Why do I have to restrict myself to one bloodline to get a familiar? It's always been an option in the past, I really don't think it should be tied into just one type of sorcerer.
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Why do I have to restrict myself to one bloodline to get a familiar? It's always been an option in the past, I really don't think it should be tied into just one type of sorcerer.
Hmm, maybe instead of bloodlines granting powers, you get a themed familiar? Imagine getting an imp or quasit familiar if you have a lower planes bloodline. Or a faerie dragon or elemental drake if you have a draconic bloodline. Maybe even a latern archon if you have celestial bloodline!
Of course, this might work better in a splatbook...
I love those ideas, and think they make much more sense than what we currently have.
Director of Games
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I moved familiar out of the sorcerer class primarily due to the fact that I wanted to give them all powers that were more in theme with their bloodlines. That is not to say that what is proposed here is not a good idea, but giving them a familiar would limit what else they could gain at some levels.
I am, as always, open to thoughts on this matter.
Jason Bulmahn
Lead Designer
Paizo Publishing
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Why do I have to restrict myself to one bloodline to get a familiar? It's always been an option in the past, I really don't think it should be tied into just one type of sorcerer.
I guess it's partly to differentiate the two. I guess that most sorcerors aren't really like the wizards that have familiars so having a familiar, which was always an iconic magic-user ability, now only goes to the variety of magic-user that's the direct inheritor of the old magic-user (who is clearly the wizard), plus the sorceror that's most similar to them. In some way, it's actually a measure of the closeness of the bloodline to the traditional magic-user mode.
I guess I'm not bothered by sorcerors only getting a familiar if they pick the one bloodline, although I won't object if it's changed back (or added to other bloodlines).
I use a "Bind Familiar" feat. This allows bards, clerics, or non-arcane-bloodline sorcerers to get a familiar, at the cost of a feat. The familiar's abilities improve according to the class level of the spellcasting class under which the feat is taken.
I don't mind the sorcerer getting more powers, but I'm really feeling that these powers just don't add up compared to what the wizard and cleric are getting. AND the wizard gets his 'arcane bond' for free on top of his new goodies (which also out shine the sorcerer's bloodline powers)
I mean a first level spell how many times per day? It just completely takes the wind out of the sorcerer's sails. That and the fact that a wizard can wait two levels and have a nice spell usable 2 times a day, and you start wondering why you didn't take wizard in the first place.
I think it would be nice if the sorcerer's abilities started a little eariler and scaled a little better, and matched the monster's types of abilities more closely.
By the time the sorcerer (dragon) gets his wings, he could have the fly spell for almost 9 levels, and the spell is generally better. Usually full on (EX) flight in WotC products comes about level 8~12 I don't see why it shouldn't be the case here too, it's not that powerful.
Like celestials:
Most celestials get, Aura of Menance, Circle of protection evil, tongues, flight, and damage reduction of some sort.
So lets take the sorcerer abilities more in that direction.
I realise I might be ranting a little bit, I really like the sorcerer class, I just don't see it being much of a front teir choice anymore.
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I personally applaud the fact that sorcerer and wizard classes are distinctly different now. A sorcerer *can* get a familiar if they need it, but it isn't an integral part of the class.
I'd allow a familiar with a feat as well, for bards, sorcerers, or even rogues with major magic talents (but I'd only count their caster level as 1/2, or just 1st level) ...
There's a feat in Complete Arcane which lets arcane casters pick up a familiar. Any sorcerer who wants can take that feat.
Given how useful bonded items are compared to familiars, I expect that if a wizard has a familiar, he's going to get it with a feat as well.
Perhaps Improved Familiar should be rolled into the Obtain Familiar feat?
I like the sorcerer and wizard being more different. Do something else to sorcerers if you must, but losing the familiar is a good change to add distinctiveness.
I don't have a problem with the Arcane Bloodline = Familar/ Bonded Item setup.
As I see it, 3.5's Sorceror just happened to BE the Arcane Bloodline Sorceror.
Interestingly, as of the current write-up of Bonded Item and Familiar,
I think most Arcane Sorcerors would opt for a Familiar, while most Wizards would choose the Bonded Item.