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If you're a Daivrat, but you come from a class without a familiar, do you still get the Zhyen at level 6?
Or would you first need a familiar from some source?
It is adding an option to your familiar list, not giving a familiar.
I beg to differ.
The ability functions "as if he had the Improved Familiar feat". That feat in turn requires the "ability to acquire a familiar". So, in order to function as the feat, the character gets the ability to have a Familiar.That's my interpretation anyway.
Ah, I must not have made myself clear then. I disagree with the conclusion that it merely adds to the list.
In my opinion, the character gets a Zhyen Familiar. Even when it would not have qualified for any Familiar before.
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It gives the option to replace his existing familiar with a zhyen. He can't replace something he never had.
"Zhyen Familiar: At 6th level, a daivrat can select a zhyen (see the Bestiary chapter) to serve as his familiar, replacing any familiar he already possesses, as if he had the Improved Familiar feat."
If we look at Improved Familiar, note 2 things:
#1 "Prerequisites: Ability to acquire a new familiar", something the character can't do...
#2 "Benefit: When choosing a familiar, the creatures listed here are also available to you.", it only opens up options to an ability you ALREADY have.
For instance, an ability that adds the invisibility spell to your spell list doesn't give you spellcasting if you don't have it and an ability that adds improved initiative to monk bonus feats doesn't retroactivly give you the ability.
For it to give a familiar, it would have to be worded like Fiendish Vessel:
"Fiendish Familiar: At 3rd level, a fiendish vessel’s patron rewards her with a fiendish servant. The fiendish vessel gains an imp, quasit, or cacodaemon familiar based on the patron she worships. This ability is identical to the wizard’s arcane bond with a familiar and the Improved Familiar feat, using the fiendish vessel’s character level in place of the wizard level.
It gives the option to replace his existing familiar with a zhyen. He can't replace something he never had.
It does that, yes. My interpretation however, is that it flat out gives the Familiar which, if the character already had one, replaces the old one.
It seems I hold a minority opinion though.
It gives the option to replace his existing familiar with a zhyen. He can't replace something he never had.It does that, yes. My interpretation however, is that it flat out gives the Familiar which, if the character already had one, replaces the old one.
It seems I hold a minority opinion though.
I think we're not disagreeing so much as we aren't seeing what rule would allow them to gain a familiar.
Improved Familiar and Zhyen Familiar both state they replace a familiar. Zhyen Familiar works "he had the Improved Familiar feat". Features can grant things that require a prerequisite and don't give that prerequisite to you.
Take a rogues FCB "Add +1 to the number of times per day the rogue can cast a cantrip or 1st-level spell gained from the minor magic or major magic talent." Taking it doesn't give you the talent. An alchemist that adds "Add +1/2 to the number of bombs per day the alchemist can create" doesn't regain the feature if they traded it away.
So I'd ask again, where is the rule that grants you prerequisites to granted abilities? If there was one, it would make some things much easier. Nothing in Daivrat, explicitly or implicitly, grants the arcane bond ability.
If the ability had just said :"bonus feat, improved familiar [must pick Zhyen]" would your answer be the same? how about an ability the gives a +1 AC when you wear medium or heavy armor: does it give you medium and heavy armor proficiency?
If we were talking a houserule I'd understand but I just can't see the rules justification for allowing it.