Tumor Familiar question

[Pathos]

What happens to the Tumor Familiar when the alchemst is attacked?
Does it take damage also? What if the alchemist is affected by an area of effect spell, such as a Fireball?

[WhiteMagus2000]

I don't believe that the familiars are valid targets while attached. While its attached its probably under clothing and should have at least full concealment, if not cover too. Maybe if you got pinned or paralyzed and they attacked it specifically....
They can take damage, but while attached to you they heal 5/round. Like normal familiars, they have their own hit points, so an attack against one doesn't hurt the other, except for with Die for you Master, which does let them absorb hits for you.
It would be really nice if the devs would clarify some things about alchemists (familiars, vestigial limbs, when do alchemists have an arcane caster level and when don't they, etc.), but they seem to have no interest in doing so.

[Joesi]

Familiars naturally have improved evasion, meaning they would likely be targetted by area of effect skills, but they would take half or no damage depending on if they passed their save. Considering they'd be almost always at full HP when that happens and that they have half the HP of their master, it'd be unlikely that they'd die before their master does.

I don't see anything wrong with flat out sharing reflex saving throws if desired, although I would think that many tiny or diminutive familiars would have a better saving throw, since they can take the PC's class' reflex save bonus (or +2 if it's better), plus their dex bonus, which is generally good.

It's a gray area if the tumor is attached and/or hiding under armor/clothing. I would tend to say it's still affected, but a GM's view may vary.

[Pathos]

That is kind of what I was thinking Joesi... I do wonder though... if the Tumor Familiar is currently attached (I.e. unmoving), would it still benefit from Evasion?