I'm wondering if there's anything in the rules that touches on this... with the Emissary Familiar option, it's indicated that your character's worshiped deity sends the Familiar.
However, as near as I can tell by RAW a non-Improved Familiar is Align Neutral (just N). This seems odd. Is there anything out there that would make such 'divinely-sent Familiars' align the same as the issuing deity, or is this in fact an odd issue in the rules?
I'm wondering if there's anything in the rules that touches on this... with the Emissary Familiar option, it's indicated that your character's worshiped deity sends the Familiar.
However, as near as I can tell by RAW a non-Improved Familiar is Align Neutral (just N). This seems odd. Is there anything out there that would make such 'divinely-sent Familiars' align the same as the issuing deity, or is this in fact an odd issue in the rules?
This is not what I read: the archetype says that some divinity sent the familiar, but since it's not mandatory to worship a deity (not even for clerics), that means that it's not necessarily "your god" the one who sent the familiar.
This is my opinion, I might be wrong, of course
P.s. love that archetype :)
Sorry, to be more clear, apparently deity-worship is required in PFS play which is primarily my concern.
Sorry, to be more clear, apparently deity-worship is required in PFS play which is primarily my concern.
Oh, I know literally nothing about PFS, so I'll step back and let answer people who know about the topic. Sorry I could not help :(
Thank you anyway, I appreciate the attempt!
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I'm wondering if there's anything in the rules that touches on this... with the Emissary Familiar option, it's indicated that your character's worshiped deity sends the Familiar.
However, as near as I can tell by RAW a non-Improved Familiar is Align Neutral (just N). This seems odd. Is there anything out there that would make such 'divinely-sent Familiars' align the same as the issuing deity, or is this in fact an odd issue in the rules?
RAW, familiars can be of any alignment. Granted, RAW, the Familiar is an NPC that the GM could opt to control at any point. So grain of salt on that RAW arguement.
Regarding that specific familiar archetype, although it doesn't say specifically, as GM I would not allow an evil familiar to have access to the Good Domain (or other conflicting alignment selections).
For PFS, this one is actually covered in the Additional Resources. It says that the familiar MUST select a deity, alignment MUST be within 1 step, and domain MUST be legal for that deity.
It does not address if the Deity worshiped by the familiar must be the same deity as the one worshiped by the character. Perhaps the familiar is there to corrupt you...
I'm curious, where in the rules does it outline that Familiars are of any alignment? I didn't see any adjustment to that in the 'use the base stats of the creature' thing I read.
I'd love to see this, since it would make things FAR less messy for something I'm doing on a character build and it makes a ton of sense.
That said, the PFS clarification is one I missed when I looked for it earlier. Maybe I made a typo when doing my Search? Hmm. Oh well. That also solves my problems; thank you!
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I'm curious, where in the rules does it outline that Familiars are of any alignment? I didn't see any adjustment to that in the 'use the base stats of the creature' thing I read.
It doesn't clarify, but they are intelligent enough to have an alignment other than neutral, if they want it. In theory, animals are neutral because they aren't smart enough to be anything else. I don't really agree with this logic from a philisophical stance, but that's how pathfinder handles it mechanically.
Any creature with INT 3+ should have choice of alignment. Mind you, that "choice" is defined by their actions, so certain creatures will be unlikely to change despite the choice.
And the Bestiary entry for a creature represents the generic version of that creature, not the specific. The GM, and if PC then the players, are free to select any alignment for any creature, provided the actions of the creatures are reflected by that alignment. Exceptions being creatures with an alignment subtype and undead (Pathfinder rules don't work well with non-evil undead).
Regarding the Familiar, I often select a Lawful Evil or Neutral Evil for the alignment of my familiar, as their role is delivering, often lethal, magical touch attacks at my enemies. These aren't my familiar's enemies, they are my enemies, so at my orders, they have to be willing to kill without hesitation or remorse. Having a Familiar that delights in causing pain makes them more able to fill their role as a familiar.