A Pseudo-dragon and his poison sting: does the DC go up?

[master arminas]

Under Familiar Basics (Wizard class) we have the following statement:

Quote:

Hit Dice: For the purpose of effects related to number of Hit Dice, use the master's character level or the familiar's normal HD total, whichever is higher.

Now a pseudo-dragon has a poison sting, and from the Pathfinder Monster Reference we have this:

Quote:

Poison (Ex or Su): A creature with this ability can poison those it attacks. The effects of the poison, including its save, frequency, and cure, are included in the creature's description. The saving throw to resist a poison is usally a Fort save (DC 10 + 1/2 poisoning creature's racial HD + creature's Con modifier; the exact DC is given in the creature's descriptive text).

So, does the save DC of a Pseudo-dragon's sting increase? If so, that would give a 20th level wizard a pseudo-dragon with a sting DC of 23 instead of 14.

I don't know exactly how to rule on it, but I am leaning toward allowing it increase the save DC in my game. Can anyone give a helping hand?

Master Arminas

[Fozbek]

The DC of its poison is an effect related to hit dice. So, yes, it increases.

[Doomed Hero]

Fozbek wrote:

The DC of its poison is an effect related to hit dice. So, yes, it increases.

+1

Any effect that raised the creatures Con or HD would effect the sting DC.

[Talon Moonwalker]

Doomed Hero wrote:

Fozbek wrote:

The DC of its poison is an effect related to hit dice. So, yes, it increases.

+1

Any effect that raised the creatures Con or HD would effect the sting DC.

Yes it would. Also do not forget that the more you are poisoned with the same kind of poison, the fort save to resist effects also climbs

[master arminas]

Thanks, all. And a seperate--but related--question: does the familiar gain feats or skill points for those effective Hit Die?

Master Arminas

[Fozbek]

That's a harder question, but I believe the answer is at least intended to be "No".

[donaldsangry]

master arminas wrote:

Thanks, all. And a seperate--but related--question: does the familiar gain feats or skill points for those effective Hit Die?

Master Arminas

PRD wrote:

Hit Dice: For the purpose of effects related to number of Hit Dice, use the master's character level or the familiar's normal HD total, whichever is higher.

They're just treated as having more dice, they don't actually gain any. So I don't believe so.

[Troubleshooter]

"Effects" related to hit dice include things such as whether you can flank a Rogue with Improved Uncanny Dodge, or what happens to you when affected by Color Spray.

Allow familiars that many feats and I guarantee it will lead to nothing but pungent burger-topping.

[master arminas]

Thought so. I didn't really care about the feats, but I was wondering about the skills, which would have been nice.

Master Arminas

[donaldsangry]

master arminas wrote:

Thought so. I didn't really care about the feats, but I was wondering about the skills, which would have been nice.

Master Arminas

IIRC they get to use your skill bonuses or the base animals which ever is higher, so they do get better as you get better

[master arminas]

Yeah, at Wizardly things, not at Perception or Stealth! lol

Master Arminas