Hello all,
I've been reading about familiars and arcane bonds and while I'm admittedly still between the 2 due to me possibly playing the party face, I wanted your opinion on what item you'd use for an arcane bond.
For this particular instance, lets say you start at lv. 3 and are full wizard thus far.
Amulet - I like the Amulet, because it can start being enchanted almost right away at level 3 (if you have the gold) and can be hidden underneath a shirt / jacket so it's less noticeable. However, it is most likely far easier to steal from a character than a ring would be.
Ring - I also like the ring, but you'd have to wait until 7th level to be able to enchant it (using the free item feat from arcane bond at least). On the other hand it's easily hidden and probably a pain in the neck for all but the best thieves to get off of you.
Staves - Love the old fashioned flavor for a staff but it's the weakest out of the 3 that I'm going to talk about. You'd have to wait until lv 11 to start enchanting it, it's very noticeable and may take resources to hide and even if you do hide it, you still have to wield it to do what you need to do; not to mention that it could be sundered or stolen far easier than the ring or the amulet. Again, it just has that extra wizardy flavor that can be pleasant.
Weapons / Wands I'm not all that interested in, however I'm certain that there could be cases they would be fun to use in some fashion.
So, just for fun, between the ring, amulet and the staff (most likely not the staff though :P) which do you think is best overall in your opinion(s) and why?
The only reason to take a familiar is if you will be using it to UMD a wand or scrolls in order to gain an advantage in the action economy, otherwise, a familiar is more vulnerable than a Bonded Ring or Amulet. I can imagine a DM allowing a familiar outfitted with, say, a Ring of Telekinesis to use it, but Wands and Scrolls almost certainly will require the Improved Familiar Feat (yet another Feat Tax, but that's why Wizards get bonus Feats, right?). The Improved Familiars can be very good indeed if chosen carefully, but keep in mind that they are restricted based on your alignment and level (nothing available before level 7 is worth anything). Imps, Lyrakiens, Cassisians, Quasits and possibly Sylvanshees are all decent choices, though anything with hands and the ability to speak is clearly better than those without. Ratlings are a very interesting choice, for example.
Be advised that if you start using your familiar in combat to whip Wands and sling Scrolls, your DM will be more than justified in targetting it, and familiars are, as I said, very much easier to kill in combat than your Ring.
Since you can enchant your Bonded Item as if you had the appropriate Craft Feat, Ring is clearly the winner because you will be taking the Craft Wondrous Item Feat anyway. This way, you get Craft Ring for no Feat cost, granting you Rings of Telekinesis, Sustenance, Invisibility, Freedom of Movement and -- of course -- Wizardry at half price. If you aren't allowed to create custom items, then there's far less competition for your Ring slots, and you have a spare ring slot to swap out if/when you want to -- which you cannot do if you Bonded to an Amulet...
Weapons, Wands and Staffs are trap choices for Bonded Object. Never Bond to such an item. ever.
seriously.
Protip: you can cast Permanency to make your Bonded Object Invisible with an unlimited duration. Very useful for a small object that you can constantly wear with no one the wiser, like, say, a Ring on your finger because it doesn't leave any real signs that you're wearing it. Unlike, say, a Wand or Staff which you must be holding when you want to cast any spell.
Having played a wizard with a bonded ring I cannot recommend enough trying to keep a "fancy stick" in hand at all times when casting. If your enemies try to inconvenience you by disarming (what they think is) your bonded object they will be in for a surprise.
@Aunt Tony - You bring up some good points, I guess if you know you'll make it to lv 7 ring is a obvious choice and it may be still even with the amulet available. For me, the only familiar I may pick for an upcoming campaign is the thrush for the diplomacy (party face and all). I do like the increase in perception and sense motive one gets from familiars though.
@VoodooHoodoo - Also some very good advice, thank you. I especially like idea of holding a "fancy stick" to hide what your bonded item actually is.
@andreww - Very true, initiative is very important, however the spontaneous spell cast is kind of difficult to give up.
Thanks for the opinions everyone, it's given me some interesting things to think about.
Personally I find it hard to pass up +4 Initiative as a full caster. If you are at all invested in battlefield control or save or die effects then going first is crucial.
Yeah, even without UMD this is a sweet bonus.
I like Ring best for item bond. It is difficult to disarm, and you mighy just skip picking up Forge Ring for having it.
If you are in a low level campaign and for some reason don't want craft wondrous item, I like the amulet best since you can start enhancing it at level 3.