When an Arcanist selects the Familiar exploit at 3rd level, should he need to perform the 200gp / level ritual to get his first familiar?

[Teloric]

In a game I am in the GM ruled that the the phrasing of "can acquire as the arcane bond class feature" in the exploit description (https://aonprd.com/ArcanistExploits.aspx?ID=9) means that the arcanist has the ability now to have a familiar, but that they will need to use the "Replacing a Familiar" rules in order to get it. Which means that my 3rd level character would need to pay 600gp to get their very first raven familiar. This seems incorrect to me, but I would like to hear thoughts?

[Senko]

I'm on my way to bed but my initial thoughts are no this is more inline with taking your 1st level of wizard at a later level you still get the initial familiar free. That replacement rule is for a familiar your replacing, you aren't replacing a lost, dismissed or killed familiar. Especially since its intended for wizards who get it by default not other classes. Its going to be your GM's call in the end but the very description say's "Wizard levels" so it never considered classes that aren't wizards getting them when it was made.

[Mark Hoover 330]

If it's "as the Arcane Bond class feature", then follow the structure of the Arcane Bond feature. Since Wizards don't pay for their initial familiar, then you don't pay for it, "as the Arcane Bond feature". That's my understanding anyway.

[DeathlessOne]

I'm in agreement with the others. Initial familiar is not paid for. When you actually have REPLACE your familiar, then you pay for it.

[Ryze Kuja]

I'm in agreement with the others, "replacing" a familiar is for when your familiar gets killed or dismissed. Charging the player time and gold for their initial familiar seems unnecessarily punitive.