A buddy and I were having a discussion the other night about the flying monkey as a familiar... because "What's more scary than a flying monkey?" Honestly?
I simply said "That's what improved familiar is for, all you have to do is figure out the effective level hit"
Of course this got us looking at the monkey stats beside a celestial hawk (the 'lowest' improved familiar) and saw the monkey vastly inferior.
Which begs the question... could the flying monkey be... just a normal familiar? Fez and all? And should he give the Wizard (or Sorcerer) a +2 intimidation bonus... because flying monkeys are scary.
the improved version should be the flying monkeys from wizard of oz. those would be scary!
I say it would be a normal familiar. Of course, if music started playing the monkey might grab a cup and start looking to get coins.
I wouldn't allow the flying monkey as a "normal" familiar, as it is already a magical beast. All other "normal" familiars are of the animal type.
- Ashavan
And therein lies the problem. It doesn't quite equate to normal familiars and is too weak to be an improved familier.
Maybe the solution is to make it a 'Feindish Flying Monkey', thus also answering the question of "What's scarier than a flying monkey?" But for it's improved familiar rating... what do you think? -3 level?
Stop me if I am wrong here but I believe that the Savage Species book offers Flight with Wings as just a +1 level advancement for a creature and it doesn't necessarily count as a animal anymore but as a magical beast. Take the Griffon or Pegasus as an example if you wish. But in your world I guess that would be up to you.