic, detect poison, low-light vision; Perception +5
Aura shroud of flame (2 1/2 ft., 1d2 point of fire, DC 10)

DEFENSE

AC 17, touch 16, flat footed 13 (+2 size, +4 Dex, +1 natural)
hp 11 (2d10); regeneration 2 (cold or evil)
Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +0
Defensive Abilities immolation, self resurrection; DR 5/evil; Immune fire
Weaknesses vulnerability to cold

OFFENSE

Speed 5 ft. (1 square), fly 60 ft. (perfect)
Melee 2 talons +8 (1d2 –1 plus 1d2 fire) and bite +8 (1d3 –1 plus 1d2 fire)
Space 2-1/2 ft.; [b]Reach 0 ft.
[b]Spell-Like Abilities (CL 2)
[b]Constant
detect magic, detect poison
3/daysee invisibility
1/daycontinual flame, cure light wounds

STATISITC

Str 11, Dex 18, Con 10, Int 13, Wis 12, Cha 14
Base Attack +2; CMB 0; CMD 14
Feats Flyby Attack, Weapon Finesse (bite)
Skills Acrobatics +9, Fly +13, Perception +5; Racial Modifiers +4 Perception
Languages Celestial, Common

SPECIAL ABILITES

Familiar Service
Willingly serving spellcasters as familiars, lesser phoenixes play the role of dutiful protectors and sentries, providing information on the road ahead or enemies who venture into the immediate vicinity of their masters.

Unlike other lesser phoenixes, if a lesser phoenix familiar dies again before a years’s time has passed since its last self-resurrection, it does not permanently die. Instead, its master must gather its ashes and carry them with him for 1 week. After 1 week has passed, the master can resurrect his familiar by incorporating the ashes into a special ritual that costs 200 gp per wizard level. Once the ritual is complete, the lesser phoenix familiar immediately self-resurrects. The ritual takes 8 hours to complete as normal. If the lesser phoenix familiar is dismissed or lost, it can also be replaced in the same manner. A lesser phoenix familiar can be self-resurrected multiple times by performing the same ritual. The lesser phoenix does not gain a negative level when resurrected in this way.

In addition, whenever its master is reduced to 0 or fewer hit points, a lesser phoenix familiar can transfer a number of hit points equal to its master’s wizard level to its master, once per day.

A lesser phoenix can be summoned via the Improved Familiar feat by a spellcaster of 7th level or higher.

Immolation (Su)
When a lesser phoenix is slain, it spontaneously bursts into flame. Any creature adjacent to the lesser phoenix takes 3d6 points of fire damage and catches on fire. A successful Fortitude save (DC 14) reduces this damage by half and prevents the target from catching on fire. Each round on the lesser phoenix’s turn, a burning target can attempt a new save to extinguish the flames; otherwise it takes another 1d6 fire damage.

Self Resurrection (Su)
Like its greater cousin, a slain lesser phoenix remains dead for only a short time unless its body is completely destroyed by an effect such as disintegrate. Otherwise, a fully healed phoenix emerges from its the remains 1d4 rounds after its death, as if brought back to life via resurrection. The lesser phoenix gains 1 permanent negative level when this occurs, although most use greater restoration to remove this negative level as soon as possible. A lesser phoenix can self-resurrect only once per year. If a lesser phoenix dies a second time before that year passes, its death is permanent. A lesser phoenix that dies within the area of a desecrate spell cannot self-resurrect until the desecrate effect ends, at which point the phoenix immediately resurrects. A phoenix brought back to life by other means never gains negative levels as a result.

Shroud of Flame (Su)
A lesser phoenix can cause its feathers to burst into fire as a free action. As long as its feathers are burning, it inflicts an additional 1d2 point of fire damage with each natural attack, and any creature within reach (0 feet) must make a DC 10 Reflex save each round to avoid taking 1d3 points of fire damage at the start of its turn. A creature that attacks the phoenix with natural or non-reach melee weapons takes 1 points of fire damage (no save) with each successful hit. The save DC is Constitution-based.

ECOLOGY

Environment warm desert and hills
Organization solitary
Treasure standard

The lesser phoenix is a cousin to the great fiery birds of legend that dwell in the deep, remote deserts of the world. Like their greater cousins, these creatures are rare, but are more commonly seen in the company of adventuring humanoids. Many keep lesser phoenixes as pets, and since they can never truly die, this avoids the heartbreak associated with the deaths of most beloved animals.

TACTICS

Lesser phoenixes are not often seen in combat, but when forced to engage an enemy, they fearlessly attack head on, since they do not fear death. They will often fly as close to enemies as possible, so that when they die, their slayer also takes damage from their immolation ability.

I've also emailed it to you.

Dark Archive

Well never mind then, thanks again for doing this for me Elghinn. You skill and experience in homebrewing has shine through yet again.

Laughs, you have already posted the updated version here on the thread. I guess I will just wait and see what others have to say on it without making a new thread for 'Version 2.0".

Dark Archive

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There was an issue found before which has now been fixed, I have made a New Thread in which we can continue this.

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