What are some of the more useful spells to have while using familiar form?
Defensive ones probably.
At least I can run away quickly. Pest Form is slow.
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Pest Form is slow.
Fleet Step then? That would compensate for the speed reduction of the form.
But yes, defensive spells and illusion spells would probably be best. You probably don't want to engage in battle while separated from your allies and having weakness 5 to all physical damage.
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Pest Form's too incapable in combat plus you'd be spending a Focus Point and putting a severe cap on one's casting, so what noncombat uses remain?
And then what spells serve those purposes?
(Perhaps using Eschew Materials to get around needing the material component restriction.)
If we're talking recon, then Longstrider or Fleet Step to improve your movement. And other than that the usual buffs to senses or ability to detect or infiltrate. Other than making up for the penalties of Pest Form, it doesn't seem like a particularly unusual list of recon spells.
Except I'd say that the spell level cap's too deleterious to warrant bothering with casting Familiar Form, never mind the cost of acquiring the spell. And it's unlikely you'd be casting while in sight of enemies, so Pest Form alone can do most of what you'd want. While cool in theory, it's a rare day when taking an animal form is the best infiltration tactic...especially since your "7th level+ appropriate" enemies will likely have preventative steps.
I think my preferred action would be end Familiar Form ASAP, so maybe have another Polymorph effect ready to go! Or rather than cutting off most of your spell slots, simply use them to cast what you need, i.e. Invisiblity, Knock, or Shrink.
And then what spells serve those purposes?
(Perhaps using Eschew Materials to get around needing the material component restriction.)
I don't know that that feat would do anything: nothing gives that form the free hand that the feat requires. "you still must have a hand completely free".
I don't know that that feat would do anything: nothing gives that form the free hand that the feat requires. "you still must have a hand completely free".
That's true. I can get Manual Dexterity to get functional 'hands'.
But also nothing says that it is only Wizards that take this archetype. Other classes that can replace material spell components can still do so.
That's true. I can get Manual Dexterity to get functional 'hands'.
You can't because you never get familiar abilities or become a familiar. Your familiar can, but that doesn't matter.
But also nothing says that it is only Wizards that take this archetype. Other classes that can replace material spell components can still do so.
Well assuming you can complete the substitution and only sorcerers can do so as every other requires a hand.
bard: play an instrument as long as it takes at least one of your hands to do so.
cleric: holding a divine focus
druid: holding a primal focus
That's true. I can get Manual Dexterity to get functional 'hands'.You can't because you never get familiar abilities or become a familiar. Your familiar can, but that doesn't matter.
Farien is Eoran's familiar - so he is an actual familiar. Sorry if that wasn't clear. Hovering over names in different colors to see who they are aliases of doesn't work on touchscreens.
But also nothing says that it is only Wizards that take this archetype. Other classes that can replace material spell components can still do so.Well assuming you can complete the substitution and only sorcerers can do so as every other requires a hand.
bard: play an instrument as long as it takes at least one of your hands to do so.
cleric: holding a divine focus
druid: holding a primal focus
Hmm... Indeed that is true.
I might go for allowing cleric and druid to wear their focus. That would be a houserule though. The benefit of being able to cast a slightly larger set of spells would be offset by the fact that there is definitely no way to try and pretend that a rat wearing a divine focus is not just an ordinary rat.
I might go for allowing cleric and druid to wear their focus. That would be a houserule though. The benefit of being able to cast a slightly larger set of spells would be offset by the fact that there is definitely no way to try and pretend that a rat wearing a divine focus is not just an ordinary rat.
It might not look out of place on a pet type animal: for instance a collar with the symbol as a tag. Depending on the game, it wouldn't be out of place to see a cat/dog/bird/ect moving around. Too bad there isn't something like PF1's Holy Tattoo/Birthmark traits.
Farien is Eoran's familiar
I didn't see the switch to a an alias [it's the same color as far as I can tell but I'm colorblind so...] and I don't normally hover over names unless I suspect an alias beforehand.
Farien is Eoran's familiarI didn't see the switch to a an alias [it's the same color as far as I can tell but I'm colorblind so...] and I don't normally hover over names unless I suspect an alias beforehand.
Ah. Yeah that would do it too. But yes, Eoran and Farien are a pair of characters that I post with on here - because I am weird like that.
So an actual familiar like Farian could be able to manipulate the material components if given the necessary abilities - and look at them funny since they couldn't cast any spells.
With the spellcasting ability the familiar casts them more like innate spells as far as I can tell. The ability doesn't really say how the familiar casts the spell. It seems that it doesn't use the spell's normal number of actions or spellcasting components. So that is why I am going with innate spellcasting that always take the two actions that the familiar has.
With the spellcasting ability the familiar casts them more like innate spells as far as I can tell. The ability doesn't really say how the familiar casts the spell. It seems that it doesn't use the spell's normal number of actions or spellcasting components. So that is why I am going with innate spellcasting that always take the two actions that the familiar has.
I'd always assumed Spellcasting uses the casters class spellcasting since it's based off your repertoire or prepared spells but it's true that it's not specified. I will note that it never states that it never says that it changes actions used so it could use the normal number meaning that it might take more than 1 round to cast some spells. For instance, I wouldn't think a familiar casting Alarm would cast it in 2 actions.
I will note that it never states that it never says that it changes actions used so it could use the normal number meaning that it might take more than 1 round to cast some spells. For instance, I wouldn't think a familiar casting Alarm would cast it in 2 actions.
That is a good point. Spells with casting times measured in minutes probably shouldn't be able to be munchkin'd that badly. Normal casting times for anything longer than one round.
But for 1 to 3 action spells, I just run them all as 2-action casting times. It is simpler that way. I don't need to try and double-check that the chosen spell has a short enough casting time or try and build a houserule to allow casting a spell across turns.
If a player wanted to run with the normal casting action cost so that the familiar could cast a 1-action spell and move (for example) in the same round I would probably allow it, but also enforce that 3-action spells would no longer be available since you can't cast those spells across turns. You don't get it both ways.
Farien is Eoran's familiarI didn't see the switch to a an alias [it's the same color as far as I can tell but I'm colorblind so...] and I don't normally hover over names unless I suspect an alias beforehand.Ah. Yeah that would do it too. But yes, Eoran and Farien are a pair of characters that I post with on here - because I am weird like that.
...
FWIW, I've been enjoying the Eoran/Farien dialogues on numerous threads.
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FWIW, I've been enjoying the Eoran/Farien dialogues on numerous threads.
Thanks. I know I have been having a ton of fun with it.