If you mean "Improved" Familiar, then yes. Take these three feats.
(1) Iron Will
(2) Familiar Bond
(3) Improved Familiar
Edit: Ninja'd by 4 seconds. :)
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If you mean "Improved" Familiar, then yes. Take these three feats.
(1) Iron Will
(2) Familiar Bond
(3) Improved FamiliarEdit: Ninja'd by 4 seconds. :)
You need to add improved familiar bond to that list, as familiar bond does not grant "speak with animals of its kind" and thus can not trade it away.
"You do not gain the special ability the familiar normally grants its master, and the familiar does not gain the deliver touch spells, scry on familiar, share spells, speak with animals of its kind, or spell resistance special abilities."
" In other cases, treat Improved Familiar as if it was an archetype to see if it stacks with other familiar options: since the two things it alters from a regular familiar are that it removes the ability to speak with animals of its kind and it prevents changing the creature type for non-animals, you couldn’t make a familiar that changes the creature type of non-animals or alters or removes speak with animals of its kind an Improved Familiar."
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You're not trading anything away. Improved familiar bond is good if you want those extras but it's not strictly necessary.
Yes, you are. A familiar must have "Speak with animals of its kind" to be eligible for the improved familiar feat.
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For non-PFS, the easiest way to gain a full familiar is Wasp Familiar. It has a deity pre-req, but otherwise is one feat. Two, for an advanced version.
Options for PFS and non-PFS,
1) 3 feats, requires 13 CHA - Skill Focus, Eldritch Heritage(any bloodline, you just trade out the 1st level power gained for a familiar) and Improved familiar ---- 7th level improved familiar by 9th level
2) 3 feats, requires Human trading their skill point racial for Draconic Heritage(From Legacy of Dragons), no CHA req : Skill Focus, Eldritch Heritage(Draconic Bloodline only you just trade out the 1st level power gained for a familiar) and Improved familiar ---- 7th level improved familiar by 9th level
3) 4 feats Iron Will, Familiar Bond, Improved Familiar Bond Bond, Improved Familiar ---- 7th level improved familiar by 7th level
4) 2 feats Boon Companion, Improved Familiar : Take a 3 level dip in a class that grants a familiar(with archetypes, almost every class can gain one now) ---- 7th level improved familiar by 7th level
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Wow... So for just 4 feats I can have a Improved Familiar? ... Not sure if I can do that. Already took my 1st and 3rd level feats, so that would mean using my 5th, 7th, 9th and 11th level feats... So I guess I could have the familiar for ... 6 games before retirement.
Aw well, looks like it is not happening anytime soon.
Iron will at 5th? Maybe - I'll look at it and think about it.
[i]To bad I didn't play this with my Wizard (this PCs brother). [/ooc]
Wait - how does the Eldritch Heritage thing work?
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That line literally does not exist in any form. All that FAQ says is that you can't give improved familiars archetypes that trade away speak with. Neither the feat itself nor the FAQ even imply it's a requirement to take the feat in the first place.You're not trading anything away. Improved familiar bond is good if you want those extras but it's not strictly necessary.Yes, you are. A familiar must have "Speak with animals of its kind" to be eligible for the improved familiar feat.
" In other cases, treat Improved Familiar as if it was an archetype to see if it stacks with other familiar options: since the two things it alters from a regular familiar are that it removes the ability to speak with animals of its kind and it prevents changing the creature type for non-animals, you couldn’t make a familiar that changes the creature type of non-animals or alters or removes speak with animals of its kind an Improved Familiar."
It literally says you can't make a familiar which alters or removes speak with animals of its kind into an improved familiar.
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Wow... So for just 4 feats I can have a Improved Familiar? ... Not sure if I can do that. Already took my 1st and 3rd level feats, so that would mean using my 5th, 7th, 9th and 11th level feats... So I guess I could have the familiar for ... 6 games before retirement.
Aw well, looks like it is not happening anytime soon.
Iron will at 5th? Maybe - I'll look at it and think about it.
[i]To bad I didn't play this with my Wizard (this PCs brother). [/ooc]
Wait - how does the Eldritch Heritage thing work?
Eldritch Heritage allows you to gain a bloodline and a first level power from that bloodline. If you are a sorcerer, bloodrager or have a bloodline you may trade out your 1st level bloodline power for a familiar. This also has the effect of granting the familiar an extra power based on that bloodline. Or, you could select the arcane bloodline with grants a familiar as an option.
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What Archtype of Bard gives access to a Familiar?
Duettist, but it doesn't stack with Flame Dancer since they both trade out or alter dirge of doom.
If you mean "Improved" Familiar, then yes. Take these three feats.
(1) Iron Will
(2) Familiar Bond
(3) Improved FamiliarEdit: Ninja'd by 4 seconds. :)
You need to add improved familiar bond to that list, as familiar bond does not grant "speak with animals of its kind" and thus can not trade it away.
"You do not gain the special ability the familiar normally grants its master, and the familiar does not gain the deliver touch spells, scry on familiar, share spells, speak with animals of its kind, or spell resistance special abilities."...
Thanks, I missed that. Nice catch. :)
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Eldritch Heritage allows you to gain a bloodline and a first level power from that bloodline. If you are a sorcerer, bloodrager or have a bloodline you may trade out your 1st level bloodline power for a familiar. This also has the effect of granting the familiar an extra power based on that bloodline. Or, you could select the arcane bloodline with grants a familiar as an option.Wow... So for just 4 feats I can have a Improved Familiar? ... Not sure if I can do that. Already took my 1st and 3rd level feats, so that would mean using my 5th, 7th, 9th and 11th level feats... So I guess I could have the familiar for ... 6 games before retirement.
Aw well, looks like it is not happening anytime soon.
Iron will at 5th? Maybe - I'll look at it and think about it.
[i]To bad I didn't play this with my Wizard (this PCs brother). [/ooc]
Wait - how does the Eldritch Heritage thing work?
So... One level of Sorcerer would give access to a Familiar? But then how do I build that into the Special Familiar? (I'd like to get it by 7th or so ... The access is for a Pseudodragon at 5th level...).
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So... One level of Sorcerer would give access to a Familiar? But then how do I build that into the Special Familiar? (I'd like to get it by 7th or so ... The access is for a Pseudodragon at 5th level...).Eldritch Heritage allows you to gain a bloodline and a first level power from that bloodline. If you are a sorcerer, bloodrager or have a bloodline you may trade out your 1st level bloodline power for a familiar. This also has the effect of granting the familiar an extra power based on that bloodline. Or, you could select the arcane bloodline with grants a familiar as an option.Wow... So for just 4 feats I can have a Improved Familiar? ... Not sure if I can do that. Already took my 1st and 3rd level feats, so that would mean using my 5th, 7th, 9th and 11th level feats... So I guess I could have the familiar for ... 6 games before retirement.
Aw well, looks like it is not happening anytime soon.
Iron will at 5th? Maybe - I'll look at it and think about it.
[i]To bad I didn't play this with my Wizard (this PCs brother). [/ooc]
Wait - how does the Eldritch Heritage thing work?
Yes, one level of sorcerer gains you a 1st level familiar(if you trade out your first level power or take the arcane bloodline and choose familiar). But, to gain a Pseudodragon you need a 7th level familiar. That means at least a 3 level dip in a familiar granting class and the Boon Companion feat. Or taking 7 levels in classes that grant a familiar.
Eldritch Heritage gives you your character level - 2 worth of effective sorcerer levels for the bloodline power granted.|
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Yes, one level of sorcerer gains you a 1st level familiar. But, to gain a Pseudodragon you need a 7th level familiar. That means at least a 3 level dip in a familiar granting class and the Boon Companion feat. Or taking 7 levels in classes that grant a familiar.So... One level of Sorcerer would give access to a Familiar? But then how do I build that into the Special Familiar? (I'd like to get it by 7th or so ... The access is for a Pseudodragon at 5th level...).Eldritch Heritage allows you to gain a bloodline and a first level power from that bloodline. If you are a sorcerer, bloodrager or have a bloodline you may trade out your 1st level bloodline power for a familiar. This also has the effect of granting the familiar an extra power based on that bloodline. Or, you could select the arcane bloodline with grants a familiar as an option.Wow... So for just 4 feats I can have a Improved Familiar? ... Not sure if I can do that. Already took my 1st and 3rd level feats, so that would mean using my 5th, 7th, 9th and 11th level feats... So I guess I could have the familiar for ... 6 games before retirement.
Aw well, looks like it is not happening anytime soon.
Iron will at 5th? Maybe - I'll look at it and think about it.
[i]To bad I didn't play this with my Wizard (this PCs brother). [/ooc]
Wait - how does the Eldritch Heritage thing work?
Actually the Access from the boon says "...you may take the Pseudodragon as a familiar with the Improved Familiar feat as long as you are a spell caster of at least 5th level (rather than 7th)." So I'm guessing this would be a special exception to the 7th level requirement. But ... That would be great for a Wizard (or Sorcerer I guess) of 5th level - I'm a Bard, and I'm not real sure I want to dip more than a level in Sorcerer... One I could see doing for the novelty of the 'dragon, but more than that is going to really alter the PC a bunch.
Edit: but wait, it looks like the E.H. would let me take it when I was 7th level Bard? (7-2 so 5th level caster?) so say at 8th level? (7/1 Bard/Sorcerer?) Am I understanding that correctly?
I agree with others, you have the following options:
1. Skill Focus(Any Knowledge), Eldritch Heritage (Arcane Bloodline), Improved Familiar
2. Iron Will, Familiar Bond, Improved Familiar Bond, Improved Familiar
3. Retrain out of your archetype and into the Duetist archetype of bard.
4. Multiclass with a class that gives you a familiar. This most likely is not going to be a good option since you will have to take several levels in the other class in order to get the Improved Familiar feat.
---
Retraining costs would depend on your current level.
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Actually the Access from the boon says "...you may take the Pseudodragon as a familiar with the Improved Familiar feat as long as you are a spell caster of at least 5th level (rather than 7th)." So I'm guessing this would be a special exception to the 7th level requirement. But ... That would be great for a Wizard (or Sorcerer I guess) of 5th level - I'm a Bard, and I'm not real sure I want to dip more than a level in Sorcerer... One I could see doing for the novelty of the 'dragon, but more than that is going to really alter the PC a bunch.
Then, one level plus Boon Companion and improved familiar. 2 feats and a 1 level dip in most classes. Those options include, but are not limited to, fighter, bloodrager, paladin, rogue, wizard... so pick a class that gives you an additional bonus that you'd like while also granting a familiar.
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I agree with others, you have the following options:
1. Skill Focus(Any Knowledge), Eldritch Heritage (Arcane Bloodline), Improved Familiar
2. Iron Will, Familiar Bond, Improved Familiar Bond, Improved Familiar
3. Retrain out of your archetype and into the Duetist archetype of bard.
4. Multiclass with a class that gives you a familiar. This most likely is not going to be a good option since you will have to take several levels in the other class in order to get the Improved Familiar feat.---
Retraining costs would depend on your current level.
Does Option 1 require a level of Sorcerer as well? Or can it be done as pure Bard?
Actually the Access from the boon says "...you may take the Pseudodragon as a familiar with the Improved Familiar feat as long as you are a spell caster of at least 5th level (rather than 7th)." So I'm guessing this would be a special exception to the 7th level requirement. But ... That would be great for a Wizard (or Sorcerer I guess) of 5th level - I'm a Bard, and I'm not real sure I want to dip more than a level in Sorcerer... One I could see doing for the[/i]...
Then simply dipping one level of Sorcerer and then taking Boon Companion might work since I think it would let you count as a 5th level Sorcerer for Improved Familiar. (I have to say that I find the wording of the feat to be a bit odd, so I could be reading it incorrectly.)
Edit: Ninja'd again. LOL
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I agree with others, you have the following options:
1. Skill Focus(Any Knowledge), Eldritch Heritage (Arcane Bloodline), Improved Familiar
2. Iron Will, Familiar Bond, Improved Familiar Bond, Improved Familiar
3. Retrain out of your archetype and into the Duetist archetype of bard.
4. Multiclass with a class that gives you a familiar. This most likely is not going to be a good option since you will have to take several levels in the other class in order to get the Improved Familiar feat.---
Retraining costs would depend on your current level.
Just a PSA, but you can take any bloodline due to the existence of the Bloodline Familiar option granted to anyone who has a bloodline to trade out the first level power for a bloodline familiar.
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Just a PSA, but you can take any bloodline due to the existence of the Bloodline Familiar option granted to anyone who has a bloodline to trade out the first level power for a bloodline familiar.I agree with others, you have the following options:
1. Skill Focus(Any Knowledge), Eldritch Heritage (Arcane Bloodline), Improved Familiar
2. Iron Will, Familiar Bond, Improved Familiar Bond, Improved Familiar
3. Retrain out of your archetype and into the Duetist archetype of bard.
4. Multiclass with a class that gives you a familiar. This most likely is not going to be a good option since you will have to take several levels in the other class in order to get the Improved Familiar feat.---
Retraining costs would depend on your current level.
Sorry - it must be late at night, I did not understand what you just typed.
Let me get some caffeine, and re-read it...
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Would this work then...
4th level as Sorcerer and retrain a feat to Boon Companion...
Then 5th level as Bard with the 5th level feat being the Improved Familiar?
So then I would be 4/1 Bard/Sorcerer.
At any time between now and 5th level take one level of a familiar granting class, retrain 3rd feat to Boon Companion and take improved familiar at 5th, and you'll have the pseudodragon. That will work.
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At any time between now and 5th level take one level of a familiar granting class, retrain 3rd feat to Boon Companion and take improved familiar at 5th, and you'll have the pseudodragon. That will work.Would this work then...
4th level as Sorcerer and retrain a feat to Boon Companion...
Then 5th level as Bard with the 5th level feat being the Improved Familiar?
So then I would be 4/1 Bard/Sorcerer.
T'nks - going to have to think about this now.
Going to sleep on it...
Then, one level plus Boon Companion and improved familiar. 2 feats and a 1 level dip in most classes. Those options include, but are not limited to, fighter, bloodrager, paladin, rogue, wizard... so pick a class that gives you an additional bonus that you'd like while also granting a familiar.
I had missed the possibility of Boon Companion. That would allow you to get the familiar, but the special powers would not improve unless you took additional levels of the class granting the familiar.
Still, it seems like a very workable solution.
Just a PSA, but you can take any bloodline due to the existence of the Bloodline Familiar option granted to anyone who has a bloodline to trade out the first level power for a bloodline familiar.
I do not think that Bloodline Familiar can be combined with Eldritch Heritage. It says you have to be of the class having a bloodline and Eldritch Heritage doesn't make you that class, it only gives you the first level bloodline power. I don't think you actually have the bloodline, just the bloodline power.
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Multi classing and Boon Companion seems the best solution.
...
Just a PSA, but you can take any bloodline due to the existence of the Bloodline Familiar option granted to anyone who has a bloodline to trade out the first level power for a bloodline familiar.I do not think that Bloodline Familiar can be combined with Eldritch Heritage. It says you have to be of the class having a bloodline and Eldritch Heritage doesn't make you that class, it only gives you the first level bloodline power. I don't think you actually have the bloodline, just the bloodline power.
I think you are correct.
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Then, one level plus Boon Companion and improved familiar. 2 feats and a 1 level dip in most classes. Those options include, but are not limited to, fighter, bloodrager, paladin, rogue, wizard... so pick a class that gives you an additional bonus that you'd like while also granting a familiar.I had missed the possibility of Boon Companion. That would allow you to get the familiar, but the special powers would not improve unless you took additional levels of the class granting the familiar.
Still, it seems like a very workable solution.
Just a PSA, but you can take any bloodline due to the existence of the Bloodline Familiar option granted to anyone who has a bloodline to trade out the first level power for a bloodline familiar.I do not think that Bloodline Familiar can be combined with Eldritch Heritage. It says you have to be of the class having a bloodline and Eldritch Heritage doesn't make you that class, it only gives you the first level bloodline power. I don't think you actually have the bloodline, just the bloodline power.
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Multi classing and Boon Companion seems the best solution.
Bloodline Familiar doesn't require you to be of a specific class. It only requires you to be "a sorcerer, bloodrager, or any other character with one of the following bloodlines"
Sea Singer archetype (APG) nets you a familiar at 2nd level (must choose parrot or monkey); dunno if that qualifies for Improved (special) Familiar/lets you replace it later.
Ruyan.
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Bloodline Familiar doesn't require you to be of a specific class. It only requires you to be "a sorcerer, bloodrager, or any other character with one of the following bloodlines"
It requires you have the bloodline. Eldritch Heritage does not give you the bloodline, just the first level power from the bloodline.
Thus you can't use Eldritch Heritage to qualify for a bloodline familiar.
Sorry if my first explanation wasn't clear.
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While discussing this with a fellow PFS judge (one that might be running a table for me someday), he expressed concern that the Boon Companion feat would not effect the needed requirement for Improved Familiar. Specifically, the Caster Level requirement.
Improved Familiar - Prerequisites: Ability to acquire a new familiar, compatible alignment, sufficiently high level (see below).
and Boon Companion actually improved the Familiar - not the Caster Level of the PC.
Would this be a problem?
I think it should work, especially given this FAQ that allows non-spellcasting classes to get improved familiars.
There is still room for interpretation here, but just pointing to the Arcane Caster Level requirement isn't enough to reject it.
Show them the FAQ above and see what they think.
While discussing this with a fellow PFS judge (one that might be running a table for me someday), he expressed concern that the Boon Companion feat would not effect the needed requirement for Improved Familiar. Specifically, the Caster Level requirement.
Improved Familiar - Prerequisites: Ability to acquire a new familiar, compatible alignment, sufficiently high level (see below).
and Boon Companion actually improved the Familiar - not the Caster Level of the PC.
Would this be a problem?
Well if this is the case then you should easily have no problems using your bard levels to qualify. Sorcerer 1 and bard 7 is a 7th level arcane caster. And nothing in the feat or feat description says your arcane caster level has to be the class granting the familiar.
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Well if this is the case then you should easily have no problems using your bard levels to qualify. Sorcerer 1 and bard 7 is a 7th level arcane caster. And nothing in the feat or feat description says your arcane caster level has to be the class granting the familiar.While discussing this with a fellow PFS judge (one that might be running a table for me someday), he expressed concern that the Boon Companion feat would not effect the needed requirement for Improved Familiar. Specifically, the Caster Level requirement.
Improved Familiar - Prerequisites: Ability to acquire a new familiar, compatible alignment, sufficiently high level (see below).
and Boon Companion actually improved the Familiar - not the Caster Level of the PC.
Would this be a problem?
This is true, but it does come under some YMMV issues.
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Would this work then...
4th level as Sorcerer and retrain a feat to Boon Companion...
Then 5th level as Bard with the 5th level feat being the Improved Familiar?
So then I would be 4/1 Bard/Sorcerer.
[thread Necro!]
ok, it's been a few months and this PC has made it to level 4 now. and she has to decide what class to take as her 4th level.
Bard? or Sorcerer?
(Path 1) Sorcerer - 4th level as Sorcerer and retrain a feat to Boon Companion... Then 5th level as Bard with the 5th level feat being the Improved Familiar
(Path 2) Bard - 4th level as Bard with normal progression... Then 5th level as Sorcerer, and retrain a feat to Boon Companion, and the 5th level feat being the Improved Familiar.
I'm leaning to Path 2 because this wont give me a familiar that I get to know - only to have it re-placed when I level... that might bother me (yeah, silly I know...).
Anyone see problems with this?
Suggestions?
(Path 1) Sorcerer - 4th level as Sorcerer and retrain a feat to Boon Companion... Then 5th level as Bard with the 5th level feat being the Improved Familiar
(Path 2) Bard - 4th level as Bard with normal progression... Then 5th level as Sorcerer, and retrain a feat to Boon Companion, and the 5th level feat being the Improved Familiar.
I'm leaning to Path 2 because this wont give me a familiar that I get to know - only to have it re-placed when I level... that might bother me (yeah, silly I know...).
Anyone see problems with this?
Suggestions?
Personally I would go with Path 2 for exactly the reason you gave.
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Wow - only a little over two months and I am up to level 4.1 now. Two more games and (using Path 2) I should be able to start adventuring with "Sparky" (not sure of her name yet).
Anyone already have a Pseudodragon familiar in PFS? I'm not real familiar with the Special Familiar rules (see what I did there?), so a little guidance would be great.
Any Pointers/Suggestions/things to remember when working with a Pseudodragon as a special familiar?
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ok, right now it looks like I'll be going with a level of Tattooed Sorcerer - and my Familiar will be a Pseudodragon. In the write up for Tattooed Sorcerer it has the following:
"In tattoo form, the familiar looks like a stylized version of itself, but does not count as a creature separate from the tattooed sorcerer. In tattoo form it continues to grant its special familiar ability (Core Rulebook 82), but otherwise has no abilities and can take no actions except to transform from tattoo into creature."
does a Special Familiar grant any kind of "special familiar ability" like a Cat or Bat would? (Not that I expect her to, Sparky is special enough just as is, but I don't want to overlook anything.)
Improved familiar's don't grant any special abilities to their masters.
Going bloodrager and getting a bloodline familiar gets you fast movement, medium armor, all weapons, and rage and a small perk for your familiar. Urban bloodrager is also able to work with this if you prefer it's rage. Gets a lot of bang for the buck compared to the fighter.
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actually not sure about the other classes (I'll try to update this PC so you can see what she is like currently) - my Stats really aren't likely to support much in the way of a more Martial class.
Going Tatooed Sorcerer would give me access to an expanded spell list (mostly for use of wands of spells like obscuring mist) - and that is very nice. The Fighter is tempting for the extra feat (as I need to re-train one to get Sparky... Fighter would mean I wouldn't have to retrain...)
actually not sure about the other classes (I'll try to update this PC so you can see what she is like currently) - my Stats really aren't likely to support much in the way of a more Martial class.
Going Tatooed Sorcerer would give me access to an expanded spell list (mostly for use of wands of spells like obscuring mist) - and that is very nice. The Fighter is tempting for the extra feat (as I need to re-train one to get Sparky... Fighter would mean I wouldn't have to retrain...)
The fighter archetype that gets a familiar trades away it's bonus feat.
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The fighter archetype that gets a familiar trades away it's bonus feat.actually not sure about the other classes (I'll try to update this PC so you can see what she is like currently) - my Stats really aren't likely to support much in the way of a more Martial class.
Going Tatooed Sorcerer would give me access to an expanded spell list (mostly for use of wands of spells like obscuring mist) - and that is very nice. The Fighter is tempting for the extra feat (as I need to re-train one to get Sparky... Fighter would mean I wouldn't have to retrain...)
Ouch! Thanks! right you are. so much less likely to take this after all...(and that's why I'm checking out here, just to be sure I do it correctly).
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Not to totally necro this, but I find myself in the same position as the OP (although I'm a 5th level flame dancer just leveling to 6th after the scenario).
So, if at 6th level, I take fighter (with the Eldritch Guardian archetype) and retrain Lingering Performance to Improved Familiar, I should be good taking the aforementioned (available at 5th level) pseudodragon?