Witches familars and Improved Familars

[Helaman]

When using Improved Familiar, do I lose all the scroll taught spells and get the basic options as if starting with a new familar as if the previous one had died?

[Furious Kender]

There was a clarification somewhere that said no, you don't lose your spells. I don't remember if it was Mike or one of the devs that gave it. Maybe someone else can provide a link.

[WalterGM]

It's hidden in the lingo here.

"...the Improved Familiar feat, which allows you to immediately replace your familiar with the new familiar, at no cost or time required (it is assumed this occurs during whatever preparations you make while leveling up)."

That's about the most official clarification you can use as evidence about not having to pay to get spells retaught to the new familiar.

We also have this quote from SKR, who seems down with the notion of just having spells transfer from familiar to improved familiar.

"I would think they would transfer, but I agree that is a FAQ-worthy question."

However, since this is PFS, you'll inevitably want hard facts to back up your character if pressed. And in that regard, the community has failed you. No further official clarifications that I'm aware of exist.

:(

[kinevon]

While it is side-stepping the whole issue, the best option, IMO, would be to spend the 6K gp for the Stone Familiar from Ultimate Equipment, page 320.

Well worth it as a back-up, in any case, if you ever get your familiar killed as a witch.

[Furious Kender]

Well I was hoping the links would jive with my memory. A work around is to get a Stone Familiar.

Improved Familiars will be getting attacked if you play them at all. I ran for one table with a guy that used them as a full party member, including the designated party face.

[Odea]

I'm 90% certain Mike Brock posted that you have the old familiar teach the new one on its way out (i.e. you keep your spells). Let me see what my search-fu turns up. Also, for many/most feats (e.g. evolved familiar) they specifically call out that if you get a new familiar, the new familiar gets the benefit of the feat.

EDIT: fixed a parenthesis and Linky to Mike Brock on the issue! Search-fu >> edit timer!

[Furious Kender]

Odea wrote:

I'm 90% certain Mike Brock posted that you have the old familiar teach the new one on its way out (i.e. you keep your spells). Let me see what my search-fu turns up. Also, for many/most feats (e.g. evolved familiar) they specifically call out that if you get a new familiar, the new familiar gets the benefit of the feat.

EDIT: fixed a parenthesis and Linky to Mike Brock on the issue! Search-fu >> edit timer!

Glad someone found it!

[Bbauzh ap Aghauzh]

Is this on the compiled list? Might be a good idea to see if Mike would put it there.

[WalterGM]

Nice find! We, as a community, have not failed you!