Tumor Familiar question

[TClifford]

There is one line in the description of this discovery that has caused a problem in our group. "As a standard action, the alchemist can have the tumor detach itself from his body as a separate creature vaguely resembling a kind of animal suitable for a familiar (bat, cat, and so on) and move about as if it were an independent creature." The question is: Can you change your type of familiar each time you detach it or do you have to define the type of familiar when you take the discovery?

The write-up seems to imply the type of familiar can be changed when you detach it. I know that once it reattaches you get all the abilities of the type of familiar it was when it was an independent familiar, but nothing in the write up says it has to stay that way. The way I read it, that when you do the standard action to detach it, you can define the creature again.

I know that this makes the tumor familiar very powerful because you can basically change your familiar at will. And thus get different benefits depending on the familiar it currently is. But, I still don't see an argument that you can't do this.

Thanks,

[Melkiador]

"The tumor acts as the alchemist’s familiar whether attached or separated (providing a skill bonus"

This implies that the tumor has the shape of a familiar "whether attached or separated". So I would say the familiar is stuck with the same "shape" also.

[TClifford]

That is my point. It is the detaching part that seem ambiguous. The way I read it, you get to chose the form of your familiar each time you detach it. Not just the first time.

[Milo v3]

The text doesn't even say you get to choose the form the first time you detach it.

[Ian Bell]

You pick the type when you gain the familiar (in other words when you take the discovery or summon a new replacement). Otherwise the skill bonus when attached line makes no sense.