Shaman, Improved Familiars, and the legality of it all

[GM Upaynao]

Hello everyone! I am currently auditing a shaman who happened to get access to a pipefox as a familiar through a boon. This character then took improved familiar so that they could benefit from having a pipefox. Unfortunately, while there was an FAQ earlier about whether or not shamans could benefit from Improved familiar, it did not specify if they could "retrain" that class feature and get an improved familiar (and by that I do not mean bolster the existing familiar, but acquire a different familiar that wasn't previously available at first level).

So I suppose my question is: is there any way that character could have managed to change their familiar from what they had to the pipefox?

[Jeff Morse]

if I am understanding this, he had improved and got a boon for a special one. if that case, he gets to do like anyone else, pay for new one.

[GM Upaynao]

He got the boon through a season 7 scenario and took the feat afterwards. The issue is that per the shaman class description, the familiar you select at level one stays with you forever. It dies? You find a new one just like it.

So while you can take the feat to improve the existing familiar it does not seem like there is an option to ditch your current one to take the new one. However, if retraining is an option, you could maybe squeak away with having the new familiar, but I'm not sure its even within the realm of possibility.

[Jeff Morse]

I see. i think you are over thinking this. the feat lets you get a better familiar. either change it to newone or some people role play it, that old one morphs into new one. it dosnt change the game either way.

[Selvaxri]

Ironically, that's exactly how i plan to make own shaman gain a Pipefox familiar- her fox spirit animal merely "morphs" to reflect the shaman's advancement in power.

I find it funny that the boon allows you to take the Pipefox familiar as an Improved Familiar at fourth lvl, whereas the scenario itself is a t3-7; depending on the tiers people play in, some may not see the value of boon.
unlike the t1-5's that grants you different Improved Familiar each.

[Ferious Thune]

Pipefox is not normally legal at all, so even a 7th level character gets some benefit from the boon (being able to have a pipefox familiar period).

[supervillan]

When you take the Improved Familiar feat you are allowed to swap your old familiar to a new (and Improved) one that you qualify for. The Boon just adds to the list of legal choices. Shamans are allowed to take the Improved Familiar feat, and it works normally for them.

Relevant FAQ

[GM Upaynao]

Jeff Morse wrote:

I see. i think you are over thinking this. the feat lets you get a better familiar. either change it to newone or some people role play it, that old one morphs into new one. it dosnt change the game either way.

I'm in a position where I need to really make sure that it works, as otherwise I cannot let that character plays Eyes of the Ten until it has a legal familiar. And the FAQ is not worded in a way that makes it 100% clear, and I'm not normally the one to quibble. That said, if that is the underlying intent, then great!

[supervillan]

FAQ wrote:

In general, you can take Improved Familiars for class-granted variant familiars like a shaman’s spirit animal,

The FAQ then calls out the exceptions. None of the exceptions apply in this case. You're all good.