Improved Tumor Familiar

[Elamdri]

Is it possible to take an Improved Familiar if you are an alchemist with the Tumor Familiar Discovery? I just have this image in my head of an Kuato like figure in my stomach.

[VRMH]

Technically it's not allowed, as Improved Familiars require a caster level and the Alchemist doesn't have one.

[Elamdri]

If Alchemists don't have a caster level, how the hell can they Brew Potions?

"Hey you guys, come get my CL 0 Potions!"

[Mergy]

VRMH wrote:

Technically it's not allowed, as Improved Familiars require a caster level and the Alchemist doesn't have one.

Alchemists have a caster level for the purposes of all the things that require caster levels. Tumour Familiar is one of those.

[VRMH]

Mergy wrote:

Alchemists have a caster level for the purposes of all the things that require caster levels. Tumour Familiar is one of those.

But Improved Familiar is not, unless I missed something.

[Ash_Gazn]

Improved familiar requires a familiar. Alchemists don't have those, but can get a tumor familiar, which is not a familiar, just as a pseudodragon is not a tumor.

[Mergy]

Ash_Gazn wrote:

Improved familiar requires a familiar. Alchemists don't have those, but can get a tumor familiar, which is not a familiar, just as a pseudodragon is not a tumor.

James Jacobs, the guy who wrote the class, disagrees with this. Take that as you will.

[StreamOfTheSky]

Tumor Familiar is a familiar. Alchemist has a caster level for the purposes of familiars, otherwise, it'd be impossible to draw the level-based benefits from the familiars table. So for the purposes of a feat related to familiars, they have the arcane caster level.

[Elamdri]

StreamOfTheSky wrote:

Tumor Familiar is a familiar. Alchemist has a caster level for the purposes of familiars, otherwise, it'd be impossible to draw the level-based benefits from the familiars table. So for the purposes of a feat related to familiars, they have the arcane caster level.

That's what I figured as well.

[Duskblade]

I don't see why you couldn't take improved familiar (the alchemist does have 'caster levels'...but strangely he just doesn't 'cast' anything)

It's just another sad fact really, as I was personally hoping that an alchemist would qualify for the arcane strike feat, but sadly he doesn't meet the pre-reqs for it.

[Ash_Gazn]

Duskblade wrote:

I don't see why you couldn't take improved familiar (the alchemist does have 'caster levels'...but strangely he just doesn't 'cast' anything)

It's just another sad fact really, as I was personally hoping that an alchemist would qualify for the arcane strike feat, but sadly he doesn't meet the pre-reqs for it.

Now wait a second... Why can't you take it? I would think that alchemist formulae DO count as "arcane spells" when it comes to qualifying for feats. You can take item creation feats, and alchemists are described as imbuing their extracts and bombs with arcane power. Why couldn't I take arcane strike and apply it to my bombs? Or to my gun, in the case of the alchemist/gunslinger.

[Ash_Gazn]

Mergy wrote:

Ash_Gazn wrote:

Improved familiar requires a familiar. Alchemists don't have those, but can get a tumor familiar, which is not a familiar, just as a pseudodragon is not a tumor.

James Jacobs, the guy who wrote the class, disagrees with this. Take that as you will.

I stand corrected. Where did he say that? Can you provide a link?

[Mergy]

I can't right now, as bed-time, but hopefully this post reminds me to post it in the morning. It's in the 'Ask James Jacobs' thread, where he says that alchemists drinking their extracts rather than casting spells is just flavour, but IMPORTANT FLAVOUR.

I take that to mean they should get access to stuff other casters get access to, like Improved Familiar, even if they cast their spells a little different.

[Mergy]

Here is a quote by James Jacobs based on discussions about whether alchemists should be able to take item creation feats. I think this is relevant to the discussion, as we have a discovery that gives them a familiar, and can apply their alchemist level as though it were a caster level.

[neferphras]

Mergy wrote:

Here is a quote by James Jacobs based on discussions about whether alchemists should be able to take item creation feats. I think this is relevant to the discussion, as we have a discovery that gives them a familiar, and can apply their alchemist level as though it were a caster level.

Has there ever been, posted anywhere over the 6 threads on this question, an official answer.......anywhere.