Go for the azata...I just like faeries!
I've essentially learned that while improved familiar CAN be good, it is not always better.
Take into consideration that you are first losing the boost that the original familiar gave you. Additionally, improved familiar will often be performing actions that attract more attention to itself than the previous, and summoning a replacement familiar isn't exactly cheap. This said, often the "best" improved familiars for a wizard or sorcerer are those with more utility, and some methods of detracting attention from itself.
The largest question is, "what are you going to do with said familiar?" Don't just take improved familiar for the sake of taking it. Instead, have a goal in mind when doing so. After all, the trade off is a constant buff that the original familiar granted as well as a feat that could be allocated to something else.
When grabbing improved familiar, have a plan. Most people end up grabbing faerie dragon BECAUSE its perfect at what it does. Its a masterful utility caster that is also capable of self protection. Witches, while not always picking the faerie dragon since they are less likely to put their pseudo-spellbook in danger, are more commonly picking familiars that focus almost all attention on survive-ability. Some people end up picking their familiars based on flavorful or creative ideas, such as a cocodaemon to turn a persons soul into a crystal to be resurrected at a later date for interrogations (albeit, the caster level check to rez can be a PAIN).
It should also be taken into consideration weather or not your GM allows your familiars to use magical devices. This can be a make or break deal on some familiars.
Where I am getting at is, do not feel forced to get an improved familiar. It should also be noted that while you may have told us that you have casting and stealth, the general feel and concept when taking the familiar should also feel right. This said, if you want to start using the familiar for scouting, creatures with invisibility stealth can be incredibly useful.
a good familiar choice is to homebrew your own like i did. especially if you don't intend to use it.
i used a fine sized butterfly (+4 initiative). the reason the +4 initiative fit the butterfly, is because they are quick to flee.
the notable details i assigned it were
+8 racial bonus to perception and survival checks
Fly Speed of 60 feet
fine size 22 dexterity, 10 constitution, 22 charisma and 16 wisdom, able to speak like a raven or thrush
i pointed out that it couldn't possibly attack or carry objects and couldn't possibly use a wand.
it was an amazing scout
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I like the azata. Constant detect magic, detect evil, and tongues can be all kinds of useful (on top of the aforementioned ability to use wands or any other magic item designed for humanoids). The voidworm's most interesting ability - change shape - only works once per day, which is a bit limiting for my taste.
@Lumiere Dawnbringer - Homebrew familiars might work nicely for a home game, but the OP has stated this is PFS.
...and summoning a replacement familiar isn't exactly cheap.
When you take Improved Familiar, the new familiar is free.
Sorcerer/Wizard: Can I dismiss my familiar so I may select a new familiar?
This isn't addressed in the rules anywhere, but yes, you should be able to dismiss a familiar if you want to select a new one. However, you must still wait 1 week and pay 200 gp for the 8-hour ritual. Dismissing a familiar is ending a link between your soul and it, so it should probably take about an hour.The exception to the above is if you take 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).
I like the azata. Constant detect magic, detect evil, and tongues can be all kinds of useful (on top of the aforementioned ability to use wands or any other magic item designed for humanoids). The voidworm's most interesting ability - change shape - only works once per day, which is a bit limiting for my taste.
@Lumiere Dawnbringer - Homebrew familiars might work nicely for a home game, but the OP has stated this is PFS.
...and summoning a replacement familiar isn't exactly cheap.When you take Improved Familiar, the new familiar is free.
Sorcerer/Wizard: Can I dismiss my familiar so I may select a new familiar?
This isn't addressed in the rules anywhere, but yes, you should be able to dismiss a familiar if you want to select a new one. However, you must still wait 1 week and pay 200 gp for the 8-hour ritual. Dismissing a familiar is ending a link between your soul and it, so it should probably take about an hour.The exception to the above is if you take 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).
the reason i wanted a butterfly with my last witch, is because i wanted a butterfly.
it's cute
it scouts
it follows trails really well
and is quick to react in a cowardly fashion
and finally
i wanted a butterfly for the Bleach Shinigami/Enma-Ai flavor
but my experience entirely consists of home-games
When you take Improved Familiar, the new familiar is free.
I meant if the GM decides to kill it, as with an improved familiar one attempts to have their familiar do more things. While doing more things is helpful, it also attracts attention of enemies, thereby increasing the likelihood of it getting killed.
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If you decide to go the UMD wand route, take a look at the Evolved Familiar feat. If you have the space for the feat, it's a +8 to a skill. With the Azata's 20 Cha that's +13, before ranks. If you have been putting 1 rank for 6 levels, that's +19 or auto success with wands (DC 20) by the time you take the feat.
Familiars use whatever skill modifier is higher: its or yours. They do not stack. In this case, it would be +13 vs. +6, so +13.
Convince your local GM to run The Sanos Abduction (or run it yourslf)
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If you decide to go the UMD wand route, take a look at the Evolved Familiar feat. If you have the space for the feat, it's a +8 to a skill. With the Azata's 20 Cha that's +13, before ranks. If you have been putting 1 rank for 6 levels, that's +19 or auto success with wands (DC 20) by the time you take the feat.Familiars use whatever skill modifier is higher: its or yours. They do not stack. In this case, it would be +13 vs. +6, so +13.Negative Ghostrider, the pattern is full.
I'm pretty sure the above means master's ranks, familiar's modifiers. Or no?
Skills: For each skill in which either the master or the
familiar has ranks, use either the normal skill ranks for an
animal of that type or the master’s skill ranks, whichever
is better. In either case, the familiar uses its own ability
modifiers.
Thank you.
If you decide to go the UMD wand route, take a look at the Evolved Familiar feat. If you have the space for the feat, it's a +8 to a skill. With the Azata's 20 Cha that's +13, before ranks. If you have been putting 1 rank for 6 levels, that's +19 or auto success with wands (DC 20) by the time you take the feat.Familiars use whatever skill modifier is higher: its or yours. They do not stack. In this case, it would be +13 vs. +6, so +13.
8 racial mod (evolved familiar)
5 charisma mod (20 charisma on the Azata)6 ranks (Master's skill ranks)
=+19 to UMD rolls.