Weight of a Tumor Familiar


Rules Questions


So, I've been building a Ratfolk alchemist for a while and wanted to take the Tumor Familiar discovery. However, my character isn't all that strong, so I've been wondering whether the Tumor Familiar should weigh something when it's absorbed in my alchemist's body.
On the one hand, a Tumor Familiar is, for all intents and purposes, equivalent to a normal familiar and thus a creature. So, it should weigh something.
On the other hand, it's part of your body and thus doesn't technically weigh you down per the rules on Carrying Capacity. And after all, it's magic, so it could just not weigh anything when attached to you. Not to mention that some animal descriptions don't even list any weight.
Is there any verdict, FAQ or discussion on this that I've missed? I couldn't find anything on this. Which surprised me, given that non-Hyde alchemists usually aren't the strongest.


Technically, you only total "items" when calculating encumbrance, so living creatures don't encumber you.

From the prd:
"If you want to determine whether your character's gear is heavy enough to slow him down more than his armor already does, total the weight of all the character's items, including armor, weapons, and gear"


Melkiador wrote:

Technically, you only total "items" when calculating encumbrance, so living creatures don't encumber you.

From the prd:
"If you want to determine whether your character's gear is heavy enough to slow him down more than his armor already does, total the weight of all the character's items, including armor, weapons, and gear"

I saw that part as well which only served to confuse me more. Because that means that anyone could carry around, well, anyone else without being encumbered.

If you want to make it completely absurd, this would also mean that you are not encumbered by gear being carried by someone you carry. So, you could simply dump all your gear on someone, pick them up and be at basically no encumbrance.
Even weirder, this would mean that you could carry someone around with no problem, but when they spontaneously die, you are suddenly encumbered.
So, this reading of the rules, while technically correct, leads to plenty of absurdities.


It can get silly the other way too. You carry around your own body, so it could be encumbering you too. It does make sense that a thin person would be less encumbered than an overweight one.

At any rate, I'd be surprised if a DM tried to hold the weight of a tumor, which is essentially a part of your body, against your encumbrance.


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Or, since it's part of your body, maybe you just lose weight when it detaches.


Hmm, so if you put pack-saddles filled with gold on your mount, it is encumbered, but if you instead carry the gold while riding your mount, you are encumbered (but really suffer next to no real penalty)?
I suppose I shouldn't be surprised by a game system that also doesn't have proper rules for throwing things (unless you count the vague rules for improvised thrown weapons, or the punishingly awkward rules for bull rush.)

The secret to Nodwick must be that his helmet is a tiny construct that is actually carrying all of the party loot while it "rides" him.


Melkiador wrote:
At any rate, I'd be surprised if a DM tried to hold the weight of a tumor, which is essentially a part of your body, against your encumbrance.

Yeah, I'd be very miffed at my DM if he did that, honestly. But I often play characters with next to no carrying capacity, so I'm kind of obligated to at least check if there's some ruling on this.

Glad to see there isn't, frankly, or my 22-lbs-capacity Ratfolk alchemist would have some problems carrying around a 15-lbs dinosaur.

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