Eldritch Guardian familiars and Weapon Mastery feats

[David Wallace 583 428]

I have a question about the eldritch guardian sharing combat feats with his familiar. I think I know the answer but I want to be sure, as I don’t like it ;)

If I take the Cut from the Air feat I can share it with my familiar because weapon mastery feats count as combat feats for all purposes and my familiar can use the feat because they don’t need to meet the prerequisites.

However, weapon mastery feats states the following:

Weapon mastery feats count as combat feats for all purposes, including which classes can select them as bonus feats, and you gain the benefits of a weapon mastery feat only while wielding a weapon that belongs to a fighter weapon group that you have selected with the fighter weapon training class feature (referred to hereafter as an “appropriate weapon”), and any effect of these feats related to attacks applies only to attacks from such weapons unless the feat specifies otherwise.

My question is will the Share Training ability allow the familiar to ignore the weapon requirement? I strongly suspect that it doesn’t as the ability allows the familiar to ignore prerequisites and not conditions on use.

I can get around this by taking Martial Focus (Natural), or by equipping my familiar with an appropriate weapon and sucking up the non-proficiency penalty but I would prefer not to.

[willuwontu]

You're correct, it does not bypass the usage requirements. You would have to either take martial focus (natural weapons) or give the familiar a weapon (if it can wield one).

[Melkiador]

Quote:

For example, an eldritch guardian’s pig familiar with access to Exotic Weapon Proficiency (spiked chain) would not gain the ability to use spiked chains, since it doesn’t have any limbs capable of properly handling them.

This example implies that the intent is for the choices made by the EK trickle down to the familiar.

[David Wallace 583 428]

OK, it is good to have my fears confirmed. My familiar has weapon finesse and 18 dex so I will check with my DM if I can give it an elven branched spear (as I'm focused in polearms). The spear can be used with weapon finesse so that will at least off set the non-proficiency penalty.