Owl or Hawk Familiar for a tattooed sorcerer in mummy's mask?

[Hmm]

I don't need spoilers, but I was wondering if the first few levels are primarily a dungeon crawl (in which case the owl is better) or whether time is actually spent outside in the sunshine?

I like the Hawk for flavor, but I think the owl's bonus might be used more.
Hmm

[Hmm]

No opinions?

[Rerednaw]

Normally I go with Raven because they can speak for roleplaying purposes or a greensting scorpion because +4 init is pretty darn useful.

Owl or Hawk, they both work about as well and don't have a preference.

[Hmm]

Thanks. I realize that part of what bugs me about the hawk is mechanical; its bonus is unreliable. So despite the flavor, I don't want the complications involved with constantly checking, "Is the light bright enough here?"

I think you're right that a plus four to initiative is a nice bonus. I didn't want to do a greensting scorpion familiar as scorpions are one of Set's animals, and Set is the nemesis of my character's god, Horus. But I loved that plus to initiative.

So I researched other initiative granting options...

Compsognathus -- no.

Dodo -- heck no!

Rabbit...

I discovered that there were rabbits native to ancient Egypt, and they even had a rabbit headed goddess called, "Wenet, the Swift One."

Since it's a tattoo, I don't actually have to worry about actually carrying the rabbit. And when I want to, I can take her out and cuddle her. So rabbit it is!

[VRMH]

Wouldn't a Bat beat an Owl inside caves? It doesn't make their master see better, but bats do themselves have Blindsense.

[Hmm]

I did consider the bat. They're so cute! But I fell for the initiative bonus instead...

Hmm

[Rynjin]

Dwarf Caiman, duh. There is no other Familiar.

It's a cute li'l crocodile, I mean c'mon.

Way better than a silly little bird.

[Rerednaw]

Every time I think rabbit tattoo...I remember the Matrix and Lewis Carroll. Follow the White Rabbit.

Yes forgot about the set bug thing...rabbit is good in a pinch. :D

[CampinCarl9127]

I usually go owl because they're really stealthy, so you can use them to scout too.

[demontroll]

Since you will be in dark dungeons a lot, I'd go with owl. You don't want to travel in the desert by day, it's cooler at night, so owl wins there too.

Initiative bonus familiar lacks the utility of a flying scout. And if you fail your perception check, you won't be going first, regardless of your initiative.

[Just a Mort]

I dont think you should send your familiar to scout(unless he's an imp). I just killed a scouting familiar with an aoo. I guess I should feel guilty about it, but somehow, I dont.

[Saving Cap'n Crunch]

I'm switching my compsognathus out for a white rabbit before I start playing my wizard. My reasons are thus:
More incentive NOT to send him into or near combat, though scouting is still a go.
Laser-beaming compsognathus was cool, laser-beaming, firework-launching bunny is cooler in my opinion.

[Benchak the Nightstalker]

Hmm wrote:

Dodo -- heck no!

BLASPHEMY!

[Hmm]

Okay, you have to tell me about your dodo familiar now.

That's the price you have to pay for posting "Blasphemy!" in my thread.

Pay up, Benchak! :)

Hmm

[Dafydd]

I would go with a kitty myself, but I love stealth, even if I can not get the rest of the party to even bother.

Between Hawk/Owl/Bunny, I like Owl. Just remember, you should not carry the light source, as it will often negate your vision bonus.

[Saving Cap'n Crunch]

My solution for when I love kitties but I want a different bonus is to spend 3 copper pieces on a kitty. I had to leave him back in the Society barracks because he weighed 8 pounds, which was 8 pounds too many for a wizard. At least he couldn't make me late if he tried.

[Ms. Pleiades]

Thematically, Hawk goes better, as Falconry is something commonly practiced in the earth-equivalent regions that Mummy's Mask takes place in.

[Benchak the Nightstalker]

Hmm wrote:

Okay, you have to tell me about your dodo familiar now.

That's the price you have to pay for posting "Blasphemy!" in my thread.

Pay up, Benchak! :)

Hmm

I had a tiefling Witch in PFS that had a Dodo familiar. I played the bird as an absolute terror; real mean spirited, snapping at everyone's fingers, using it's master's Intimidate ranks to good effect.

Dodo's are small sized too, so they threaten's adjacent squares, which is handy for delivering touch spells to allies (or against enemies). Mine actually knocked a guy unconscious with an attack of opportunity once.

I only got to play that character a few times, but it sure was fun.

[Gray Warden]

Hawk, just because the +3 on perception you don't get, is a +4 on perception IT gets, and it's going to make a perception check any time you do one.

[Cavall]

The Mrs took dwarf caiman for her familiar for a tattoo sorc. But it's skull and shackles. And having a small familiar that can help flank and then meld back into her if hurt was a huge help.