Improved familiar benefit

[huma2000]

I'm thinking in taking the improved familiar feat, but looking at the new familiars I'll have access I noticed that there is no longer benefits like the +2 to reflexes like the weassel give to me... It's right or is a mistake in teh rules?
I think It'll be more logic that I also gain some effects like the previous I had.
Thanks.

[Ambrus]

Improved familiars don't directly grant bonuses to their master (besides the Alertness feat when within 5-ft.) the way normal familiars do. The improved familiars' general awesomeness is intended to compensate for the loss.

[huma2000]

So wehn you choose to use an Improved familiar, you must remove the old bonus from the character.
Thanks, that solved my problem, them is not interesting to take that till you have access to some powerfull familiars (maybe lvl7)
Thanks!

[Ambrus]

huma2000 wrote:

So wehn you choose to use an Improved familiar, you must remove the old bonus from the character.

Correct, you lose the associated bonus when you lose (or dismiss) your previous familiar.

huma2000 wrote:

Thanks!

My pleasure.

[Mistwalker]

You can add the celestial template to any "regular" familiar as an "improved" familiar. This gives the familiar a few bonuses and you get to keep the skill bonus provided by the familiar.

[ZappoHisbane]

Mistwalker wrote:

You can add the celestial template to any "regular" familiar as an "improved" familiar. This gives the familiar a few bonuses and you get to keep the skill bonus provided by the familiar.

Or fiendish, if that's your thing.

[Ambrus]

Mistwalker wrote:

You can add the celestial template to any "regular" familiar as an "improved" familiar. This gives the familiar a few bonuses and you get to keep the skill bonus provided by the familiar.

Good point, though I'm not sure the benefit is worth the feat.

[Nikomis]

I know I'm jumping in late, but don't forget resolute and entropic also do the same thing here. They're pretty awesome templates and are often overlooked.

[Tiny Coffee Golem]

My favorite is the air elemental. If you can make it one size larger than you and strong enough you can ride it. ;-)

[xevious573]

Actually there is another benefit - many of the "improved" familiars, especially the ones tied to the outer planes such as lyraken and such have 1/week Commune as a spell like ability. That's a 500gp divination spell free of charge once a week, 6 yes or no questions with answers granted to you from a higher power. And it's a spell most wizards could not normally get access to.