The To Hit and Damage would be terrible, but it ought to "work".
If the dagger is Tiny sized, it's damage would be 1d2. A monkey familiar's strength is 3 (-4 modifier). However, it does have 15 dex. So it would wind up being:
+2 to hit (not including size modifiers or the non-proficiency penalty), and 1d2-4 damage on a hit.
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Well is it magical returning poo? Then I wouldn't want him to throw it. :)
So, can a normal monkey familiar use a throwing knife? Or would I need to take some feats to make that possible?
Sure, it's possible. Just do it right.
He's not proficient, so he's got a -4 penalty to attacks.
He'll apply his Strength modifier to damage dealt by thrown weapons, so with a strength of 3 that's dealing 1d2-4 damage on a hit, resulting in 1 nonlethal damage, even on a crit.
If he's throwing into melee without precise shot, another -4 penalty.
If someone is in the way granting soft cover, the target gets +4 AC.
If he's moved during that round, he wont be able to catch the knife when it returns, assuming it's smart enough to even try to catch it.
I'm sure that none of these ideas would make for a really powerful character, but that's ok. I'm looking for something to have fun with.
I don't know if your campaign makes it convenient to sell magic items, but if it does, then you might want to weigh the party's finances (i.e., that's 4000 gp less to share with the rest of the party) against the coolness of a monkey throwing a boomerang. :-)
In all honesty. Thrown feces jokes aside I'm pretty sure a working oposable thumb is needed to throw knives.
Sorry, but a monkey is by nature, a natural endless bag of dung, but for poo flinging only.
you can invest some off time betwen adventures to make him practice with that knife (do nothing but practice ofr a few months - any decent DM will let you have the 'proficient' for that knife).
so, no penalties to throwing.
Just be sure to let the rest of the party 'practice' for a few months and get free feats. Bastard Swords for everyone!
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I have often wondered if this line:
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.
let you choose feats for a familiar via the Monster Advancement section of the rules:
Next, give the creature additional feats. Creatures gain one feat at 1 Hit Die and one additional feat for every 2 Hit Dice above 1. Most additional feats should be focused on increasing the creature's combat abilities, but metamagic feats and skill feats are also possible choices depending on the creature's role.
I have often wondered if this line:
let you choose feats for a familiar via the Monster Advancement section of the rules:
That section is from Adding Racial Hit Dice, which you are not doing.
I have often wondered if this line:
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.let you choose feats for a familiar via the Monster Advancement section of the rules:
Next, give the creature additional feats. Creatures gain one feat at 1 Hit Die and one additional feat for every 2 Hit Dice above 1. Most additional feats should be focused on increasing the creature's combat abilities, but metamagic feats and skill feats are also possible choices depending on the creature's role.
Also Note: I bolded the piece that explains why you don't get feats. You are not actually gaining Hit Dice. You are treated as having extra Hit Dice solely for the purposes of effects. Ex: Opponent color sprays your familiar. Your raven only has 1 Hit Dice but since you are a level 4 wizard, the raven is treated as a 4 Hit Dice creature for the effects of color spray.
This seems perfectly reasonable to me. Just about the only way to cheese it up is to spend a fortune on weapon enhancements that could be spent on the main character instead, or to use poison.
But familiars are frequently intelligent and while monkeys' "thumbs" are not nearly as good as human thumbs, they are adequate for gripping and an intelligent monkey should be able to figure out how to throw a knife.
I actually like the flavor of this, but my standard GM familiar disclaimer applies."if your familiar becomes a tactical threat, then it becomes a target."
Realistically, your monkey is gonna need a natural 20 to do 1 point of non-lethal damage.
At least it's not using it's masters ranks in UMD to activate a wand with trigger word "Ook."
Mechanically, it would be miles better to give it a wand of magic missile, since it can use your skill ranks in Use Magic Device to cast it. So long as you have reasonable ranks in the skill, of course.
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This might be a stretch, but it might be worth talking to your GM about.
When I GM (currently RotRL), I have a houserule that magic weapons and armor automatically resize to the fit the wearer. (Think of the opening scene of Lord of the Rings, where Isildur find the One Ring and it shrinks to fit him.)
This eliminates the "we found a really cool weapon, too bad its tiny/small/large/etc." problem. I can see that this could cause issues if you have a player who's character concept is built around an oversized weapon, but I'm sure an exception could be made (maybe the weapon resizes once to fit the user's desired size or something).
-Skeld
Think of the opening scene of Lord of the Rings, where Isildur find the One Ring and it shrinks to fit him.
That would be because magic clothing and jewelry adjust themselves magically to the wearer.
This eliminates the "we found a really cool weapon, too bad its tiny/small/large/etc." problem. I can see that this could cause issues if you have a player who's character concept is built around an oversized weapon, but I'm sure an exception could be made (maybe the weapon resizes once to fit the user's desired size or something).
I'm a fan of the party using more of the stuff they find, rather than just selling everything to fund their uberweapons.
... you might want to weigh the party's finances (i.e., that's 4000 gp less to share with the rest of the party) against the coolness of a monkey throwing a boomerang. :-)
I'm sorry, but there is NO comparisson between 4k and the koolness of returning monkey knives ! ! !
Hmm... Now what comparable can I get for my weasel?!?
Now what comparable can I get for my weasel?!?
If your DM allows 3.5 material, there's always the mouthpick weapon. Fear the weasel with a mouthpick greatsword!
... If your DM allows 3.5 material, there's always the mouthpick weapon. Fear the weasel with a mouthpick greatsword!
SWEET ! ! !
I have to have it, what book is that in?
I have to have it, what book is that in?
Lords of Madness, I think. It's for those guys that are spheres with eyestalks and a mouth to wield the fancy weapons they find. (SphereGuys are trademarked or whatever so they can't be used in PF, iirc)
I think mouthpick weapons are from Savage Species, although it's possible they were reprinted elsewhere.
Give him Alchemists Fire. No strength penalty!
I have to have it, what book is that in?Lords of Madness, I think. It's for those guys that are spheres with eyestalks and a mouth to wield the fancy weapons they find. (SphereGuys are trademarked or whatever so they can't be used in PF, iirc)
You can say Beholder, the Copyreich Gestapo won't seize your post for referencing the creature. Such uses fall under the aegis of Fair Use.
Also Paizo could possibly create and put into print a deliberate parody of the beholder in their books if they so chose. But it might be more hassle than paizo would find worthwhile to deal will lawyers and court costs.
During our game last night our group acquired a tiny magical knife that automatically returns. Not much use to any players (all human-sized), but it would be fun to let my monkey familiar get busy with it.
So, can a normal monkey familiar use a throwing knife? Or would I need to take some feats to make that possible?
The monkey would lack the knowledge to use the weapon, meaning unprofecient penalties. I dont think animals can learn weapon profeciency feats either (although thats a rule I would have to look up to be sure)
Still, if you accept all the penalties then the monkey could still throw it as a weapon
Make a tiny cannon. Put it on a floating disk. Teach (since it's as smart as people) it to aim and light the fuse. Mobile turret. ;-)
