As title says, I'm curious about some finer aspects of the familiar. I recently got my hands on Animal Companions book and it made me realize that a familiar can be a pretty powerful part of a wizard. It's a 10th level gestalt game, but here's the gist of it.
A magical breed of raven and hawk for a wilder-feeling raven, using Hawk stats, purely aesthetics. I want the Pilferer pack from Animal Companions, swapping out some spellcasting aids and such for stealth and Greater Steal feat chain. Now here's what I don't get 100% so I wanted to make sure.
"Hit Dice: For the purpose of effects related to number of Hit Dice, use the master's character level or the familiar's normal HD total, whichever is higher."
"Hit Points: The familiar has half the master's total hit points (not including temporary hit points), rounded down, regardless of its actual Hit Dice."
Does this mean that the familiar levels up as an animal, becoming a 10d# Animal, but with half my HP. Which in turn means that it gets a feat for ever two levels as per Monster Advancements rules?
What about skill ranks?
Fun fact, my familiar has more ac than me :(
Somebody saaave meeee!
Animal Companion says familiars and companions can take feats, but how often, how many!?
I am not experienced in this topic, but some advice: If you want people to comment in your thread, comment in theirs.
@Wasum
I'll check it out, thanks alot!
I am not experienced in this topic, but some advice: If you want people to comment in your thread, comment in theirs.
What exactly is this supposed to mean?
All the information
I thanked in my last post but I simply have to take it back. Why you'd think linking me to familiar mechanics, which I quoted on two occassions is beyond me.
I am not experienced in this topic, but some advice: If you want people to comment in your thread, comment in theirs.
What exactly is this supposed to mean?
Animal companions gain feats as listed on the animal companion chart. Familiars do not gain feats as their master advances in level. Familiars can swap out the feats listed in their bestiary entry for familiar feats. For instance, a bat familiar could swap out weapon finesse for a familiar feat it qualified for.Somebody saaave meeee!
Animal Companion says familiars and companions can take feats, but how often, how many!?
That makes sense, so I'll look into it. But monster advancement and the line below seems to suggest they'd get one each other level? "For the purpose of effects related to number of Hit Dice, use the master's character level or the familiar's normal HD total, whichever is higher."
feats are - obviously - not "effects related to HD".
All the information
the ultimate magic says greensting scorpions give you +2 init, I have seen it now at +4, which is correct?
James Jacobs says familiars don't gain feats.
the ultimate magic says greensting scorpions give you +2 init, I have seen it now at +4, which is correct?
The official PRD (which is maintained by Paizo itself) says +4.
+4.The first printing of UM had +2 but it is updated in the second printing. You can download the errata in the my downloads section.All the informationthe ultimate magic says greensting scorpions give you +2 init, I have seen it now at +4, which is correct?
thanks.
Poor scorpion felt offended by little dino:(
Thanks fdnickerson and Jeraa for a quick and simple reply with source.
Reading up on bestiary, creatures which increase HD gain benefits such as feats, and I guess I missread the HD wording wording in Familiar section for that.
Yeah, it's a little confusing. The difference is that familiars never really advance on their own from the base creature. All of the advancements familiars gain come from the masters level, so it only gains what the familiar chart says it gains.Thanks fdnickerson and Jeraa for a quick and simple reply with source.
Reading up on bestiary, creatures which increase HD gain benefits such as feats, and I guess I missread the HD wording wording in Familiar section for that.
Well, it still works out well, a Pilfering raven, if I read correctly I can swap it's feat for Flyby Attack, giving it a hit and run stealer.
Well, it still works out well, a Pilfering raven, if I read correctly I can swap it's feat for Flyby Attack, giving it a hit and run stealer.Which feat are you intending to swap? Ravens have two feats: Skill focus(Perception) and weapon finesse. I recommend swapping out skill focus because a familiar can substitute your skill ranks in place of its own. It's stuck with its own stat modifiers though, which is why swapping out weapon finesse is problematical.
Edit: used the wrong word
it was indeed skill focus I bad in mind. Flyby attack would let it fly, use steal, then fly again and then stealth kf there is cover, or just hover out of reach.
Shame there so Hd feats, there were a few handy ones.