Are there ways to give a familiar a "hand" ?

[Roco]

So, my DM says he'll allow my familiar to use a wand or other similar activated item (even though I believe the PFS ruling is no regular familiar can use magic items and only a small list of improved familiars can, and only wands)

But, they need to be able to speak, hold/manipulate the wand, and of course, they use their use magic device.

So, are there ways (feats, items, spells etc) that can give a familiar a spare "hand" to use? (not necessarily a real hand, but some way to get my rabbit familiar the ability to hold and use things)

Speaking I got covered. Probably going with the Decoy archetype and by level 5 they'll be able to speak.

[Coolwasabi]

Theres the Anthropomorphic Animal spell.

Changeling/Shapeless familiar feats could let it shape change to something that can use wands.

A figment familiar could use 2 point evolution for arms.

Grasping Tail + Mischievous Tail feats, but a normal familiar usually only has 1 feat unless you find an archetype like the witch one that you can give it some feats.

The DM might allow you to pick Evolved familiar for hands if you pick the claw or slam option? Though id expect most wouldn't allow that.

[Roco]

Coolwasabi wrote:

Theres the Anthropomorphic Animal spell.

Changeling/Shapeless familiar feats could let it shape change to something that can use wands.

A figment familiar could use 2 point evolution for arms.

Grasping Tail + Mischievous Tail feats, but a normal familiar usually only has 1 feat unless you find an archetype like the witch one that you can give it some feats.

The DM might allow you to pick Evolved familiar for hands if you pick the claw or slam option? Though id expect most wouldn't allow that.

Familiars have feats you can choose at all?

Good ideas though.

[Mark Hoover 330]

Its a pity you're going Decoy. A Valet familiar gets Prestidigitation at will, allowing them to move up to 1 LB of material. Supposedly they use this ability along with others to help you in your magical research; often GMs allow this to work for helping them hold a wand or scroll. You'd have to consult your GM but that's one avenue.

Another is having a 13 Cha and taking Evolved Familiar: Basic Magic as your 1 point evolution. This in turn allows your familiar to use Mage Hand 1/day.

The last thing I can think of is Alter Self. Are you playing a Wizard or can someone make scrolls? Once you hit level 2 spells, I'd advise making as many of these scrolls as you can afford. Layer your rabbit with as many defenses as you can, slap 3 minutes of Alter Self on them to turn them into a Small sized humanoid type, and blamo, they can hold/use a wand.

[Roco]

Mark Hoover 330 wrote:

Its a pity you're going Decoy. A Valet familiar gets Prestidigitation at will, allowing them to move up to 1 LB of material. Supposedly they use this ability along with others to help you in your magical research; often GMs allow this to work for helping them hold a wand or scroll. You'd have to consult your GM but that's one avenue.

Another is having a 13 Cha and taking Evolved Familiar: Basic Magic as your 1 point evolution. This in turn allows your familiar to use Mage Hand 1/day.

The last thing I can think of is Alter Self. Are you playing a Wizard or can someone make scrolls? Once you hit level 2 spells, I'd advise making as many of these scrolls as you can afford. Layer your rabbit with as many defenses as you can, slap 3 minutes of Alter Self on them to turn them into a Small sized humanoid type, and blamo, they can hold/use a wand.

Decoy is mainly to allow speech with no issues.

I debated Valet but it takes away too many good things and gives me stuff I won't use (like teamwork feat copying).

I can already tell prestidigitation would not work, DM would say no.

[LordKailas]

mage hand is fine so long as the scroll or wand isn't a magical item. Otherwise it doesn't work, if it did you could just pick up a Hand of the mage for the rabbit to wear.

A greater hat of disguise seems like the most straightforward method as it would allow the familiar to use alter self at will.

[thanks for all the fish]

PFS has rules{see FAQ} for familiars and animal companions. Essentially only some of the improved familiars can use wands. Magic Item slots were extremely restrained.

Rulewise it stems from 2-3 books; Animal Archive, UltMagic p251 list of updated familiars, Familiar Folio lists stuff, and a blog post listing familiars etc.

Within PFS a rabbit familiar can not cast or use a wand.

I'm also going to state that it seems you are in a home game but it's not clear.

Speaking can be obtained through a Ring of Eloquence. This also assumes the creature has the equipment to speak in the first place as most magic item descriptions are geared for humans so clear it with your GM.

Alchemist Discovery - Vestigial Arm (Ex) (Ult Magic 18).
Prosthetic {arm} (Equip) (Ult Equip 57, Adv Armry 19, ...) $10, no casting etc.
Necrograft {arm} (MagItem) (Blk Mkt 15) $12000 and 'fine manipulations' are in doubt.
Clockwork Arm (MagItem) (Mag Mktplc 23) $6400 and only for replacement limb, not additional limbs.
Cybernetic Arm (see Clockwork Arm above).
... there's also an extra arm/hand that straps on but no luck finding it at the moment...

[thanks for all the fish]

since Hand of the Mage relies on Mage Hand "Target: one nonmagical, unattended object weighing up to 5 lbs." would tend to argue against it being used for magical casting. Telekinesis does not imply somatic components.

[thanks for all the fish]

a fly in the ointment is Psychic casters, don't ask me how a familiar becomes a psychic caster but you don't need hands for it. Humorously you could put your rabbit in a pirate hat and have him yell "Watership Down!"

[Name Violation]

A crow familiar can physically hold items in its claws and speaks a language which SHOULD theoretically let them hold wands and activate command word items.

Make sure to put ranks in UMD.

And to answer the question up thread, familiars can replace their starting feat with one of a few others. Check animal archive, or the d20 site

[deuxhero]

Hand of the Mage gives them a hand. If they can manipulate things with it is questionable though.