According to the 'Improved Familiar' rules, you can take an Improved Familiar if you have sufficient levels in familiar-granting classes, and are not more than one step away from the Familiar's alignment.
Which allows, for example, Imp familiars for a LN wizard.
For convenience, the Familiar Table has even been updated in UM, stating all applicable alignments of Improved Familiars.
So far, so good.
Now, starting with Bestiary 2, some of the familiar choices (say hello to Azata and Qlippoth, among others) state sentences like 'a chaotic good spellcaster can take a Lyrakien as a familiar...'; well, so much for 'one step away'.
Which way do the rules decide: can a NG spellcaster get himself a Lyrakien familiar, like a NE one can get an imp, or quasit, following the wording of the Improved Familiar Feat and the Improved Familiar Table, or should this conflict of rules should be resolved by 'special
familiar entry taking precedence over general improved familiar rule'?
Is this contradiction even intentional, or do we have a simple case of 'didn't synchronize the rules' at our hands?
According to the 'Improved Familiar' rules, you can take an Improved Familiar if you have sufficient levels in familiar-granting classes, and are not more than one step away from the Familiar's alignment.
Nitpicking: Actually, what you need is a familiar and an Arcane Caster Level, not levels in a familiar-granting class.
Nitpicking: Actually, what you need is a familiar and an Arcane Caster Level, not levels in a familiar-granting class.
Do you mean that a level 11 character with 3 ninja level, 3 wizard level and 4 Arcane Trickster level can select a level 7 Familiar (an Imp is limited to level 7 right ?)
I don't think so since Arcane Trickster give you Arcane Level Caster but no familiar ability... ;)
As far as I know, there are only 4 classes that grant familiars. Wizard, Witch, Sorcerer with Arcane Bloodline, and Adept. Any combination of those 4 classes stack for the purposes of levels for improved familiar.
Magus also can have familiars. Anyway, the requirment is Arcane Spellcaster Level, mans if you are wizard 3/warrior 1/Eldritch knight 5 you are allowed to take 7° level familiars. Also, summoners you take the eldritch heritage (arcane) and chose a familiar can pick improved familiar since they have an arcane caster level. Other classes can't.
On the allineament question, i think that the old saying of "specific triumph general" is the right way to rule it.
Anyone with sufficient charisma can have a familiar.
Skill focus - any one Knowledge skill
Eldritch Heritage (Arcane Sorcerer Bloodline) - Cha 13, Char level 3
Gain Arcane Bond, choose a familiar.
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Do you mean that a level 11 character with 3 ninja level, 3 wizard level and 4 Arcane Trickster level can select a level 7 Familiar (an Imp is limited to level 7 right ?)
I sure hope so otherwise my last Arcane Trickster was illegal with his Faerie Dragon!
Seriously, it does just say "Arcane Caster Level", no "level in classes with the familiar ability." Your extra familiar perks are limited by levels in that sort of class (things like "scry on familiar"), but not your ability to upgrade.
Seriously, it does just say "Arcane Caster Level", no "level in classes with the familiar ability." Your extra familiar perks are limited by levels in that sort of class (things like "scry on familiar"), but not your ability to upgrade.
Yup, I have read the description of improved familiar and it ask for Arcane Caster Level, not "Levels of different classes that are entitled to familiars" which are for abilities only... :)
Alchemists can get tumor familiars that function identical to the real thing.
Might be easier to list the classes that can't get familiars. :p
Alchemists can get tumor familiars that function identical to the real thing.
Might be easier to list the classes that can't get familiars. :p
Now I wonder what kind of barbarian archetype could reasonable get familiar.
Absolutely anyone can have a familiar if they have char 13 now that eldritch heritage is out. The question was who can get the improved version of it. And the answer is only the arcane caster class. Alchemist does not have an arcane caster lever, nor barbarians or the like.
Absolutely anyone can have a familiar if they have char 13 now that eldritch heritage is out. The question was who can get the improved version of it. And the answer is only the arcane caster class. Alchemist does not have an arcane caster lever, nor barbarians or the like.
Alchemists can take the improved familiar feat because they are considered arcane casters, and their caster lv is equal to their alchemist lv.
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Absolutely anyone can have a familiar if they have char 13 now that eldritch heritage is out. The question was who can get the improved version of it. And the answer is only the arcane caster class. Alchemist does not have an arcane caster lever, nor barbarians or the like.Alchemists can take the improved familiar feat because they are considered arcane casters, and their caster lv is equal to their alchemist lv.
no they arent. they are considered casters and there is provisions in the tumor familiar that let an alchemist count as an arcane caster for that spicific purpose.
the dont qualify for things like arcane strike
But they (alchemists) count as arcane casters for the familiar, so they can take Improved Familiar.
Someone w/ just the EH feat and not an arcanist could not.
Actually, a cleric, druid, and inquisitor can get a familiar too.
Please reference the core book as a Druid does not get a familiar, only an animal companion. And they do have noticeable differences.
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Alchemist count as casters equal to their level for familiars and craft feats, both proven by developers and recently printed APs.
casters yes. ARCANE casters, no. they do qualify for improved familiar via the terminology used for that specific ability, but not all things.
Craft feats have a caster level prereq that isnt arcane or divine, so no problem. but if something else call out Arcane caster level X (or Divine for that matter) they dont qualify.
Might be easier to list the classes that can't get familiars. :p
Monks. Because they all dumpstatted Charisma. That's pretty much it. :P