Familiar Archetype selection

[Syries]

I'm making an elf Foresight wizard with my offensive spells focusing on Conjuration and Transmutation. Not summoning so much on the conjuration route, mostly things like aqueous orb and glitterdust, and spells like Slow on the Transmutation side. Mage Armor, Shield, Mirror Image, and Displacement will be my standard buff spells.

I have a greensting scorpion familiar and I'm considering what, if any, archetype I want for my familiar. Considering my low HP thanks to being both a wizard AND an elf, I was thinking of the Protector archetype for a bit more AC and the ability to split HP with my Familiar, but the worry is the lack of HP the familiar itself has. I wouldn't be able to split HP very often that route. I do lose out on delivering touch spells if I want to buff allies but I don't plan on doing that too often.

The other archetype I was looking at is the Arcane Amplifier. My character won't be doing too many touch spells but the ones I do use would benefit quite a bit from that archetype. I am at least getting frigid touch to use with my spell storing haramaki (eventually) so I would use the Amplifier's abilities, even if it's infrequently.

So what archetype would be best for me, if any?

*Edit* also, quick question, for the 8th level foresight power, what type of action is it to start emitting the aura?

[Java Man]

If item creation is allowed then valet familiar is excellent.

[Java Man]

My best guess is a typical standard action to activate foretelling, and it stays up until you drop it or run out of duration.

[Syries]

Oh, I guess I didn't specify that this is PFS so no crafting.

[doomman47]

Sage familiar or ambassador will allow you to split up skill rolls and have more coverage with the familiar either having knowledge skills or being the party face.

[Azothath]

I just looked at the familiar archetypes as I have 2 characters with this option.

If you chose familiar then Improved Familiar is a feat you want at 7th. The choice of improved familiars is probably the most critical, archetypes not so much. Overall, in a specific campaign or home game the archetypes might be better than for a generic game like PFS. Within PFS Faerie Dragon is the run-away winner and you can only have 2 characters with it (as it comes via a chronicle, so there goes one Share the Wealth boon also).

In general the game devalues skills. Remember that familiars can use the master's ranks in a skill IF they have a rank in the skill, so while bonuses are nice they may not be as good as the master at the skill due to class skill(+3) and higher ability bonuses AND it runs off familiar gained(very few) skill ranks.

You can retrain a feat within PFS for 5 PA. It might be worth it for 1 feat. For 16 PA your character can be Raised. 2 PA = 750gp. hmmm....

onto the specifics...

Ambassador switches Int to Cha, gain 3 skills, lose Alertness. It's not bad as that's +3 on 3 skills and better UMD bonus (if your familiar isn't a caster). Solid loss on Alertness(+2 Prcptn and the rare SnsMtv) for +2 Diplo & Intmd for the familiar. Fewer familiar skill ranks due to loss Int, so again using the master's ranks in Bluff, Diplo, Intmd. Does it seem duplicative?

Sage is mostly about knowledge checks. For a wizard this is a yawner but for sorcerer it can be a boon. Familiar becomes softer target. Loses the ability to share skill ranks(for ANY skill it has 1 rank in) and again a solid loss on Alertness. For a low skill familiar (soulbound doll) it's a win IF you don't plan to use them in combat. Does it replace the party Bard? hmmm...

Protector with extra hit points and effectively Shield Other is nice but you essentially trade everything away for it. Mechanically I'd say it is the most beneficial of the lot (hit points are literally, 'killer'). Reference Shield Companion 1st, Shield Other 2nd & share spells, Ablative Barrier 3rd spell.

Arcane Amplifier IS interesting, but again, useless familiar for a couple of empowers per day, better to just get a rod for 3000gp or 6000gp at higher levels.

[Azothath]

Syries wrote:

I'm making an {PFS} elf Foresight wizard with my offensive spells focusing on Conjuration and Transmutation. Not summoning so much on the conjuration ...

so Bonded Object(Amulet). Aegis of Recovery then Amulet of Spell Mastery 11000gp around 9th(for +6 spell levels).

Sadly due to the descriptions you cannot upgrade Amulet Spell Cunning-> Spell Mastery.

[Syries]

Azothath wrote:

Syries wrote:

I'm making an {PFS} elf Foresight wizard with my offensive spells focusing on Conjuration and Transmutation. Not summoning so much on the conjuration ...

so Bonded Object(Amulet). Aegis of Recovery then Amulet of Spell Mastery 11000gp around 9th(for +6 spell levels).

Sadly due to the descriptions you cannot upgrade Amulet Spell Cunning-> Spell Mastery.

I considered that amulet as an option, it’s really nice, but I’m pretty set on a familiar for the Init bonus.

After some consideration I think I’ll go with Protector as a bit more HP is always nice and Azothath reminded me of Ablative Barrier which will help me get further mileage out of the protector archetype too.

[doomman47]

If you don't mind losing 1-2 levels you can get a familiar that acts similar to an aberrant tumor but can actually still gain the protector archetype, there is a wizard archetype that gives you shaman stuff so if you pick life spirit your familiar gets fast healing 1, then 1 level of tattoo sorc makes it so it cant be targeted separately from you alternatively you can lose one more level in wizard to take a level in shaman for the same effect.

[Azothath]

AoN under Familiar Archetypes wrote:

Protector familiars are so devoted that they would give their lives for their masters. A tumor familiar can’t be a protector.

so without researching Addt'l Resources, Campgn Clarifications, or PFS FAQ seems like a firm NO.

In general I support multiclassing as it increases character survivability and utility. Shaman class is Wis based, so not that great unless you have your heart set on Mystic Theurge. Monk, Rogue, Unc Rogue, Invstgtr, Clr, Brwlr are probably better dips. Technically you'd start in those and switch to Wizard.

[Syries]

This has gone a bit off base...
I'm not looking for advice on building my own character. He's an elf diviner wizard, pure wizard, and that's that. I'm not even looking for options regarding the type of familiar; I've made my choice on greensting scorpion. The stuff I was talking about was just to give an idea of what my wizard will be doing, as the type of spells I cast affect the usefulness and utility of the familiar.

My main question was only in regards to the various archetypes a familiar can take and which, if any, I should give to my scorpion. I'm really not interested in any other advice. I'm certainly not entertaining the idea of losing spell levels in Wizard for some really minor effects for my familiar.