I'm building a 6th level tattoo sorcerer with improved familiar (a brownie) and I've been digging for a while and I'm having some trouble with items so I was hoping to get some answers to things I couldn't quite find:
1) Is an improved familiar compatible with a tattoo sorcerer's familiar tattoo?
2) Can you swap out the feats for an improved familiar?
3) Can an improved familiar take an archetype? If so, are there any limitations?
I'm building a 6th level tattoo sorcerer with improved familiar (a brownie) and I've been digging for a while and I'm having some trouble with items so I was hoping to get some answers to things I couldn't quite find:
1) Is an improved familiar compatible with a tattoo sorcerer's familiar tattoo?
2) Can you swap out the feats for an improved familiar?
3) Can an improved familiar take an archetype? If so, are there any limitations?
0) You need to be at least 7th level to take Improved Familiar, sorry.
1) Yes.
2) I believe you can in general, as long as they're not bonus feats (marked with a B in the Bestiary).
3) Yes in theory, no in practice. That is, there is no rule stating categorically that they can't, but all the published archetypes swap out the ability "speak with animals of your own kind," which improved familiars don't get, so they can't take any of them. Your GM may be willing to houserule otherwise if you're not in PFS.
Found the specific rule for feat-swapping:
This section presents new feats for animal companions and familiars, as well as for PCs that make use of these animals. Some feats might be available to other creatures that meet the prerequisites. Feats that are meant for familiars can be switched out for a familiar’s default feats (as listed in the familiar’s statistics) if the familiar meets the prerequisites. Such feat replacements must be made when the PC first acquires a new familiar, and—like all new feats from supplemental sources—the new feats should be approved by the GM before being integrated into play.
So improved familiars can swap out just as well as non-improved ones, but in either case only for that specific list of feats. Again, this is something easily expanded by house-ruling outside PFS.
I'm building a 6th level tattoo sorcerer with improved familiar (a brownie) and I've been digging for a while and I'm having some trouble with items so I was hoping to get some answers to things I couldn't quite find:
1) Is an improved familiar compatible with a tattoo sorcerer's familiar tattoo?
2) Can you swap out the feats for an improved familiar?
3) Can an improved familiar take an archetype? If so, are there any limitations?0) You need to be at least 7th level to take Improved Familiar, sorry.
1) Yes.
2) I believe you can in general, as long as they're not bonus feats (marked with a B in the Bestiary).
3) Yes in theory, no in practice. That is, there is no rule stating categorically that they can't, but all the published archetypes swap out the ability "speak with animals of your own kind," which improved familiars don't get, so they can't take any of them. Your GM may be willing to houserule otherwise if you're not in PFS.
Thank you much for the reply. I'm a bit confused, though. Improved Familiar says this:
Prerequisites: Ability to acquire a new familiar, compatible alignment, sufficiently high level (see below).
Then in the chart, it says 5th for Brownie.
Where does the 7th level minimum come from?
You are correct. The minimum level for the Improved Familiar feat is dependent on the type of familiar you're getting, and brownies are level 5.
Cool, thank you both!!
3) Yes in theory, no in practice. That is, there is no rule stating categorically that they can't, but all the published archetypes swap out the ability "speak with animals of your own kind," which improved familiars don't get, so they can't take any of them. Your GM may be willing to houserule otherwise if you're not in PFS.
Actually this isnt completely true.
While it is valid for most archetypes , i believe for example the Sage one doesnt require "speak with animals of your own kind" and they can take it.
Just check the whole list and as long as it doesnt require this it is a valid choice.
0) You need to be at least 7th level to take Improved Familiar, sorry.1) Yes.
2) I believe you can in general, as long as they're not bonus feats (marked with a B in the Bestiary).
3) Yes in theory, no in practice. That is, there is no rule stating categorically that they can't, but all the published archetypes swap out the ability "speak with animals of your own kind," which improved familiars don't get, so they can't take any of them. Your GM may be willing to houserule otherwise if you're not in PFS.
Thank you much for the reply. I'm a bit confused, though. Improved Familiar says this:
Prerequisites: Ability to acquire a new familiar, compatible alignment, sufficiently high level (see below).Then in the chart, it says 5th for Brownie.
Where does the 7th level minimum come from?
Apparently it comes from my crack pipe; sorry about that.