We are playing WotR at the moment (but this is not a specific problem of this AP). I reached Level 13-5 and my improved familiar has almost no chance to either break the SR or dispel.
My fairy dragon is according to the base rules CL3. So SR or dispel would be 1d20 + 3. Am I right here? I almost cannot imagine that there is no CL development for my familiar since they only can cast buff spells on high levels but are worthless for attacking or counterspelling. Is that right?
I would personally apply this to increase your familiar's CL:
Hit Dice: For the purpose of effects related to number of Hit Dice, use the master's character level or the familiar's normal HD total, whichever is higher.
And advanced HD faerie dragon would get a higher CR and higher CL, so I think this should apply, too.
The problem is that HD adding to a lot of monster abilities is often implicit and not always spelled out.
And advanced HD faerie dragon would get a higher CR and higher CL, so I think this should apply, too.
Could you explain that to me? Where can I see the advanced HD and how can I apply this?
Monster Advancement, do a search for "adding racial hit dice."
Adding racial Hit Dice to a monster is a similar process to building a monster from scratch. As additional Hit Dice are added, other abilities increase in power as well. Additional Hit Dice usually results in better attack bonuses, saves, hit points, and skills, as well as more feats. It can also include additional spellcasting capability and other powers.
However, the familiar "act as if you have more HD line" generally applies to:
1. Effects that target HD (like sleep immunity over a certain number of HD)
2. DCs for things that are based on HD (like poisons that are generally 10+HD/2 + CON)
I'm arguing it should also boost the caster level, since for the faerie dragon base HD = CL already it's a pretty easy comparison. But it wont' always apply. Imps, for example, have 3 racial HD but CL 6th.
Scaling from the HD needs a FAQ. Different designers have suggested it works or doesn't, so there is nothing meaningfully official.