Alternate to Pseudodragon(pre-improved)

[Jinotad]

I recently acquired access to a Pseudodragon for a familiar on a boon sheet. I'm a warrior, so I've re-trained as a Edlirch Guardian to allow myself to have a familiar.

The problem being, I'm level 3, so I have two more levels to go before I can actually use it (boon sheet allows me to use at level 5, rather than 7).

I was wondering, if I could a different familiar before then, and "call" it my Pseudodragon, since she is still a "diminutive adolescent". Then once I hit level 5, use the true adult stats for her.

If so, what familiar do you recommend I use for stat purposes?

[Velisruna]

The dinosaur options could work well. The Archaeopteryx and Rhamphorhynchus can fly and the Compsognathus has a poison.

[Uqbarian]

I'd suggest counting it as a parrot, raven or thrush for stats, depending what skill bonus you prefer. Any of those give you a flying familiar that can speak one language, so your pseudodragon hatchling can speak Draconic.

[Ascalaphus]

Are you sure you don't mean faerie dragon, rather than pseudodragon? It looks like pseudodragons have always been legal, but you need a special boon for the faerie dragon.

[GM Tyrant Princess]

It sounds like this is for a Pathfinder Society character. Unfortunately, this means you'll run into Society play's long-standing prohibition against reskinning of character options.

[Kalindlara]

Ascalaphus wrote:

Are you sure you don't mean faerie dragon, rather than pseudodragon? It looks like pseudodragons have always been legal, but you need a special boon for the faerie dragon.

Having run this adventure at a convention recently, I know the boon in question - it grants early access to the familiar, rather than unlocking an inaccessible option. ^_^

[Ascalaphus]

Oooh, interesting. Didn't know that existed. I have a character that could come in very handy for.

[Jinotad]

@Velisruna:
I really like the idea of using the Rhamphorhynchus; however, I don't own the material its from. Thanks for the ideas though.

@Uqbarian:
Yah, I had thought of using the thrush. My only problem there, is that to get any real value, my familiar needs to be more of a combat type.

@GM Tyrant:
Princess True, that might confuse people/cause problems.

@Kalindlara & Ascalaphus:
Also, the sting counts as silver for purposes of bypassing damage reduction.

[GM Tyrant Princess]

It's not only about confusion; it's a long-standing rule.

That said, according to my research, it's something that even Campaign Leadership is fine with being flexible about at times. Just understand that your GM has the right to rule against you in this matter.

[Jinotad]

My original idea, was if I used the thrush familiar, I would use it as a thrush for all things stat/game wise; however, cosmetically I would introduce it as the character of my adolescent pseudo dragon. So that RP wise, I'm not just throwing out my familiar of six adventures for something better, rather that my familiar grew up.

That is what I meant about confusion. For all intents and purposes, its a thresh, but introduced as different alias.

[Kalindlara]

I understand what you're going for. Just be aware that it's a topic of some contention.

If you expect your regular GMs to be fine with it, then you have nothing to worry about. ^_^

[Ascalaphus]

I have a PC who is planning to get a pseudodragon familiar too; right now he's got a compsognathus figment familiar. I'm casting that as a dream of a dragon trying to narrow itself down into the proper shape and become fully real, but just not quite managing it yet.

[Kalindlara]

Ascalaphus wrote:

I have a PC who is planning to get a pseudodragon familiar too; right now he's got a compsognathus figment familiar. I'm casting that as a dream of a dragon trying to narrow itself down into the proper shape and become fully real, but just not quite managing it yet.

This is an excellent idea. ^_^