I'm finally filling out my Companion Sheet (UM) for my Nagaji Eldritch Scion (3rd level) and wish to make sure I'm doing it right as this is my first Familiar.
I'm taking a Mauler Compsognathus until 5th, when thanks to a boon and IF, I'll take a Sage Pseudodragon.
1) So, I use DEX for attack and CMB until battle form and switch to STR?
2) How do I calculate any stat changes for the battle form?
3) How many skill ranks does it have? How do I reverse engineer the ranks the base critter has?
4) Does it keep it's feats? Does it get new ones?
5) Extra Arcane Pool or Mauler's Endurance/Sage's Guidance?
6) How wierd is it that my familiar is smarter than me?
EDIT: I think I figured out 3). It has 1 rank (Perception in this case) I then treat it as having the same ranks as I do if I have more ranks in it. We both have 1 rank in Perception, so that doesn't change, but I have a rank in Diplomacy, Nobility, Linguistics, Spellcraft, and UMD, so it can use those skills. It can't speak, but would this 1 rank in Linguistics let it understand Draconic to follow orders?
I'm finally filling out my Companion Sheet (UM) for my Nagaji Eldritch Scion (3rd level) and wish to make sure I'm doing it right as this is my first Familiar.
I'm taking a Mauler Compsognathus until 5th, when thanks to a boon and IF, I'll take a Sage Pseudodragon.
1) So, I use DEX for attack and CMB until battle form and switch to STR?
2) How do I calculate any stat changes for the battle form?
3) How many skill ranks does it have? How do I reverse engineer the ranks the base critter has?
4) Does it keep it's feats? Does it get new ones?
5) Extra Arcane Pool or Mauler's Endurance/Sage's Guidance?
6) How wierd is it that my familiar is smarter than me?
EDIT: I think I figured out 3). It has 1 rank (Perception in this case) I then treat it as having the same ranks as I do if I have more ranks in it. We both have 1 rank in Perception, so that doesn't change, but I have a rank in Diplomacy, Nobility, Linguistics, Spellcraft, and UMD, so it can use those skills. It can't speak, but would this 1 rank in Linguistics let it understand Draconic to follow orders?
1) Basically. A familiar can use his dex score for natural attack rolls instead of his strength.
2) You are intended to use the polymorph size change table, from the magic chapter. A compsognathus is tiny, so you convert it to small on that table, which is +4 strength and -2 dex before other modifications from the ability. And there is no modification from small to medium. Note that it never actually tells you to adjust your dexterity, but it can be assumed that this is the intent.
3) The familiar has the base ranks that the animal has, which can be difficult to determine. And from there, it just shares any skill ranks that your character has. So, if you have 10 ranks in fly, it has 10 ranks in fly. If you have 10 ranks in perception, it has 10 ranks in perception. BUT, the sage plays by it different rules. It still has its base ranks, but then instead of sharing your ranks, it gets two ranks to spend on its own. This is a downgrade for a high skills character and an upgrade for a low skills character.
4) It keeps its feats. The book, Animal Archive, adds an additional rule that you can trade out these base feats, but only for feats intended for familiars.
5) That's a tough choice.
6) It's a little weird if you're a magus. It's pretty normal for a sorcerer or other non-int based familiar class.
7) There's a lot of argument about the effects of linguistics ranks on familiars. You should just ask your DM.
1) Understood.
2) Figured from my research but wanted to confirm.
3) Got it. It'll be an upgrade since 2 - 3 = -1 = 0 Which means 1 rank per level plus 1 more for FCB.
4) I don't have this book. Improved Initiative is great but not if my familiar acts on my initiative.
5) @ 3rd level I have 4 points or 6 with the feat and next level it increases by 1 anyway. Eldritch Scion needs to use points to activate all her bloodline powers for 2 rounds in addition to using them for enhancing her weapons @ 4th. Typically would use pool points more often than standard Magi. Familiar only has 12hp atm but the feat would increase it to 18. It then gets swapped upon changing familiars @ 5th.
6) Eldritch Scion makes her a CHA based spontaneous caster. She has 5 INT and 17 CHA. 18 next level.
7) This is a PFS character, so I was hoping for RAW. That said I will ask my lodge on FB for their opinion.
Officially, your familiar acts on its own initiative. But to save time and simplify things, most DMs just have it go on your turn.
Rather than paying the retraining fees, I think I'd skip the mauler feat and pick the sage feat up later.
3) How many skill ranks does it have? How do I reverse engineer the ranks the base critter has?
It's annoying and requires you to read through a ton of different things. The skill ranks of your Compsognathus are very likely not to matter, anyway, since it uses your skill ranks if they're higher. But as you've pointed out, yes, it has 1 rank in Perception.
It's much more important with your Sage Pseudodragon because it actually gains ranks. As a dragon, the Pseudodragon gets 6 + Int modifier per Hit Die of skill ranks. Since it has an Int modifier of 0 and 2 Hit Dice, it gets 12 skill ranks. I've already gone through it and it's thankfully very easy in this case, it simply has two skill ranks in each skill listed, those being Diplomacy, Fly, Perception, Sense Motive, Stealth and Survival.
Officially, your familiar acts on its own initiative. But to save time and simplify things, most DMs just have it go on your turn.
Rather than paying the retraining fees, I think I'd skip the mauler feat and pick the sage feat up later.
No retraining fees would be required. When I become level 5 and take Improved Familiar to get my Pseudodragon, I'll have a familiar the doesn't meet the prereqs for the feat and can trade it for one it does. (Familiar Feats, pg18 of Familiar Folio)
3) How many skill ranks does it have? How do I reverse engineer the ranks the base critter has?It's annoying and requires you to read through a ton of different things. The skill ranks of your Compsognathus are very likely not to matter, anyway, since it uses your skill ranks if they're higher. But as you've pointed out, yes, it has 1 rank in Perception.
It's much more important with your Sage Pseudodragon because it actually gains ranks. As a dragon, the Pseudodragon gets 6 + Int modifier per Hit Die of skill ranks. Since it has an Int modifier of 0 and 2 Hit Dice, it gets 12 skill ranks. I've already gone through it and it's thankfully very easy in this case, it simply has two skill ranks in each skill listed, those being Diplomacy, Fly, Perception, Sense Motive, Stealth and Survival.
Oh, thanks for that! it then gets 10 more ranks on top of that as a 5th level Sage Familiar, correct?
Oh, thanks for that! it then gets 10 more ranks on top of that as a 5th level Sage Familiar, correct?3) How many skill ranks does it have? How do I reverse engineer the ranks the base critter has?It's annoying and requires you to read through a ton of different things. The skill ranks of your Compsognathus are very likely not to matter, anyway, since it uses your skill ranks if they're higher. But as you've pointed out, yes, it has 1 rank in Perception.
It's much more important with your Sage Pseudodragon because it actually gains ranks. As a dragon, the Pseudodragon gets 6 + Int modifier per Hit Die of skill ranks. Since it has an Int modifier of 0 and 2 Hit Dice, it gets 12 skill ranks. I've already gone through it and it's thankfully very easy in this case, it simply has two skill ranks in each skill listed, those being Diplomacy, Fly, Perception, Sense Motive, Stealth and Survival.
Yup, and its maximum number of ranks in any skill is 5. Here's a rundown of its skill bonuses:
- Diplomacy
0 (cha) + 2 (ranks) + 3 (class)
- Fly
2 (dex) + 2 (ranks) + 3 (class) + 4 (tiny) + 4 (good)
- Perception
1 (wis) + 2 (ranks) + 3 (class)
- Sense Motive
1 (wis) + 2 (ranks) + 3 (class)
- Stealth
2 (dex) + 2 (ranks) + 3 (class) + 8 (tiny) + 4 (race)
- Survival
1 (wis) + 2 (ranks) + 3 (class)