Can familiars be taught tricks with Handle Animal?

[Mark Hoover]

I know they're the wrong Type (magical beast I think) but can you teach a familiar tricks at first level?

Scouting is the primary use for a familiar at most levels (unless you take the time to weaponize them somehow). I know that communication is nearly impossible until mid levels, but you can at least command it and get an emotional response back unless of course its an improved familiar or a raven/thrush.

In another thread the OP has a level 1 wizard lost in the woods. Several folks (myself included) told him to have his familiar help him look for signs of civilization. Imagine he 1) doesn't have a talking familiar, 2) has Handle Animal. Could he have taught it some tricks which in turn might help him out of this situation?

[blackbloodtroll]

Familiars are intelligent, and need not learn tricks. They start out about as smart as an Orc, so mundane tasks are still easily completed.

[Tiny Coffee Golem]

Its int is at least 7. It's as smart as a person. You don't teach it tricks you just ask it do to stuff. Diplomacy is more appropriate than Handle animal.

[Tiny Coffee Golem]

Oh, and they understand one language that the master knows, though they can't speak.

Edit: Well, most can't speak.

[Mark Hoover]

So, in the case of the wizard stuck in the woods and looking for a village, you could just tell your, let's say Fox familiar: "go get help boy! Go find the village, then come back and lead me there!" and it would be able to do that?

[cartmanbeck]

Mark Hoover wrote:

So, in the case of the wizard stuck in the woods and looking for a village, you could just tell your, let's say Fox familiar: "go get help boy! Go find the village, then come back and lead me there!" and it would be able to do that?

Assuming the fox has some way to find the village, absolutely. Also, I think the fox would be offended by treating it like Lassie. LOL

[Icyshadow]

cartmanbeck wrote:

Mark Hoover wrote:

So, in the case of the wizard stuck in the woods and looking for a village, you could just tell your, let's say Fox familiar: "go get help boy! Go find the village, then come back and lead me there!" and it would be able to do that?

Assuming the fox has some way to find the village, absolutely. Also, I think the fox would be offended by treating it like Lassie. LOL

Tracking by scent seems like a logical way of finding said village. As for the treatment, guess it depends on the familiar's attitude. Some might actually want to please their master or play the part of pet since they have sentience and intelligence matching that of a humanoid apparently.

[chaoseffect]

cartmanbeck wrote:

Assuming the fox has some way to find the village, absolutely. Also, I think the fox would be offended by treating it like Lassie. LOL

I'm sure your magically connected animal friend wouldn't mind saving your dumb, hopeless lost wizard ass ;o

[Ascalaphus]

I think with foxes it's like a symbiotic partnership; you distract the peasants with Dancing Lights while the fox ravishes the hens. In return he gets you home after a hard night's drinking.