| Lizards Like to Boast |
I've been looking at the tattooed sorcerer and their rad familiar ability but I have a bunch of questions about how it works and was hoping I could get some help?
first, supernatural, doesn't work in an AMF, cool. what part of it turns off? if my familiar is currently a tattoo when I enter are they shunted out or can they not come out at all?
second and very similar question, if i'm polymorphed while it's a tattoo, where does it go? can it take its action to stop being a tattoo, its not a separate creature at that point and, i'm pretty sure, the tattoo doesn't exist?
third, is changing into a tattoo a polymorph effect, or change shape, or anything we actually have rules for? I assume not but, like, any rules would be great.
fourth, can I cast a touch spell on my familiar while he is a tattoo then have him morph out to go deliver them? he'd be within arms reach which is the only requirement to do so but also doesn't actually count as a creature so im not really clear how that interacts.
fifth, if my familiar is carrying stuff or wearing gear, does that also become a tattoo? I definitely just wanna use this for dumb shenanigans so it doesn't really matter but actually, like, if it has magic gear, cool sunglasses, or whatever, what happens? does it just drop? 'cause that'd be pretty dumb.
and lastly, (this is just for familiars in general) the feat Extra Item Slot lets an animal use items not normally available to animals of its shape. Is there a list somewhere of slots for animals of various shapes or do you just gotta guess?
| Volkard Abendroth |
If you target a tattoo familiar with an Erase spell while it is a tattoo, is it destroyed?
| Pizza Lord |
1. They cannot change shape. If they are a tattoo and you enter AMF then they remain a tattoo. If they are a creature, they remain a creature and cannot become a tattoo. Other magical and supernatural effects will also be turned off while in the AMF, which could be most granted abilities or benefits between the familar and master.
2. That depends on a very specific situation. Most polymorph effects make you look like a typical member of a race (which likely means no tattoos). So unless you turn into a creature that has a cat tattoo on its arm (some polymorph effects let you look like a specific creature or add certain features) then it would still work. Otherwise I would consider it melded and like any other piece of gear or equipment. Similarly, if you use a polymorph effect but don't change the bodypart that the tattoo is on, such as alter self to give yourself gills or something. If the tattoo was on your neck, it would likely be melded, anywhere else it's still probably fine and perfectly functional.
3. No, it is not like any normal polymorph or change shape effect. Most of those deal with creatures becoming creatures (barring polymorph any object). This is completely new and unique in regards to those.
4. No, while the tattoo continues to grant familiar abilities, it is not a creature (magical beast or otherwise) and nothing in the ability indicates that it benefits (or is hindered) by spells cast on you or by you unless they would directly effect tattoos.
5. The tattoo would be a stylized version of the animal. So a cat would be recognizable as a cat, though a person seeing your cat may not recognize it as a cat that they saw tattooed to your arm earlier in the day. If it were Puss-in-Boots, it would be a stylized cat in boots. I would say any gear on the creature melds with the tattoo, becoming non-magical, so you and the tattoo don't benefit from it, ie. if the cat had a helm of telepathy (somehow) it couldn't communicate with you beyond whatever sense the tattoo normally has (which I don't know). As a GM I would strictly limit how much weight a familiar can hold (since this ability is clearly not intended to be used as a bag of holding or portable hold. As a personal rule, I would likely cause any items other than strictly gear to keep their weight (and be a heavy tattoo) for game balance reasons. Can't have your imp familiar just holding or carrying your loaded backpack, but any amulets, necklaces, collars, etc. that are gear I would allow.
6. Magic Item Slots for Animals will cover most of what you want. I am sure there is a more expansive list in a newer source.
If you target a tattoo familiar with an Erase spell while it is a tattoo, is it destroyed?
Since the ability specifically says that the familiar tattoo cannot be erased or dispelled, I would say it's safe from that.