Does a Familiar's master also get to use their familiar's skill ranks?

[Kor - Orc Scrollkeeper]

On page 83, it states: "For each skill in which either the master or the familiar has ranks, use either the normal skill ranks for an animal of that type or the master's skill ranks, whichever is better. In either case, the familiar uses its own ability modifiers."

I am interpreting this two ways: "For each skill in which either the master or the familiar has ranks..."

1) Both the master and familiar gain this ability.

2) Only the familiar gains this ability.

Is this clarified somewhere else? I suspect it is only meant to be a benefit to the familiar, but I just wanted to make sure.

Thanks.

[w0nkothesane]

Kor - Orc Scrollkeeper wrote:

On page 83, it states: "For each skill in which either the master or the familiar has ranks, use either the normal skill ranks for an animal of that type or the master's skill ranks, whichever is better. In either case, the familiar uses its own ability modifiers."

The key to me is the line "In either case, the familiar uses its own ability modifiers."

That line basically says there can be two situations, and both situations use the familiars ability modifiers, which implies that they are both relevant to the familiar, not the master.

With that in mind, I feel confident that RAW and RAI tell you that the familiar gains the masters' ranks, when that provides more ranks than the familiar normally has. To my knowledge, this is the universally accepted reading of the rule.

[Kor - Orc Scrollkeeper]

w0nkothesane wrote:

Kor - Orc Scrollkeeper wrote:

On page 83, it states: "For each skill in which either the master or the familiar has ranks, use either the normal skill ranks for an animal of that type or the master's skill ranks, whichever is better. In either case, the familiar uses its own ability modifiers."

The key to me is the line "In either case, the familiar uses its own ability modifiers."

That line basically says there can be two situations, and both situations use the familiars ability modifiers, which implies that they are both relevant to the familiar, not the master.

With that in mind, I feel confident that RAW and RAI tell you that the familiar gains the masters' ranks, when that provides more ranks than the familiar normally has. To my knowledge, this is the universally accepted reading of the rule.

Thanks for clarifying this. I really shouldn't be trying to interpret rules at 2:00 am :)