How much are animal companions for a non druid / wizard?

[Michael Riter]

Here's the thing. I just want an animal. Like a raven. But my character is a Paladin... Okay, I want to know what the cost is, can this non-familiar raven speak or learn common, and finally, what rulebook this is all in. Oh right, and if this is legal for PFS play.

[Arutema]

If you're a Paladin, you probably have good Cha, and can take the Eldritch Heritage (Arcane) feat from Ultimate Magic to gain a familiar.

Buying animals with money only gets you a normal animal which never advances or learns languages.

[Michael Riter]

Kelly Youngblood wrote:

If you're a Paladin, you probably have good Cha, and can take the Eldritch Heritage (Arcane) feat from Ultimate Magic to gain a familiar.

Buying animals with money only gets you a normal animal which never advances or learns languages.

Why thank you. I was thinking about that, and even though I am starving for feats... roleplay beats rollplay in my opinion.

[Angry Wiggles]

The Animal Archive lines out costs for purchasing a large number of animals that can be kept and cared for without being familiars or animal companions. Just remember that PFS limits the number of combat companions you can have in play at any one time.

For a non-familiar speaking animal, I usually buy a specialized slave out of the Adventurer's Armory and fluff it to what I wanted. The ruling there is that you can have whatever you'd like, as long as it provides no mechanical benefits.

Other ways to get familiars include, but are not limited to:
One level of Wizard, Sorcerer (arcane bloodline), Witch, Rogue (carnivalist archetype), 2 levels of Alchemist (tumor familiar discovery), and the Eldritch Heritage (Arcane) feat

[Michael Riter]

Angry Wiggles wrote:

The Animal Archive lines out costs for purchasing a large number of animals that can be kept and cared for without being familiars or animal companions. Just remember that PFS limits the number of combat companions you can have in play at any one time.

For a non-familiar speaking animal, I usually buy a specialized slave out of the Adventurer's Armory and fluff it to what I wanted. The ruling there is that you can have whatever you'd like, as long as it provides no mechanical benefits.

Other ways to get familiars include, but are not limited to:
One level of Wizard, Sorcerer (arcane bloodline), Witch, Rogue (carnivalist archetype), 2 levels of Alchemist (tumor familiar discovery), and the Eldritch Heritage (Arcane) feat

Alright, thank you. I think I might go the rogue route now... but one last question. (As you can tell, I don't have much dealings with familiars) Can a familiar wear armor? Like a monkey wearing leather armor. I know the SRD gives a cost for it, but I'm not sure if animals can wear it according to the rules. In the home games I've played, I've seen a druid to that to his companion, but this is PFS.

[Angry Wiggles]

Turns out most of those prices are listed in the PRD here
Familiars can wear armor, but as they don't get bonus feats to spend on armor proficiencies the way that animal companions do, they still have to take the non-proficiency penalties as outlined in the equipment rules below as well as paying the additional cost for buying armor for unusual creatures. In addition, flying animals wearing more than light armor cannot fly. I'd never thought about this before, but now I'm tempted to buy full plate for a turtle familiar, just for fun.

Nonproficient with Armor Worn::

A character who wears armor and/or uses a shield with which he is not proficient takes the armor's (and/or shield's) armor check penalty on attack rolls as well as on all dexterity- and strength-based ability and skill checks. the penalty for nonproficiency with armor stacks with the penalty for shields.

[Lincoln Hills]

Hang on; here's another option. It requires no multiclassing and you don't have to spend any feats; just some time and a few class skill checks.

1. Purchase the ordinary animal you had in mind. (It ends up capable of speech, so any animal will do, although a falcon or hound will draw the fewest stares in future.)

2. Improve its attitude toward you to 'helpful' via Handle Animal.

3. Locate a 9th+ level druid of NG or LN alignment and pay 450 gp for an awaken spell to be cast. Depending on the GM you might have to improve the creature's attitude to 'helpful' again, via Diplomacy.

4. Provide training suitable to the now-sentient creature. I usually recommend a class that uses light or no armor, and avoid spellcasters (although the awakened creature can take Still Spell and rely on wands a lot if you're absolutely determined.)

5. Remember your new partner is not required to stay with you, endangering his/her life and newfound sentience. Unlike a bound mount or familiar, it should be treated with all the respect due to an NPC ally.

[kinevon]

@Lincoln Hills: Since this is a question for a PFS PC, Awaken is not an available option.

GtPFSOP, v4.3, page 25 wrote:

Spells

The following spells found in the Core Rulebook are not legal for play and may never be used, found, purchased, or learned in any form by PCs playing Pathfinder Society Scenarios: awaken, permanency, and reincarnate.

[Lincoln Hills]

Ah! I see. I was not aware of the exemption (although I certainly understand the reasoning behind it.)

[Michael Riter]

kinevon wrote:

@Lincoln Hills: Since this is a question for a PFS PC, Awaken is not an available option.

GtPFSOP, v4.3, page 25 wrote:

Spells

The following spells found in the Core Rulebook are not legal for play and may never be used, found, purchased, or learned in any form by PCs playing Pathfinder Society Scenarios: awaken, permanency, and reincarnate.

I think I am going to go a completely different route anyways. I found myself spreading too thin. (A Pally/Rogue with a familiar that likes to both sneak attack and hit with a giant warhammer at the same time, while having the familiar drop alchemist fire on the battlefield.) I prefer the sap adept/master route anyways.