Familiars, limbs, and Extra Item Slot

[N. Jolly]

Another question here to work out things for my guide. The text on the familiar feat "Extra Item Slot" reads as follows:

Quote:

Benefit: Choose one magic item slot not normally available to creatures with your shape. You can now use magic items in that slot.

Now I've heard mixed things about this from "You need this for your familiar to use ANY magical item" to "This gives something like a scorpion a hands slot", which I'm hoping the second.

[MaxAstro]

The line "not normally available to creatures of your shape" says to me that the assumption is that there ARE some slots "normally available to creatures of your shape".

So I would go with the second interpretation myself.

[Eridan]

Second

Everybody can wear magic items but he must be capable of doing it. A snake cannot wear boots but a ring at the end of his tails etc. Some combinations need a GM approval.

With this feat really crazy combinations are possible. A snake that wears boots or gloves ..

[Xaratherus]

If you're talking for PFS, then I know that it's restricted beyond the norm. Outside of PFS, the Animal Archive breaks down a full list of the magic item slots available to each creature body type (and what creatures have that body type).

Since that implies that those creatures have those particular item slots, the obvious intent of the feat is to grant them a slot to which they don't normally have access.

I did a quick sight comparison and this table on the d20 site seems to reproduce the one from Animal Archive accurately.

[N. Jolly]

Xaratherus wrote:

If you're talking for PFS, then I know that it's restricted beyond the norm. Outside of PFS, the Animal Archive breaks down a full list of the magic item slots available to each creature body type (and what creatures have that body type).

Since that implies that those creatures have those particular item slots, the obvious intent of the feat is to grant them a slot to which they don't normally have access.

I did a quick sight comparison and this table on the d20 site seems to reproduce the one from Animal Archive accurately.

Okay, the PFS thing was what I was getting hung up on, thanks for the clarification. I wanted to make sure my scorpion buddy was amped and ready for combat with his Poisoner's Gloves.

[neferphras]

i would actually like something official from Michael on this one. Yes he listed slots that are normally used for a given form. But to my knowledge this feat has never been specifically address in regards to giving an improved familiar the ever valuable hands slot.

[neferphras]

actually the FAQ does actually address this already

Additionally, animal companions have access to magical item slots, in addition to barding and neck, as listed on the inside front cover of the Animal Archive so long as they select the Extra Item Slot feat. The Animal Magic Item Slots table found in Animal Archive is not a legal except under the following conditions. First, an animal companion, familiar, or bonded mount, may choose one slot listed under its body type when taking the Extra Item Slot feat (this feat may be taken multiple times, each time selecting a different available magic item slot based on the creature’s anatomy). Second, access to specific magic item slots may be granted at a later date by another legal source. If you do not own a copy of the Animal Archive, your animal companion may only use barding and neck-slot items.

The brownie, faerie dragon, imp, lyrakien azata, mephit, quasit, sprite familiars, granted by the Improved Familiar feat, use the Biped (hands) section of the chart. The carbuncle and voidworm protean, familiars granted by the Improved Familiar feat, uses the Serpentine section of the chart. If you do not own a copy of the Animal Archive, your animal companion may only use barding and neck-slot items.

So the Feat just give you access to slots, it does not change you body type and does not give you the grasp/carry necessary to say.... use a wand.

That being said this section of the FAQ could use an update. There a ton more improved familiars out there now.