So... I was kicking around an idea for a phoenix-like familiar. It uses the hawk as a base and steals a few traits from the phoenix. Is it too good for a beginning familiar? If so, should something be cut, or more added and have it be an improved familiar?
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Pyre Kite
NG Tiny magical beast (fire)
Init +3; Senses low-light vision, darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +14
Aura shroud of flame (5 ft., 1d4 fire, DC 10)
DEFENSE
AC 15, touch 15, flat-footed 12 (+3 Dex, +2 size)
hp 6 (1d10); regeneration 1 (cold)
Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +2
Defensive Abilities reincarnation; Immune fire
Weaknesses vulnerable to cold
OFFENSE
Speed 10 ft., fly 60 ft. (average)
Melee 2 talons +6 (1d4–2 +1 fire)
Space 2-1/2 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Spell-Like Abilities (CL 1st)
At will—detect magic
3/day—flare burst, cure light wounds
STATISTICS
Str 6, Dex 17, Con 11, Int 4, Wis 15, Cha 8
Base Atk +1; CMB +2; CMD 10
Feats Weapon Finesse
Skills Fly +7, Perception +14; Racial Modifier +8 Perception
Languages Ignan
SPECIAL ABILITIES
Reincarnation (Su)
A slain pyre kite remains dead if its body is completely destroyed by an effect such as disintegrate or if it dies within the area of an unhallow or desecrate spell. Otherwise, 1d4 rounds after death, the remains catch fire and burn away, leaving a tiny, ash covered egg. If placed within a fire continuously for 1 week, the pyre kite hatches from the egg and grows to maturity within 24 hours. The pyre kite gains 1 permanent negative level when this occurs, although if restoration is cast upon the creature, it acts as greater restoration, removing this negative level. Interruption of the process resets the amount of time the egg must be immolated to hatch. A pyre kite can be resurrected only once per year in this fashion. If a pyre kite dies a second time before that year passes, its death is permanent. A pyre kite brought back to life by other means never gains negative levels as a result.
Shroud of Flame (Su)
A pyre kite can cause its feathers to burst into fire as a standard action. As long as its feathers are burning, it inflicts an additional point of fire damage with natural attacks, and any creature within 5 ft. must make a DC 10 Reflex save each round to avoid taking 1d4 points of fire damage at the start of its turn. A creature that attacks the phoenix with natural or non-reach melee weapons takes 1d4 points of fire damage (no save) with each successful hit. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Familiar
The master of a pyre kite familiar gains a +3 bonus on heal checks.
