So i am imagining, my cleric is in battle, doing his best to remain out oand then retreat back into my armor next f the thick of things, as he nauseates the enemy. But uh oh! One has realized his divine nature and rushes to strike him. Could my viper familiar, hidden within my armor, be legally allowed to make an attack, having always "readied an action to strike anyone that moves adjacent to me with intent to harm? As a familiar it has an int of 6, so intelligence wise it can, as they are striking me, would he have reach to strike them? This would "in theory" allow him to strike after they declared their attack on me, then on his turn, return to the safety of my armor and prepare an attack for the next unaware shmuck that does the same thing. He probably would not attack twice, risking himself more, i am thinking more for the thematic haha! "potential poison" and retreat so as not to actually lose my familiar. However, this is PFS legal based character and i wondering if this is allowable by rules.
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Nicholas has pointed out the problem with reach.
But there is another issue.
In PFS (and many home games) familiars have one or the other of the following states
1) NOT active. Not scouting, not fighting. Just hanging out and providing their static bonuses,
2) Active. Scouting, fighting, etc.
When they're not active they're essentially immune to damage.
When active they're fair targets.
So, if your familiar is EVER going to act then he'd ALWAYS be active. Subject to Area of effect spells, being noticed and targetted, etc.
ok i kinda figured those were the case, for the reach, but as for the activity cant they be active on a round by round basis?
The reach could probably be gotten around with lunge, no?
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To the OP. You might be able to claim cover or concealment from the armor/clothing of the master, but the viper is fair game to be attacked. Most PFS GMs won't allow a creature to end it's move in another creature's space, in combat, so at least locally, this just isn't an option.
In PFS (and many home games) familiars have one or the other of the following states
1) NOT active. Not scouting, not fighting. Just hanging out and providing their static bonuses,
2) Active. Scouting, fighting, etc.When they're not active they're essentially immune to damage.
When active they're fair targets.
Up to the GM at all times. A cruel or rules-focused GM will have a familiar stored on your person, roll saves for Channeled Negative energy, if you are caught in the radius. Doesn't matter if they are a combat designated creature or not, there is no special immunity to damage like what you are describing. They might not target them directly, since they are non-combat, but AoE will still hit familiars on your person.
If you really want one actually immune to damage, there are several archetypes (and I think some spells) where the familiar melds with your body and is not longer attackable.
On topic with the non-combat pet. If the goal is just master bonuses, the familiar confers those as long as they stay within a mile of eachother. Most PFS dungeons are not longer than a mile. You should be able to easily leave the pet outside the dungeon and come back for it later, without any risk of it dying in combat.
But even non-combat, you do still have to be mindful of your surroundings. If you dive into water, while "wearing" your viper, the viper too, is going to need checks to hold breath.
For non-combat pets, best choice is a diminutive animal that just uses stealth in a corner when combat starts. Remember that size affects stealth, with a diminutive creature having a +12 size bonus to stealth. And when they are that small, it's very easy to find something to hide behind.