A question for the mind-readers among us: is having more than one familiar against the RAI? The rules seem to throw up a lot of hurdles, but I can't find any rule actually barring two (or more) familiars.
For purposes of using that power, treat your sorcerer level as equal to your character level – 2Well well, you learn something new every day. And this is good to know. Thanks!
Although now I'm wondering how many familiars one PC could get. Time for a new thread.
If you intend to use eldritch heritage(arcana) with a wizard, you won't gain a second familiar.
Arcana bloodline says :Your sorcerer levels stack with any wizard levels you possess when determining the powers of your familiar or bonded object
Taking eldritch heritage gives character level – 2 as sorcerer levels, so a 8th level wizard taking this would have the familiar a 14th level wizard would have, and you can't pick the bonded item while having a familiar.
However, if you are a diabolist, I can't find any rule saying the imp replaces the old familiar. It is stated for the daivrat' zhyen but not for the diabolist's imp.
I think the imp would replace an already present familiar and the diabolist levels would stack with any other class entitled to a familiar.
Levels of different classes that are entitled to familiars stack for the purpose of determining any familiar abilities that depend on the master's level.
So no two familiars.
But as both familiars stack a wizard with eldrich heritage (Arcane) would get a very strong familiar. Wizard level + (character level-2) At Level 11 pure wizard he'll have the familiar with the abilities of a level 20 Wizard.
Which gives him +4 natural armor, +4 int, and scry on familiar. Not really worth 2 feats.
If you intend to use eldritch heritage(arcana) with a wizard, you won't gain a second familiar.
Yeah, that one won't fly. But a Tattooed Sorcerer with the Serpentine bloodline gets a tattoo familiar at level one, and a snake at level three. Since these are not from levels in different classes, you'd end up with two familiars per the RAW.
(Not my own idea, btw.)
Diabolist gets imp companion, not familiar. In fact, wizard diabolist can have two imps - one as a familiar and one as a companion.
But as both familiars stack a wizard with eldrich heritage (Arcane) would get a very strong familiar. Wizard level + (character level-2) At Level 11 pure wizard he'll have the familiar with the abilities of a level 20 Wizard.
One of developers stated previously that such interpretation is against the intent of the rules as it counts the same levels twice, which shouldn't take place.
Diabolist gets imp companion, not familiar
Thanks, didn't saw it, I might use this on a future character :)
against the intent of the rules as it counts the same levels twice, which shouldn't take place.
This probably throws the biggest wrench in the works - in most situations you would want to make levels do "double duty", or end up with at least one gimped familiar.
I realize this question is old, but I want to add something anyway.
'Levels of different classes that are entitled to familiars stack for the purpose of determining any familiar abilities that depend on the master's level'
The interpretation most people have is the following:
2 levels witch + 2 levels wizard = 1 level 4 familiar
My interpretation is this:
2 levels witch + 2 levels wizard = 2 level 4 familiars
It is nowhere stated that you cannot have multiple familiars, it is stated that if you have a familiar, levels of different classes that are entitled to familiars stack for the purpose of determining any familiar abilities that depend on the master's level. So if you get a familiar from a witch, and take levels in wizard with an arcane bond, that wizard is a class which is entitled to a familiar, and so the class levels stack to determine the level of the familiar granted by the witch class. In the same way, the witch levels get added to the familiar gained by the wizard class.
Furthermore, it would be illogical roleplaying-wise. If you could only have one familiar, and it gains levels for each class entitled to a familiar, how would it work if a tattooed sorcerer takes alchemist levels and gains a tumor familiar. A tattoo and tumor at the same time?
Now i realize this might be a weak point, but it's a point nonetheless.
And what about eldritch heritage? 'For purposes of using that power, treat your sorcerer level as equal to your character level – 2, even if you have levels in sorcerer.' Well this is quite simple, the feat is flawed as it doesn't work with either interpretation of the rules. The fault lies in the fact that the familiar is gained using a feat instead of an actual class. The simple solution would be to always treat this familiar as character level -2.
Another thing to consider with regard to multiple familiars is classes or class features which require a familiar of a specific kind. For example, a Druid with the Eagle Domain gains a Hawk familiar ("You gain a hawk familiar. Your effective wizard level for this ability is equal to your druid level. Your druid level stacks with levels from other classes that grant familiars when determining the powers of your familiar"), while a Bard with the Sea Singer archetype gains a familiar that must be a Parrot or Monkey ("At 2nd level, a sea singer acquires an exotic pet—a monkey or parrot (treat as raven)—that gains abilities as a wizard’s familiar, using the sea singer’s bard level as his wizard level.")
By the "you may only have one familiar" interpretation of the rules, what happens when an Eagle Domain Druid multi-classes as a Sea Singer Bard?
Or, since Clerics may take Animal and Terrain Domains, what happens when a Cleric takes both the Eagle (Hawk familiar) and Serpent (Viper familiar) domains at 1st level? Clearly said Cleric is able to have more than one Familiar.
Thus characters must be able to have more than one familiar...
Someone could also say:
a) Druid with Eagle domain and Sea Singer Bard are incompatible. You can't meet both demands with your one familiar.
b) Eagle and Serpent domains are incompatible the same way. Heck, it's debatable whether cleric is a 'nature-themed class' as demanded by Ultimate Magic.
Still, a second familiar seems hardly gamebreaking. So if a player would promise not to take too much table time with his 3+ creatures, I'd permit it.