what is a familiar satchel made out of?


Rules Questions


I don't think I can stuff my crab into a handy haversack during combat, but I don't really want it running around either. So,

Ultimate Equipment wrote:
Familiar Satchel: This armored case provides total cover to any Tiny or smaller creature contained within it. It includes air holes (which can be plugged with cork stoppers if you need to go underwater) and two receptacles for food and water.

Here's the thing, it's 6 pounds, and my crab is 5 pounds, and a mithral chain shirt weighs 12.5. I'm getting really close to my encumbrance limit, and that's before magic items (headbands, amulets, etc.)

So, okay, encumbrance, so what? Fine. But...

What is a familiar satchel made out of? Is it metal, in which case a mithral version costs 3025 gp? Or, is it wood, in which case a darkwood version presumably costs 135 gp?

Also, is a spell component pouch made out of leather? So, a darkleaf spell component pouch costs 755 gp?


all good questions, ask your gm.


A'armored case' is most likely mostly metal with leather straps etc. Mithral versions might be possible.

I don't think you can reduce the weight of the spell component pouch. It is the pouch and all the contents that weights 2 pounds. The weight and price are a bargain already for holding all you material components.


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ohako wrote:

I don't think I can stuff my crab into a handy haversack during combat, but I don't really want it running around either. So,

Ultimate Equipment wrote:
Familiar Satchel: This armored case provides total cover to any Tiny or smaller creature contained within it. It includes air holes (which can be plugged with cork stoppers if you need to go underwater) and two receptacles for food and water.

Here's the thing, it's 6 pounds, and my crab is 5 pounds, and a mithral chain shirt weighs 12.5. I'm getting really close to my encumbrance limit, and that's before magic items (headbands, amulets, etc.)

So, okay, encumbrance, so what? Fine. But...

What is a familiar satchel made out of? Is it metal, in which case a mithral version costs 3025 gp? Or, is it wood, in which case a darkwood version presumably costs 135 gp?

Also, is a spell component pouch made out of leather? So, a darkleaf spell component pouch costs 755 gp?

"DEFINITION: A satchel is a bag, often with a strap.[1] The strap is often worn so that it diagonally crosses the body, with the bag hanging on the opposite hip, rather than hanging directly down from the shoulder. They are traditionally used for carrying books.[2] The back of a satchel extends to form a flap that folds over to cover the top and fastens in the front. Unlike a briefcase, a satchel is soft-sided."

Satchels (in real life) are generally made of leather (or modern leather-like materials or even complex fabrics like we see on backpacks nowadays), but there's no reason not to be able to make one out of cloth or canvas. By definition it's not likely to be made of metal. But "satchel" is just the "name of the item," so again, there should be no restriction as to making it out of whatever crafting skill you happen to have, wood, metal, no reason not to.

Same is true for a spell component pouch. But since darkleaf is "light armor" used in place of leather, I see...again...no rule or reason not to be able to make it out of whatever you want. You protect your spellbook with sturdy materials, why not your components...or your Familiar! Spell component case? Spell component jar? Familiar backpack? Familiar Box? Why not?

But since weight is your concern, I'd suggest avoiding metal or wood.

And...you CAN put your crab in your haversack...but he can't breath in there.

About the armor, I miss the old days when armor and worn clothing didn't add to encumbrance. I'm in a fighter in the SCA and I know better. Armor exhausts you when you're new and first start wearing it. But as you get used to wearing it over time, until you can wear it all day and not notice. In no way does wearing armor reduce the amount of weight you can lift or carry...just your endurance...which you get used to eventually. Because of this, I houserule as it was in the olden days, and don't count WORN armor or clothing against encumbrance. Carrying it is another matter.

Check with your DM about the materials, but it's probably okay to make it whatever you want.


May I recommend the hosteling enchant on your armor. It's not cheap, but it would be the most effective method.

The Exchange

So, Roelandt, you would have no problem with a fighter wearing full-plate, carrying a heavy shield and bastard sword, all his other gear and an extra set of full-plate? I get it that you can get used to carrying loads around, especially when you wear a suit of armor that is designed to divvy out the load across your whole body instead of just your back but there are limits to what a person can reasonably carry and totally eliminating worn armor from the equation is a joke. I could see halving the weight of worn armor and clothing but when you try to say that 45 lbs of armor is mystically reduced to 0 lbs when worn then you have lost perspective.


Claxon wrote:
May I recommend the hosteling enchant on your armor. It's not cheap, but it would be the most effective method.

Not a bad idea, but

a) I do kinda want to keep my crab's bonus to my grapple checks (or initiative bonus, or what have you)
b) a crab familiar is a vermin, not an animal. I know it's not as exotic as, say, Rob Paulsen having been ripped from the Pillar of Skulls, but there is a line in hosteling armor that specifically excludes exotic pets.


Fake Healer wrote:
So, Roelandt, you would have no problem with a fighter wearing full-plate, carrying a heavy shield and bastard sword, all his other gear and an extra set of full-plate? I get it that you can get used to carrying loads around, especially when you wear a suit of armor that is designed to divvy out the load across your whole body instead of just your back but there are limits to what a person can reasonably carry and totally eliminating worn armor from the equation is a joke. I could see halving the weight of worn armor and clothing but when you try to say that 45 lbs of armor is mystically reduced to 0 lbs when worn then you have lost perspective.

In regards to my Houserule, why would I have a problem with it, Fake Healer, as long as his strength is sufficient to carry his shield, sword, and equipment? I ignore the armor (and assume that the character is used to wearing it as knights did in real life living in their armor (often heavier than 45 lbs) all day long, laboring, training, fighting, shopping, eating, dancing, etc., which, if I read you correctly, you assume didn't actually happen). The shield, sword and other gear would, of course, add to his encumbrance.

I would have no problem with it because I do it and see it all the time (well...most Wednesdays and Saturdays). If you're in Northern California, come to SCA (Society for Creative Anachronism) Fighter Practice at Rosemont Park in Sacramento on Americana Way on Wednesdays at 7:30 pm and I'll show you. I'll pick up one of the big fighters there that I can barely lift, then put armor on and if you're right, I won't be able to pick him up, right? But you will see that I can. If you're not in my area, check the web for the SCA in your area and visit a fighter practice and see for yourself. Don't take my word for it...test it.

Game and Real-life rarely have anything to do with each other. If you think athleticism in real life is measured in the same way as a game written by fat guys eating Cheetos all day (that was a joke Paizo...hehe), you're perspective is gone and you need to get up and join a gym.

But, it's a Houserule, dude. I don't understand your trolling. If you think I've lost perspective based on my personal, frequent experience as opposed to your complete absence of practical experience in the matter, you are free, with my respects, not to play in my game.

But barking at a someone's Houserule...hmmm...

The Exchange

I know what the SCA is have been training in armor before. I also know that knights did wear armor all day. I also know that the weight of the armor isn't magically gone because you happen to wear it a lot. Your strength and endurance rises to help you bear it with less issues but it doesn't make it disappear. The weight is still there, although due to training (armor training for fighters, strength bonuses from leveling, feats, etc...) it is less than normal.
I've trained in several styles of martial arts, participated in SCA, am a decent slinger, and have spent a significant portion of my time toting extra weight around, whether armor, or tool belts, or backpacks....at no time during any of that has the weight just disappeared because I carry it around for long enough. I do think you have lost perspective.


Pathfinder Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
Dave Justus wrote:
I don't think you can reduce the weight of the spell component pouch. It is the pouch and all the contents that weights 2 pounds. The weight and price are a bargain already for holding all you material components.

The feat Eschew Materials should eliminate the need for the Spell Component pouch. Savings of two pounds.

The Exchange

ohako wrote:

I don't think I can stuff my crab into a handy haversack during combat, but I don't really want it running around either. So,

Ultimate Equipment wrote:
Familiar Satchel: This armored case provides total cover to any Tiny or smaller creature contained within it. It includes air holes (which can be plugged with cork stoppers if you need to go underwater) and two receptacles for food and water.

Here's the thing, it's 6 pounds, and my crab is 5 pounds, and a mithral chain shirt weighs 12.5. I'm getting really close to my encumbrance limit, and that's before magic items (headbands, amulets, etc.)

So, okay, encumbrance, so what? Fine. But...

What is a familiar satchel made out of? Is it metal, in which case a mithral version costs 3025 gp? Or, is it wood, in which case a darkwood version presumably costs 135 gp?

Also, is a spell component pouch made out of leather? So, a darkleaf spell component pouch costs 755 gp?

I have an awesome suggestion to fix this.

Don't dump strength down to a 7 or 8 just to make sure you eek out 1 more number for your spell DCs. Or accept that you had to have that one more to your DCs and that the cost is that you can't carry crap or have to move slower. Or pay for a magic item to either increase carrying capacity or strength. Building a character to the point where you sacrifice some parts to shore up others and then looking for a way to circumvent the sacrifice is bad character design.


Fake Healer wrote:

I have an awesome suggestion to fix this.

Don't dump strength down to a 7 or 8 just to make sure you eek out 1 more number for your spell DCs. Or accept that you had to have that one more to your DCs and that the cost is that you can't carry crap or have to move slower. Or pay for a magic item to either increase carrying capacity or strength. Building a character to the point where you sacrifice some parts to shore up others and then looking for a way to circumvent the sacrifice is bad character design.

Setting Strength at 10 for this character, actually

mithral chain shirt 12.5
haversack 5
familiar satchel 6
actual familiar 5 (you know, in the satchel)
spell component pouch 2
darkwood light crossbow 2 (I don't think I can fit a crossbow into a haversack)
5 bolts .5

That's 33 lbs exactly, without even wearing any clothes below the chain shirt. All my consumables can go into the sack, fine, but now I'm stuck without a way to wear a headband, or a cloak, or whatever. I'm trying to accomplish weight savings without

a) taking my cloak slot
b) taking a feat
c) spending too much money

I think that if a mithral satchel costs 3000 gp, then I'll just wait to spring for a stone familiar, and my crab can take its chances.


LOL @ Fake Healer "you evil min maxer you!", burned

Why don't you just have the crab sit on your back :P

Wear a cloak and let the crab sit in the cap, done.


Pathfinder Starfinder Maps, Starfinder Roleplaying Game Subscriber
ohako wrote:

Setting Strength at 10 for this character, actually

mithral chain shirt 12.5
haversack 5
familiar satchel 6
actual familiar 5 (you know, in the satchel)
spell component pouch 2
darkwood light crossbow 2 (I don't think I can fit a crossbow into a haversack)
5 bolts .5

That's 33 lbs exactly, without even wearing any clothes below the chain shirt. All my consumables can go into the sack, fine, but now I'm stuck without a way to wear a headband, or a cloak, or whatever. I'm trying to accomplish weight savings without

a) taking my cloak slot
b) taking a feat
c) spending too much money

Would a Heavyload belt costing 2000 gp still qualify for requirement C?

It is found in Ultimate Equipment, under Wonderous Items, Belts.

That would take your light load to 99lbs.


@Mavael The familiar satchel grants full cover. I'm still going to be casting shield companion on it, but I kinda want protection from magic missile and the like

@BretI That is a pretty great belt. I do kinda want to keep my belt slot (for a +Dex belt). What I'd rather do is just cast the spell ant haul at the start of the day. And I would, if I weren't a witch (a witch with the Strength patron, har har).

I got it. I was going to wear a brawling mithral chain shirt and take Arcane Armor Training. Instead, I'll wear a brawling darkleaf silken ceremonial armor, cast mage armor on myself every day (oh look, an abjuration spell on the witch spell list, how did that get in there?), and trade the armor training for Arcane Strike, for extra damage goodness.

The net on that is 10.5 lbs, which I can use to go up to a full 10 bolts, along with 10 lbs of other stuff (belt, headband, wayfinder, bandolier with alchemical toys, etc)

Grand Lodge

The Familiar just has to be near by to grant it's bonus, doesn't it?

Have the fighter carry the familiar.


It's made out of the pelts of former familiars, right?

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