Page 17 under Familiar Ability Description Alerntess:
Alertness (Ex): While a familiar is within arm’s reach, the
master gains the Alertness feat.
What about changing that to the wizard gains Aletness while the familiar is within the 1 mile empathic link range?
|
I think this would be a good change, since it eliminates the tracking of the bonus depending on how close the familiar is, which is basically a rule that very few people keep track of, and instead play with the alertness bonus included anyway all the time.
I'd suggest it as well.
Another small change I'd suggest for the poor feeble familiar is let them gain feats as they (through the Wizard/Sorcerer) gain HD.
But isn't the point of the wizard getting that bonus because he's close enough to notice that the familiar picks up on something?
the range is ok and works well with flavor and see no reson way it would work over that big of a distance.If you want a stronger familer a dog is what ya want .Even a riding dog is technically allowed by raw I'm using one in a planescape game here. kratos is great fun.I would be cool with them gaining feats though.
|
|
A familiar doesn't gain HD. It gains virtual HD, meaning you use the spellcaster's HD in appropriate circumstances. This means the familiar doesn't gain HD of its own. Which means no HD = no feats. Though I think giving the familiar a number of feats equivalent to half of the master's HD would be nice or at least giving the familiar full access to it's master's feats.
Yeah, I know they don't normally gain feats, but I'd change that, because familiars are now (and were) sub-optimal.
I'd let them have a full complement of feats to match their virtual HD. And I'd let them pick their own. That way, they could take Toughness, Skill Focus, or the like.
Besides, Animal Companions, Special Mounts, and Cohorts all get feat choices ...
But isn't the point of the wizard getting that bonus because he's close enough to notice that the familiar picks up on something?
Possibly but then shouldn't it also work when the familiar is within line of sight?
Couldn't the magical link between the familiar and the wizard which confers empathy out to 1 mile and makes the familar a magical beast even when it is beyond the 1 mile empathy range limit be granting the wizard the feat?.
The Alertness feat only confers a +2 to Listen and Spot checks non class skills. I prefer it for a constant always on, easy to calculate PC buff.
|
The fact that the familiar can send an empathic feeling of danger could be useful, but only if it is nearby, and has been tasked with lookout duties, in which case one could allow the bonus.
If it's a mile away, and gives a feeling of danger, it's because the danger is a mile away, and is threatening the familiar. This doesn't help the wizard spot or hear danger approaching himself, if the familiar is nowhere near him to detect it.
|
|
I think familiars need a bit of re-imagining. The main "problem" with familiars is two-fold: Frailty and Utility. So let me brainstorm (I am not proposing anything specific, merely seeing where the thoughts lead me)
The 3.5 Paladin warhorse comes to mind. The frailty of the warhorse is mitigated by the fact that it can be dismissed or summoned. The utilty of the warhorse remains balanced. It is neither a pet to fight for you, nor is it a lame excuse for a powerful feat (alertness with a skill bonus - which is what a familiar is mechanically).
So, if the familiar is killed and you can re-summon it this goes a long way towards alleviating frailty. As to the utility of the familiar, (the crunch, if you will, of why you select one) perhaps the ability to fight (somewhat effectively) is a needed change.
With that last paragraph it occurs to me that there is an existing mechanic that is very similar: Summon Monster. Basing the "Familiar" of summon monster a few things come to mind: A familiar needs to last longer than the summon monster. But a Summon Monster I celestial badger, for example, lasting all day would be unbalanced at first level. However, a celestial badger "familiar" at level 7 or so would likely be pretty cool (if you like badgers). This is already "built in" with the "improved familiar" feat. So this is a thorny issue.
I do like more "themed" familiars for specialists: Skeletal Minions for Necromancers, an "imp" for Conjurers, An elemental for Evokers, a Homonculus for Transmuters, a standdard familiar (raven, toad) for Universalists (albeit beefed up), a Thrall (devoted humanoid) for enchanters (a yes man, lackey, toady), etc.
So, perhaps making familiars accessible at level 5 just like a Paladins warhorse is, make it dismissable and callable, just like the warhorse. And balance its combat ability with the warhorse (which can be a force multiplier if the paladin uses it as a charge, for example, besides being able to attack itself).
So thats where I would go: Specific "familiars" for each specialist, functioning much like the paladin warhorse. A few "new" monsters may have to be created to fill all roles, and some guidelines as to how to create your own (for players/dms that like to customize) is a great idea.