A Few More Answers

This blog seems to apply to familiars, not animal companions, unless i'm missing something?

There are two spoilers, BigNorseWolf.

doh. thank you

Do snakes get armor and neck slots, or not?

Do snakes get armor and neck slots, or not?

They didn't before. The current list says no. I don't see any evidence to suggest that there's been an error somewhere.

They aren't explicit about it in the current post. The list is a list of unlockable item slots, it says. It doesn't actually explicitly say that we can use that list to decide which creatures don't have neck slots. I would think, if they're trying to clarify things, they'd make that, well, clear.

It is an animal feat.

Oh, I see what you mean, sorry. I didn't mean to talk past the question you were asking.

The master list of what body types are eligible for what slots is on the inside cover of Animal Archive and it specifies that serpentine animals only have access to the belt, eyes, and headband slot. Note that this is where the armor and neck slots appear on most animal types. It was intended to be the master list of everything. Because those slots are not listed on that particular list, animals with the serpentine body plan simply can't get those slots.

The previous rulings didn't change this. It ruled that animals only start with the neck and armor slots unlocked, and even then only if they could possibly get them based on their body plan. The new ruling, above, has not changed that guidance. (For animal companions, at least.)

Under either ruling, snakes can't get armor or neck slots as per the rules in Animal Archive, so they do not get them for free and you also cannot use Extra Item Slot to unlock them.

I know, it kinda stinks. My First Mother's Fang gets quite paranoid about her friend's survivability.

The blog says to use the chart. The chart says that snakes don't start with anything.

the chart broken down. does not include plants because editing windows don't work in glacial time scales.

Hmmmm.. As plants don't have an entry, they seem to be completely unable to use extra item slot?

YAY!

Oh, I see what you mean, sorry. I didn't mean to talk past the question you were asking.

The master list of what body types are eligible for what slots is on the inside cover of Animal Archive and it specifies that serpentine animals only have access to the belt, eyes, and headband slot. Note that this is where the armor and neck slots appear on most animal types. It was intended to be the master list of everything. Because those slots are not listed on that particular list, animals with the serpentine body plan simply can't get those slots.

The previous rulings didn't change this. It ruled that animals only start with the neck and armor slots unlocked, and even then only if they could possibly get them based on their body plan. The new ruling, above, has not changed that guidance. (For animal companions, at least.)

Under either ruling, snakes can't get armor or neck slots as per the rules in Animal Archive, so they do not get them for free and you also cannot use Extra Item Slot to unlock them.

While doing the preliminary research for this, our team tried as much as possible to use the rules in Animal Archive instead of inventing new things.

But there was much cursing that AA has too many quadruped variant body types and not enough floating heads and eyeballs.

I know, it kinda stinks. My First Mother's Fang gets quite paranoid about her friend's survivability.

That's why mine has a bloodrager level for access to Mage Armor wands.

The blog says to use the chart. The chart says that snakes don't start with anything.

the chart broken down. does not include plants because editing windows don't work in glacial time scales.

Hmmmm.. As plants don't have an entry, they seem to be completely unable to use extra item slot?

Sorta. When classifying familiars as to which body type they'd have, the only plant we found was the petrifern, which got a body type.

We didn't cover companions so I guess those plants didn't get lucky.

The blog says to use the chart. The chart says that snakes don't start with anything.

the chart broken down. does not include plants because editing windows don't work in glacial time scales.

Hmmmm.. As plants don't have an entry, they seem to be completely unable to use extra item slot?

I see this in the scenod (animal companion) spoiler:

Plant/Verminous (belt, eyes): Cameroceras, carnivorous flower, crawling vine, giant beetle, giant centipede, giant crab, giant scorpion, giant spider, octopus, puffball, sapling treant, squid

Plant animal companions get belt and eyes slot.

Or are you talking about plant familiars?

Can Familiar wear two rings by just taking one Extra Item Slot(ring)?

i don't know why that spoiler keeps throwing me off

I'm a little bit confused by this: "Plant and vermin companions do not gain automatic magic items slots."

Does it mean all plant or vermin companions, or does it mean those listed under "Plant/Verminous" body shape? Some vermin companions are listed under Quadruped/Hexapod (feet) for example.

If the former, I think that is really too harsh. Many plant and vermin companions are sub-optimal, but interesting. Losing the ability to wear magic armour (or any armour?) would cause many players to avoid these more interesting choices. Surely the campaign has enough death-kitties?

Denying any AC the neck slot is extremely unfair. Breaking DR magic and hitting incorporeal is a very basic need.

The plant stuff also seems extremely harsh, they are fairly week and don't compare to strong furry balls of pouncing death(and worse than many non-pouncers as well, as well as the archetype being a power reduction to boot).

Not to mention treants are clearly bidped/hands.

This animated tree’s bark is knotted into vaguely humanoid features, with branches for arms and roots for legs.

Please reconsider some of these things.

Not specific to the blog post, but a question that came up in today's game: Do large sized roc companions have reach? It's hard to tell, since there's no Bestiary entry for that sized roc.

Not specific to the blog post, but a question that came up in today's game: Do large sized roc companions have reach? It's hard to tell, since there's no Bestiary entry for that sized roc.

I would go with no, because the gargantuan entry has reach 15 feet with a space of 20 feet, indicating that it is large-long, so it has 5 feet less reach than its space.

Terminalmancer wrote:

I know, it kinda stinks. My First Mother's Fang gets quite paranoid about her friend's survivability.

That's why mine has a bloodrager level for access to Mage Armor wands.

Oh, that's an interesting plan. Mine already has a one-level dip so I didn't really want her to branch out any more than she already is. She's going the UMD route instead, but otherwise the same idea. UMD a wand of Mage Armor. Carry around a few potions just in case...

I'm still flabbergasted that homunculus is not on the list of familiars who can activate spell-trigger like wands. While a *nosoi* can?

Nosois are the scribes of Pharasma. Makes sense for them.

There is a Homunculus in a certain Dragonesque Module that uses a wand of lightning bolt

I'm still flabbergasted that homunculus is not on the list of familiars who can activate spell-trigger like wands. While a *nosoi* can?

Homunculi can't talk.

Nosoi meanwhile are:

1) Avian, and Animal Archive gives creatures in the avian body type the option of using wands, assuming the GM thinks it's suitable.
2)

It can use drawing and writing tools suitable for Small or Medium creatures without penalty.

Furthermore, the following traits are shared by all familiars allowed to use wands:

• Has Biped or Avian body type, because it needs hands to hold the wand. (Following the guideline set out in Animal Archive.)
  
• Can talk, as indicated by Bestiary entry.
  
• Has a spell-like ability, suggesting some natural magical aptitude in the creature.
  

Homunculi can't talk (although there's an upgrade for that) and don't have any SLAs. Pseudodragons are a bit fuzzy on whether they can actually talk, or only chirp and use telepathy; and they don't have SLAs.

Fromper wrote:

Not specific to the blog post, but a question that came up in today's game: Do large sized roc companions have reach? It's hard to tell, since there's no Bestiary entry for that sized roc.

I would go with no, because the gargantuan entry has reach 15 feet with a space of 20 feet, indicating that it is large-long, so it has 5 feet less reach than its space.

That's actually what we eventually decided at the table, for exactly the same reason. But it would be nice to know if Paizo agrees.

I'm actually kind of surprised that the guy playing the PC with that companion didn't already know this, especially since he had already played with the roc at that size for a couple of levels.

It seems unclear if nonmagical items can be used in slots which a creature shape has but cannot use magic items in, particularly for things like verminous companions who apparently can't use magical armor without a feat (unsure why?)... can they wear non-magical armor?

Additionally, the belt/saddle notation seems odd, and again brings up the question of magical va nonmagical. There are saddles (some even magical) which seem designed for avian use, and yet per the above write-up, it seems that there is no way to use a saddle for avian creatures?

Ok, so I want to make sure I'm understanding things correctly for my Improved Familiar with the Biped [hands] body type, which is also on the list of wand/scroll using familiars (being vague to avoid spoilers, though this one has been around for a while).

Since "Familiars may also carry slotless magic items and activate ioun stones," and, "All familiars can activate the abilities of their use-activated magic items, so long as these abilities do not require a command word," and since the familiar is on the list that can additionally use command word items, does that mean that:

1) My familiar may carry/use a Handy Haversack (encumbrance allowing)?

2) My familiar can basically use any slotless magic item that makes sense/is compatible with abilities that my familiar possesses?

Specific to this particular familiar:

And with regards to slotted items:

4) If I take Extra Item Slot (Ring) does that allow my familiar to wear one or two rings? Someone asked this earlier, but I didn't see or missed the answer.

5) If I purchase a Hand of Glory, which takes the Neck slot, can my familiar wear a ring on the Hand of Glory without having Extra Item Slot (Ring)?

6) My familiar starts with 2 feats. I can swap one to Extra Item Slot for free. My character is 8th level. To retrain the second feat would cost 8 * 5 days * 10 gold = 400 GP and 5 prestige?

And finally, concerning mundane items:

7) Can my familiar wear a spring-loaded wrist sheath (containing either a wand or a scroll of breath of life for use with UMD)?

So I cannot buy a saddle for my Rex or my giant scorpion but I could if it was a dimetrodon? Or a seahorse? Or does this only apply to magical saddles? I am confused on this. I thought this was the kinda thing that exotic saddles were for.

Someone had asked earlier, but I really am curious about the Promethean Alchemist's "Homunculous Companion". Does it fall under the Animal Companion rules in this case? Or will it be allowed to use magic items normally? If it does fall under Animal Companion rules, should I assume it's "Biped [Hands]"?

With the one 'combat creature' per character limitation, can that creature be traded out for a different creature mid scenario? For example, a character has a riding gecko that he uses all the time in combat (because I have no idea how it has survived this long), during a fight could he demote the riding gecko to a beast of burden and mount the riding dire bat that he had earlier cast Carry Companion on to pursue a hard to reach enemy?

Edit: Never mind, the FAQ is fairly clear the the active companion is selected at the start of the scenario.

With the one 'combat creature' per character limitation, can that creature be traded out for a different creature mid scenario? For example, a character has a riding gecko that he uses all the time in combat (because I have no idea how it has survived this long), during a fight could he demote the riding gecko to a beast of burden and mount the riding dire bat that he had earlier cast Carry Companion on to pursue a hard to reach enemy?

A player must choose which companion counts as a combat animal at the beginning of the scenario. As far as I know, that would also apply to which companion counts as a mount.

Trying to figure out how to continue playing the character that had a menagerie of mundane creature options with different mobility options, but only one on the field at the time. I think I'll have to designate one as active, and one as as a mount that looses out on the combat boosts (gang up).

I believe that would work. You can ride your combat animal, edit: and in this case, carry your mount if you want to.

I believe that would work. You can ride your combat animal if you want to.

Yep that has been the plan, riding a gecko most of the time but having the riding dire bat in the backpack (carry companion) just in case. Not ideal for the character, the extra threatening body for Gang Up is extremely valuable for the rogue but the game goes on.

I also see I should have posted this in the March blog where this was added to the FAQ.

Can I still purchase exotic saddles for avians like Rocs and Axebeaks? Or are the slots only for magic items, not mundane ones?

____

A few reactions:

I was really surprised that Pseudodragons and Calligraphy Wyrms can't trigger wands. They appear to have hands. They can talk. I honestly believe that all dragons should be able to use wands.

What about the Pipefox? Its adorable artwork shows it cradling a wand! Although it's serpentine, I can imagine it triggering the wand with its tail.

What about elementals? In Tyranny of the Winds, it became canon that elemental creatures can take on humanoid forms when they wish to do so.

Some of these rulings really surprise me.

Hmm

The pipefox actually isn't holding a wand.

My understanding, is this FAQ is not restricting mundane items, like saddles and armor. It is only restricting magic item slots.

What I'm finding really disconcerting and irritating though, is that we haven't gotten any communication from John or Linda since last Wednesday. So we have about 7 days worth of questions that are really important and integral to understanding this FAQ, that have gone completely unanswered, unresolved, or at least we have no idea if they've heard and are cogitating on a solution to.

I hate dump and run stuff like this. Especially when its incomplete, inconsistent, and/or ambiguous.

My understanding, is this FAQ is not restricting mundane items, like saddles and armor. It is only restricting magic item slots.

You may well be right Tallow. It's just such a strange ruling - a giant mantis can wear mundane armour/barding, but you're not allowed to make that armour/barding +1 without spending a feat?

What I'm finding really disconcerting and irritating though, is that we haven't gotten any communication from John or Linda since last Wednesday. So we have about 7 days worth of questions that are really important and integral to understanding this FAQ, that have gone completely unanswered, unresolved, or at least we have no idea if they've heard and are cogitating on a solution to.

I hate dump and run stuff like this. Especially when its incomplete, inconsistent, and/or ambiguous.

Well, this announcement is meant for later use in FAQ or Clarifications. Hopefully they're processing some of the more poignant questions asked here for inclusion.

So, a soulbound doll can use a weapon, but a homunculus can't? And if you pay to give your homunculus a voice it still can't use wands?

Tallow wrote:

What I'm finding really disconcerting and irritating though, is that we haven't gotten any communication from John or Linda since last Wednesday. So we have about 7 days worth of questions that are really important and integral to understanding this FAQ, that have gone completely unanswered, unresolved, or at least we have no idea if they've heard and are cogitating on a solution to.

I hate dump and run stuff like this. Especially when its incomplete, inconsistent, and/or ambiguous.

Well, this announcement is meant for later use in FAQ or Clarifications. Hopefully they're processing some of the more poignant questions asked here for inclusion.

Except, this is supposed to be usable right now per some of Linda's earlier responses.

The pipefox actually isn't holding a wand.

But in the adventure where it comes from... isn't that a wand in the description? Or am I misremembering? I could be misremembering. Cosmic Captive has taken my brain, poured a light pesto sauce over the top, and then commenced to eat it with many loud smacking noises.

Hmm

Yrishi is pictured with a wand, but I don't think she is ever described with one in the text.

Thank you for your continued questions and discussion. There is too much in this thread for us to address at this time, since we are in the peak of Gencon crunch, but we're keeping an eye on this thread for possible revisions down the road when we have the time for a proper discussion. I can give these two answers right now.

*The biped (claws/paws) entries have a typo in their slot lists. "Right" should read "ring"
*A spirit oni has the eyes, head, and headband slots.

If possible the mundane saddle question would be useful. I have a player that has a velociraptor he rides and I currently feel that if he brings it on Thursday I'll have to say his mundane exotic saddle isn't legal on the raptor.

If possible the mundane saddle question would be useful. I have a player that has a velociraptor he rides and I currently feel that if he brings it on Thursday I'll have to say his mundane exotic saddle isn't legal on the raptor.

I think until its clarified one way or another, you should err on the side of the player.

isn't that the entire point of an exotic saddle? To go on creatures that don't take a mundane saddle?

I suppose all the magic saddles come in mundane saddle shape?

Yrishi is pictured with a wand, but I don't think she is ever described with one in the text.

Ah, my mistake. I was looking at the standard bestiary image.

Thomas Hutchins wrote:

If possible the mundane saddle question would be useful. I have a player that has a velociraptor he rides and I currently feel that if he brings it on Thursday I'll have to say his mundane exotic saddle isn't legal on the raptor.

I think until its clarified one way or another, you should err on the side of the player.

It is clarified now. "Creatures without these notes cannot wear saddles or horseshoes." There's nothing unclear about that. Velociraptors can't wear saddles since it doesn't have the appropriate annotation. There's nothing to err on or change by the GM.

The question is if it was intended, since it does seem strange. Cause you'd think that was the point of exotic saddles, but rules are rules and exotic saddles seemingly don't really have a place in PFS anymore.

these are the magic item slots (if you are looking for more specific reasons there are a few of the Additional mounts boons that are covered that cannot take a saddle... i.e. Grippli getting Giant Frog mounts)

isn't that the entire point of an exotic saddle? To go on creatures that don't take a mundane saddle?

I suppose all the magic saddles come in mundane saddle shape?

This is what I am assuming until we hear differently. I have multiple characters affected, two who ride a Roc, one on an Allosaurus (I don't see this on the list), one on a Devil Monkey and another who plans to ride his Deinotherium when it is large enough.

Edit: Actually, looking through the AR, when did the allosaurus stop being a legal animal companion?