Emissary (Familiar Archetype) and Cleric Level / DC

[Trish Megistos]

Emissary seems like an awesome archetype for pretty much everyone. Guidance each round, awesome. At 3rd level they get a single use of a cleric domain power that can be used 3+wisdom modifier, but the familiar only gets one daily use.

So when it says cleric levels, how many? Just the "HD" of the Familiar, that is your character level? Maybe HD - 2 because they get a clerics first level ability on 3rd level?

I was particularly interested in the Light Domain, having everyone in a 20 foot radius blinded for 1d4 rounds seems like pretty much the best way to start combat.
They do get a Fortitude save, so is it save to assume it is on the cleric DC for Channel Energy, that is 10 + Cleric Level/2 + CHA modifier.

Would that make the Chicken the best Familiar?
Later on Lyrakien Azata for Improved Familiar.

Edit:
One more thing, does share spells mean that a Familiar could pass spells or SLA that he would cast on himself, on his master instead?
Yes, it doesn't say that it does, but shouldn't it be a two way street?

[Unbegreiflich]

Trish Megistos wrote:

Emissary seems like an awesome archetype for pretty much everyone...

Would that make the Chicken the best Familiar?
Later on Lyrakien Azata for Improved Familiar.

yep, Shelyn's chicken an dumplings are great!... Zon always burns the azata kabobs.      ;-)

[KingOfAnything]

When domain abilities call for a saving throw, it is based on Wisdom, not Charisma. I would stick with that.

As for cleric levels, I would use the familiar's effective levels aka effective wizard levels. So the ability only scales with character levels that grant a familiar.

[QuidEst]

Barring anything else, assume familiar "HD" for Cleric level. DC is Wis-based for domains.

Share Spells is NOT a two-way street. That would be way too strong, since many improved familiars have at-will self-only SLAs, especially Invisibility. Sharing that would make them must-take options.

[Azothath]

Emissary familiar archetype gives you;
Divine Guidance(Sp) guidance for Alertness... hmmm... that's +1 for +2 perception & sense motive. I'd say that's middling to a slight loss.
Share Will(Su) replacing share spells is a definite loss.
@3rd Domain Influence(Sp/Su) is a First level domain power that replaces deliver touch spells. Again a mix but as you go up in level a definite loss. A Vampiric Touch, Touch Injection, Touch of Slime, Calcific Touch, or Siphon Magic Touch along with the many divine touch spells (like Breath of Life) are more powerful than most domain powers once per day.

[Trish Megistos]

@KingOfAnything
Since the way Blinding Flash works seems pretty similar to a channel energy ability I figured it would be that...but it turns out that most familiar have much more wisdom than charisma. (most have around 10)

Bat, 14, can detect invisible enemies.
Hawk, 14, fly, good perception, good skill bonus
Owl, 15, fly, good perception, good skill bonus
Raven, 15, fly, speaks
Thrush, 15, fly, speaks

[KingOfAnything]

Trish Megistos wrote:

@KingOfAnything

Since the way Blinding Flash works seems pretty similar to a channel energy ability I figured it would be that...but it turns out that most familiar have much more wisdom than charisma. (most have around 10)

It may be similar to channel energy, but it is still a domain power.

@Azathoth,
Not every character with a familiar even has spells, which skews those value judgements a little. As for guidance, my paladin enjoys the +1 to saves or attack rolls much more than she would a Perception or Sense Motive bonus.

[Trish Megistos]

@QuidEst
Right, I hadn't even considered Improved Familiars yet. Such a pity they don't scale with caster levels.

@Azotath
Guidance applies to quite a lot more than perception and sense motive, and every combat round +1 on an attack or saving throw is nothing to snide at.
The pity is though, that I would have liked Alertness to eventually get Sleepless Detective.

[Azothath]

Just remember that your familiar is provoking AoOs from all those around it as it casts(SLA) Guidance (a touch spell) every round...

[KingOfAnything]

Thank goodness for reach weapons :D

[Azothath]

I know, ranseur chicken might become a new thing...

my point is that using your familiar in combat is a tricky thing that can get your familiar killed. Generally it's to be avoided as familiar loss can be costly and inconvenient.

[Gauss]

Trish Megistos wrote:

Emissary seems like an awesome archetype for pretty much everyone. Guidance each round, awesome. At 3rd level they get a single use of a cleric domain power that can be used 3+wisdom modifier, but the familiar only gets one daily use.

So when it says cleric levels, how many? Just the "HD" of the Familiar, that is your character level? Maybe HD - 2 because they get a clerics first level ability on 3rd level?

I was particularly interested in the Light Domain, having everyone in a 20 foot radius blinded for 1d4 rounds seems like pretty much the best way to start combat.
They do get a Fortitude save, so is it save to assume it is on the cleric DC for Channel Energy, that is 10 + Cleric Level/2 + CHA modifier.

Would that make the Chicken the best Familiar?
Later on Lyrakien Azata for Improved Familiar.

Edit:
One more thing, does share spells mean that a Familiar could pass spells or SLA that he would cast on himself, on his master instead?
Yes, it doesn't say that it does, but shouldn't it be a two way street?

Just a note regarding the Light subdomain's Blinding Flash ability: it is generally useless.

1) Most CR appropriate creatures have more hit dice than you do so they will not be affected by the blindness section of the ability.
2) It affects EVERYONE, even your allies.
Assuming your allies have the same number of hitdice (not necessarily all will) as you do you will still be Dazzling your allies with no save.

[Azothath]

Trish Megistos wrote:

...

If you think it's a cool thing to do and it fits your character concept, then do it. Just remember that (Sp)s provoke so you'll have to be a bit careful. (Su)s don't provoke. I personally like the Lyrakien Azata as it will heal you if you fall down, an Imp isn't going to do that. It's best in a home game as PFS has really limited what familiars can do. I'd get +1 mithral chain shirt or agile breastplate barding for your lyrakien or invest in a way to get mage armor. Remember that outsider's need resurrection as raise dead/raise animal companion doesn't work on them.

If you are a divine caster, then the familiar should be from your deity and choose a domain your deity offers rather than trying to game the system. So if you worship Ra (for example) and have the sun and heroism domains, the familiar should probably choose fire, honor, or light domain.

[Trish Megistos]

@Azothath
They would only provoke attack of opportunities if they are visible to the enemies though, so if the character has a diminutive creature in their bag that shouldn't be a problem.

At this point I'll probably just take a bit of luck and a Greensting Scorpion. No worries about Cleric levels.

Btw, could a Tumor familiar cast guidance while in your body?