Just looked in to animal archive and boy does it have good stuff in there.I used to go with a bonded object for my casters but Familiar Spell is crazy.
What I don't understand is how it works with spontaneous casters.Can I cast a spell with Familiar spell to transfer it to my familiar or do I have ton pick one spell when I take the feat?
I'd say option a is the answer since it would be unfair to spontaneous casters otherwise.
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I don't think spontaneous casters have to pick the spell when they gain the feat, just when they "cast" it. That text at the end is just to indicate that you can't give your familiar a blank spell slot - a sorcerer with the feat could pass magic missile to their owl by spending a 4th level spell slot, and then a few rounds later pass grease, for example, but not "any first level spell I know." A prepared caster has to actually prepare the spell with the feat then transfer it as normal for metamagic.
Its not too crazy given the spell takes up a slot 3 levels higher than what it actual is.
Quicken Spell increases 4 levels and Familiar Spell is a lot better than quicken.
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Quicken Spell increases 4 levels and Familiar Spell is a lot better than quicken.
Er, huh?
I can see how it lets you get one extra spell off in a fight, maybe two if they are really low level. The requirements are pretty steep, since it requires your familiar to be one of the talking birds or you to have spent another feat on Improved Familiar. It also makes your familiar into a target.
It's strong, but I wouldn't say it's "a lot better" than quicken. Is there something I'm missing?
It definitely combos well with Quicken Spell. Mmmm 3 spells in a round.
Really?
It requires no action from you to cast the spell,there is no limits to how many spells you can transfer,you can be in two places at once,you don't actually need to be able to cast spells(paralyzed,stunned whatever),its lower level than quicken,it works with all spells not only with no restriction on casting time and theres a metamagic rod for it thats half as expensive as a rod of quicken.
And yes it works with quicken spell too.
I'm pretty sure the logical, intended function is that a wizard can pass their familiar "This fireball spell I prepared this morning," but a sorcerer can't pass "This blank 3rd-level spell slot I got this morning," they have to decide that the spell is fireball when they pass it, not when the familiar casts it.
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There is a limit to how many spell you can transfer at once - half your caster level in spell levels, including the +3 metamagic cost. It should take the normal casting time for a metamagic spell to "pass" the spell to the familiar, so generally you can store a single low level spell in your familiar. So, once per battle (maybe twice) you can get some extra action economy. Quicken Spell used properly lets you get two spells a round for an entire fight.
Again, it's a strong feat. I just think Quicken is a slightly better effect, and worth the extra spell level.
I don't know where you are getting that from. The text does nowhere state that you can only transfer one spell to your familiar, so I'm going to assume that I can put as many spells on it as I want.
For instance if you are a witch and you want your familiar to cast Ill Omen then you can transfer as many Ill Omens to your familiar as you have 4th level spell slots.Its no different from preparing quickened spells.
A familiar spell uses up a spell slot 3 levels higher than the spell's actual level. Your familiar can store a number of spell levels (including this modifier) equal to your caster level, but no spell's adjusted level can exceed half your caster level.
So at 10th level you could have two first level spells in your familiar as a witch even though you would have one more 4th level spell slot available
Aha I see...
Well no big deal you can't prepare spells of a higher slot than half your casterlevel anyway so I think that goes without saying, but I have missed the text my fault.
Still..... its better:)
Edit:Ah no wrong again you can prepare spells of a higher level than half you CL but only with Wizard/Cleric spell progression and only every other level.
interesting find!
One question did instantly raise in my mind though: What about attribute dependent variables (save dc, CMB for telekinesis, etc)? It only states that intelligence governs how well your familiar is able to use the spell, not save DCs.
What about spell focus, spell penetration and the likes?
Along the lines of Spock's question: Suppose you have a familiar holding a personal range spell, does the familiar have to cast the spell on itself or does it work like deliver touch in that you are still the real caster, and therefore it can target you?
