About Familiars -a question [Archive] - Wizards Community

About Familiars -a question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Bayushi Tai
02-28-04, 01:33 AM Why is it in 3.5 that Animal Companions get better when the character goes up in levels, and If a Wizards wants his Familiar to get better, then he has to spend Feats, which he only gets a few of, (less if he's a Sorcerer). Seems a bit weighted against the Wizards in this case. Has anyone else noticed this, or has done house rules on it? just wondering.
Luminous Crayon
02-28-04, 01:46 AM 1.) Familiars do get better when their master levels up. They get HP, special abilities, spell resistance, and some other things that I can't remember off the top of my head.

2.) Unlike animal companions, familiars aren't designed to be used in combat. The foolish mage who sends his trusted buddy to claw out the BBEG's eyes with 1d3-2 damage claws is asking for tragedy. Familiars are more suited for non-combat applications, like spying, keeping watch, and delivering messages, and for delivering beneficial touch-ranged spells to far-away allies during combat.

So while Familiars do improve, their improvements and special abilities are more geared towards non-fighting applications. This means they're easier to overlook, especially when compared to animal companions, who are more designed to brawl.

Hope that helps.
Ssussunriyh
02-28-04, 03:05 AM If a mage's familiar dies, the mage loses XP. Not so with a druid's animal companion.

When a mage acquires a familiar and bonds with it, the familiar becomes, in effect, a living extension of its master, and is no longer an independant creature. For this reason, a mage is not inclined to expose his familiar to any risk that he would not subject himself to. (Not to imply that druids use their animal companions purely as battle fodder, but you see the difference...)
Castlmike
02-28-04, 04:57 AM Some merit to thought. Game balance better than the druid having all those different animals at his beck and call limiting him to one.
Sir Ferdinand
02-28-04, 05:29 AM So the question is why do different class abilities work differently? The answer is as clear as is the question, they're different class abilities.
Bayushi Tai
02-28-04, 02:47 PM Hey gang

I was half asleep when I posted this last night,
Luminous Crayon
02-28-04, 03:09 PM No worries.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Bayushi Tai 02-28-04, 01:33 AM	Why is it in 3.5 that Animal Companions get better when the character goes up in levels, and If a Wizards wants his Familiar to get better, then he has to spend Feats, which he only gets a few of, (less if he's a Sorcerer). Seems a bit weighted against the Wizards in this case. Has anyone else noticed this, or has done house rules on it? just wondering.
Luminous Crayon 02-28-04, 01:46 AM	1.) Familiars do get better when their master levels up. They get HP, special abilities, spell resistance, and some other things that I can't remember off the top of my head. 2.) Unlike animal companions, familiars aren't designed to be used in combat. The foolish mage who sends his trusted buddy to claw out the BBEG's eyes with 1d3-2 damage claws is asking for tragedy. Familiars are more suited for non-combat applications, like spying, keeping watch, and delivering messages, and for delivering beneficial touch-ranged spells to far-away allies during combat. So while Familiars do improve, their improvements and special abilities are more geared towards non-fighting applications. This means they're easier to overlook, especially when compared to animal companions, who are more designed to brawl. Hope that helps.
Ssussunriyh 02-28-04, 03:05 AM	If a mage's familiar dies, the mage loses XP. Not so with a druid's animal companion. When a mage acquires a familiar and bonds with it, the familiar becomes, in effect, a living extension of its master, and is no longer an independant creature. For this reason, a mage is not inclined to expose his familiar to any risk that he would not subject himself to. (Not to imply that druids use their animal companions purely as battle fodder, but you see the difference...)
Castlmike 02-28-04, 04:57 AM	Some merit to thought. Game balance better than the druid having all those different animals at his beck and call limiting him to one.
Sir Ferdinand 02-28-04, 05:29 AM	So the question is why do different class abilities work differently? The answer is as clear as is the question, they're different class abilities.
Bayushi Tai 02-28-04, 02:47 PM	Hey gang I was half asleep when I posted this last night,
Luminous Crayon 02-28-04, 03:09 PM	No worries.