Young wolf as Familiar?

[Brian Kovich]

In the bestiary under FAMILIAR it states; "Presented here are the base animal statistics for all of the
most commonly used familiars".

So obviously other normal animals may become familiars. Thematically for a character I am working on, A wolf Familiar would be appropriate.

By adding the young template, A wolf seems to be on par with some other familiars;

young wolf:

Young Wolf
CR 1/4
XP 100
N Small animal
Init +4; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +8

DEFENSE
AC 14, touch 14, flat-footed 10 (+4 Dex, +0 natural)
hp 4 (1d8)
Fort +3, Ref +7, Will +1

OFFENSE
Speed 50 ft.
Melee bite +0 (1d4-1 plus trip)

STATISTICS
Str 9, Dex 19, Con 11, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Base Atk +1; CMB +0; CMD 14 (18 vs. trip)
Feats Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Perception +8, Stealth +8, Survival +1 (+5 scent tracking); Racial Modifiers +4 Survival when tracking by scent

Especially now that UM has added some small critters as Familiar options;

Donkey Rat:

Donkey Rat CR 1/4
XP 100
N Small animal
Init +3; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +4
Defense
AC 14, touch 14, flat-footed 11 (+3 Dex, +1 size)
hp 5 (1d8+1)
Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +1
Offense
Speed 30 ft., swim 20 ft.
Melee bite +0 (1d3–2)
Statistics
Str 6, Dex 17, Con 13, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 4
Base Atk +0; CMB +1; CMD 9 (13 vs. trip)
Feats Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Perception +4, Stealth +15, Swim +11

and

Goat:

Goa t CR 1/3
XP 135
N Small animal
Init +1; Senses low-light vision; Perception +0
Defense
AC 13, touch 12, flat-footed 12 (+1 Dex, +1 natural, +1 size)
hp 5 (1d8+1)
Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +0
Offense
Speed 30 ft.
Melee gore +2 (1d4+1)
Statistics
Str 12, Dex 13, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 11, Cha 5
Base Atk +0; CMB +0; CMD 11 (15 vs. trip)
Feats Nimble Moves
Skills Acrobatics +1 (+5 when jumping), Climb +5, Survival +0
(+4 to find food); Racial Modifiers +4 Acrobatics when
jumping, +4 Survival to find food

Then upon reaching 3rd level, Improved Familiar could theoretically advance the Familiar to a true Wolf. As it seems on par with many improved familiars of that level.

Any comments are greatly appreciated.

Brian

[Brian Kovich]

bump?

[Flak]

I like. The non-tiny familiars really just seem like easy targets, though...

[Brian Kovich]

re-bump

[Karel Gheysens]

Start by using the fox as familiar. A small wolf or a fox are (if you ask me, identical - in terms of game mechanics anyway).

As for advancing it to a real wolf, I don't think it's a good idea fir balance.
All core based familiars are small, it's even specifically called out that small familiars can flank though no mention is made for medium or larger familiars.

I've browsed over the list and there are no medium familiars. I assume this is to prevent people from using animal growth (or whatever the spell is) and obtaining a large familiar with reach. For survivability and flank ability, I can imagine this to be highly beneficial.
Further, it has trip which is quite strong.

So a full grown full does not look like a good idea.

If you want to remain in the wolf/dog/fox visual for a familiar, I would consider applying the young template to the wolf and then applying either celestial, resolute or one of the other suggested templates.

This reduces the size while making the familiar much more magic. And to me, a familiar should be magical. Certainly an improved familiar.

And last, consider what to do with the trip and the discrepancy between the fox entry and the wolf entry. The fox gains a +4 acrobatics Racial Modifier when jumping.

[Brian Kovich]

I realize there are no Medium Familiars, as of yet. But the fact a wolf as familiar, being medium is a more tempting target for foes, and does not have any magical abilities as do most other improved familiars seems to balance it out.

It's a thematic choice with benefits and drawbacks.

As for A precedent. A sylvan bloodline Sorcerer. Or any character that takes the eldritch heritage feat can get an animal companion which can be medium in size. And an animal companion is much more combative than any familiar.

I don't see it being overpowered at all to have a young wolf that progresses to a full grown wolf at the expense of a feat. In fact, it may be prohibitive in the long run. But my group tends to play towards story over #'s anyway.

Brian