Emissary Familiar and Domain Power

[Andre Roy]

I've done a bit of searching but can't seem to find any answer so here goes.

Familiar Folio wrote:

Domain Influence (Sp or Su): At 3rd level, the emissary gains a spark of divine power from the patron that sent it. Choose one appropriate domain that grants a 1st-level domain power usable a number of times per day equal to 3 + the user’s Wisdom modifier. The emissary can use that power once per day. This ability replaces deliver touch spells.

That power is pretty straight forward, instead of Deliver touch spells the familiar gains access to a 1st level Domain Power once per day.

Now my question comes with the Domain Power itself.

Let's take the Rune Domain:

PFRPG Corebook wrote:

Blast Rune (Sp): As a standard action, you can create a blast rune in any adjacent square. Any creature entering this square takes 1d6 points of damage + 1 point for every two cleric levels you possess. [...] The rune is invisible and lasts a number of rounds equal to your cleric level or until discharged. [...] You can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + your Wisdom modifier.

This Power can be used and is pretty straight forward. But the 2 bolded parts illustrate where I'm having issue: A lot of the Domain Power scale up with the Cleric's level (more effective, last longer, greater bonus etc.).

I don't know if it was an oversight or if it was taken as granted, but does the Emmisary familiar treat its level as Cleric level for the purpose of this Power or it is considered to be a Level 1 Cleric period?

[Weirdo]

I would use the master's level as the familiar's cleric level. Otherwise many domain powers quickly become useless.

I think there's been some debate on the related question of "do familiar abilities based on HD (like poison DCs) scale with master's level?" Not sure if there's a solid consensus.

[Andre Roy]

Weirdo wrote:

I would use the master's level as the familiar's cleric level. Otherwise many domain powers quickly become useless.

Yeah that's what I meant. I was thinking, for example a 6th level familiar (which is really a familiar of a 6th level Master).

Weirdo wrote:

I think there's been some debate on the related question of "do familiar abilities based on HD (like poison DCs) scale with master's level?" Not sure if there's a solid consensus.

That's pretty much the same debate as if it's treated as a Level 1 cleric period, it will become obsolete really quickly.

Which is why I believe the intend was to scale with the Familiar/Master 's level, but I can't seem to find it explicitely stated anywhere.

[Melkiador]

I suspect it was an oversight. But there isn't currently any text to say to use your familiar's HD as its cleric level.

[Andre Roy]

Melkiador wrote:

I suspect it was an oversight. But there isn't currently any text to say to use your familiar's HD as its cleric level.

And thus my problem. I'm considering an Eldritch Guardian fighter with an emissary familiar (which would fit the theme sought). But not knowing if the "Cleric level" is based on the familiar effective HD/Master's level, itso actual HD or simply consider 1st level Cleric period, really puts a damper on this avenue.

[Weirdo]

If this is a home game, ask your GM.

If it's PFS, anticipate a conservative ruling. Share Spells and Deliver Touch Spells are useless to a fighter so Emissary is still a positive over an un-archetyped familiar - but it's not compatible with Mauler so there's an opportunity cost.

[Andre Roy]

That's why I'm considering that archetype. It's a Norse-like setting where magic is distrusted so a Divine-inspired Eldritch Guardian with a raven emissary fmiliar fits thematicly well in a household to ward against Witches.

[Andre Roy]

On another note, the wording of the introduction paragrah is clear in regards to when/where the power are changed.

Familiar folio wrote:

Familiar archetypes modify familiars’ standard abilities, similar to how class archetypes modify player characters’ class features. These archetypes function by swapping out certain abilities that are standard to common familiars for new abilities tailored to particular themes.

Unless otherwise stated, levels referenced in this section refer to the familiar’s effective level, which is the master’s combined levels in the classes that grant that familiar.

.

So for the Example in my first post, 3rd level , means when the master hits 3rd level in the appropriate class(es) and thus thefamiliar effective level is also 3rd.

But it doesn't say if that effective level extend deeper for the Effect when it specifically refers to a Class the Familiar/master doesn't have...although the "unless otherwise stated..." seems to imply yes it does, unless we say no it doesn't.