| rainsinger |
I mean, half of us have pondered this at one point or another, and aside from the so-so arcane heirophant from 3.5, there's really no good way to combine a companion and a familiar, and really, there should be. After all, with the slew of great combinations of characters that could receive both of these, it'd be nice to not have to manage 2 pets, or at the very least, have one with some added bonuses. Keep in mind this would be for house rules, as it would obviously need a ton of polishing if I were putting this out there as something to put into a paizo product.
So here's my idea...
Imbued Companion
Requirements: Animal Companion class ability; Familiar class ability; Spellcraft 5 Ranks; Handle Animal 5 Ranks (May use Knowledge Nature instead? Either way this sets up for a 5th level character at minimum, which seems reasonable, though I was considering making it potentially available with just the class abilities so that if someone did manage both at 1st level, like a druid with eldritch heritage somehow, then... yeah).
You gain the ability to imbue your animal companion with all of the benefits of a familiar. This requires performing the ritual as listed under the Wizard Familiar entry (Core Rulebook pg. 82), but grants the companion all of the benefits of being a familiar as well, with the following notes:
:: The level of each ability is not changed. The companion gains the abilities listed for the appropriate class level with which you gained the familiar ability, and so on.
:: Only one Natural Armor adjustment may be used - take the higher bonus granted by either your animal companion class ability or familiar class ability.
:: Any improvement (e.g.: Share Spells) that is duplicated in both class abilities does not in any way stack - the improvement is only gained the first time it is available.
:: The Familiar intelligence score can be improved upon with the stat bonuses available from the animal companion class ability.
:: The companions HP is determined by the animal companion ability and is unaffected by any rules regarding the HP or HD of familiars.
Advanced Imbued Companion
Requirements: Imbued Companion; Spellcraft 10 Ranks; Handle Animal 10 ranks (see notes above)
The effective level for your animal companion class ability is now equal to your total class levels. Example: If you are a Druid 5, Wizard 5, you are effectively level 10 for your animal companion class ability and all bonuses and increases linked to it.
Improved Imbued Companion
Requirements: Advanced Imbued Companion;
The effective level for your familiar class ability is now equal to you total class levels while applied to your imbued companion. Example: If you are a druid 5, wizard 5, you are effectively level 10 for your familiar class ability and all bonuses and increases linked to it.
Obviously wording and grammar might need some touch ups, but what do you guys think overall?