I'm trying to diversify my witch, and am looking at my regular (and improved) familiar.
It seems most of the highly rated improved familiars are size tiny, and can't flank, or even attack without provoking an AoO?
For a squishy familiar with half the hitpoints of an already squishy caster, that seems kind of risky, even with some of the nice immunities or damage resistances. Is improved familiar even worthwhile beyond helping your living spellbook survive?
And more specifically, I really like the voidworm. My main question is, the change shape ability, is that exactly like the spell, with benefits and duration, or is it merely limited to the same shapes as the spell, without the limited duration but also without the benefits?
Also is the voidworm's flight magical or wing based? Can it still fly when morphed to a non-flying creature, or does it retain its flying capabilities when morphed into a worse flyer?
Improved Familiars are awesome because they usually have abilities whose DC scales with HD (the Psuedodragon's Sleep poison, for example--also note that the Pseudodragon has a reach of 5' and thus can flank) and/or because many (though not all), can UMD wands for you.
I think in general, though, if you're using your Familiar to flank, you're not getting the most out of them and you're putting them in unnecessary danger.
I would never use my familiar to flank as a witch unless I'd thrown the money into a 20 HD homunculus.
Which, by the way, I don't think they've fixed that yet. If you want to pull a fast one on your GM, take improved familiar and the Beast Bonded track, and craft construct. Then craft a 20HD homonculus, let yourself die, and just inhabit it's body. You gain 20d10 hit points and the construct traits, and can magic jar anyone you like.
I'm kind of wishing I had grabbed beastbonded, played my witch from level 2 or so, am at level 8 now so too late to change to that.
Still, voidworm could be useful, give it raccoon shape and raven, raccoon has sleigh-of-hand, very dextrous hands, could argue that it could use wands. I know other familiars can definitely use wands, but I like the voidworm.
And more specifically, I really like the voidworm.
...why? I guess the confusion tail slap is ok, but, well, you have to hit with the tail slap, which is dangerous. The Psuedodragon and Faerie Dragon can do their debilitating conditions (which last longer) from 5' away. I don't know, the voidworm looks very weak for an Improved Familiar.
My main question is, the change shape ability, is that exactly like the spell, with benefits and duration, or is it merely limited to the same shapes as the spell, without the limited duration but also without the benefits?
Also is the voidworm's flight magical or wing based? Can it still fly when morphed to a non-flying creature, or does it retain its flying capabilities when morphed into a worse flyer?
Pretty sure the flight is magical--it's perfect for one, which wings generally don't give you, and it's, well, a worm. I don't see any description that suggests it has wings.
Also, I'm pretty sure the developers have stated that none of the non-improved familair animals can UMD wands, so I think Raccoons are out.
What exactly is it you like about voidworms?
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One thing to be careful about (check with your GM) - by RAW, the Improved familiar replaces your old one, so you'd lose any extra spells you've taught it. Many GMs will handwave this, or simply let your old familiar "evolve" into the new one, but that doesn't work in PFS AFAIK.
Putting a familiar up in melee is a risky tactic that can pay off, but the risk is much higher for a witch as you're effectively risking your spellbook.
And more specifically, I really like the voidworm....why? I guess the confusion tail slap is ok, but, well, you have to hit with the tail slap, which is dangerous.
It's more than because of a sum of its abilities. I like it for what it is, not what it can do.
I'm not playing PFS, so it shouldn't be a problem to swing it so I get the improved familiar, and over a couple days the two commune until the new one has the spells. I've seen the argument on the boards that there is nothing RAW saying you can't do it that way.
I hit level 8, and am running out of hexes. The debate is between fortune, scar, and ward, and I have the level 8 hex and a level 9 feat (likely a hex or improved familiar) to pick before all my feats/hexes are taken up again at 10+. I'm playing Carrion Crown, so it's a tough decision if I should take another feat at 9 instead of improved familiar. Lots of undead coming up it seems, so my mind affecting hexes are out, and I already have ability focus for misfortune.
On the upside if I keep my greensting Scorpion (and I just discovered the erata for the upped initiative bonus) and take improved initiative at level 9, I could have an initiative bonus of +11 instead of just +3 with the voidworm. Not that it matters much after the first round.
it is not the shapechange spell
SQ change shape (2 forms, both of which must be Tiny animals; beast shape II)
Change Shape (Su): A protean’s form is not fixed. Once per day as a standard action, a protean may change shape into any Small, Medium, or Large animal, elemental , giant , humanoid, magical beast, monstrous humanoid, ooze, plant , or vermin. A protean can resume its true form as a free action, and when it does so, it gains the effects of a heal spell (CL equal to the protean’s HD).
So RAW it has the ability, once per day as a standard action, to change it's shape into one of 2 types of tiny animals, chosen when you get the familiar.
EDIT: also note that it works as per beast shape II, which duration is only 1 minute per level.
Rereading the Change Shape, it appears to me that Beast Shape II dictates what it can change in to, not effects or duration. Mind you it is a very ambiguous entry and should be erata'd.
The other thing I'm really curious to..
If a voidworm changes to a form that is an existing familiar, does the caster gain the regular benefits during that time? As an example, if it was in scorpion shape, would you get the initiative bonus at that time?
The limiting factor is you can only use 2 shapes, 1 at a time, and only 1 change per day.
No, you get the initiative bonus because you have a greensting scorpion familiar, not because the form of a greensting scorpion being nearby somehow makes you faster.
I still can't figure out what you like about the Voidworm. Even if you're not concerned with what it can do, I can't figure out what's appealing about it.
Pure mindless chaos?
It's a curious, chaotic creature that mimics other creatures in order to camouflage itself. Though rereading the description, it seems like I need to change to chaotic neutral to be able to have one. (mind you the general description for improved familiar says within 1 step).
The survival ability is huge. Fast healing 2 and 1/day heal. While the immunities are less common types than fire/ice, it's still much better than a regular familiar.
The abilities are fun, and useful.