Alternative Familiars? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Alternative Familiars? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
SEJK
04-20-08, 08:03 PM I was wondering if their were rules for using other kinds of animals as familiar. I've searched all over but can't find anything.
Sinfire Titan
04-20-08, 08:28 PM I am your savior for this.

Very little can actually be used for a Familiar (when you compare it to what can be used as an Animal Companion, the list is rather small). The rules offer some support for the choices you can via through the Improved Familiar and Exalted Familiar feats, and through several other that I have no clue about. There are also a few PrCs that upgrade existing Familiars, such as the Fiend-Blooded in Heroes of Horror, or the Alienist in Complete Arcane.

All of those lack the ability to make a competent companion for a Wizard or Sorcerer.

I find that using the Leadership rules and good judgment allows for more impressive, if somewhat unusual, Familiars for PCs to use.

Basically, you have to find what the base creature's starting ECL would be (I just use good instinct and fix it on the fly, but some may wish to use Yabbathewhat's Feature Points to do this) and determine the starting level a Wizard or Sorcerer can take this creature as their Familiar. If the LA of the creature in question is +1, then the Wizard may take it as a Familiar when his CL reach the to-be Familiar's ECL+2. A Celestial Hawk can be taken as early as 3rd level (low HD, low LA creature using this logic and formula).

For Familiars with an even higher LA, you increase the level required to take one on a one-for-one basis (+2 LA requires ECL+3, and so on). This results in the Wizard still being able to be more potent than his pet, but allows the Familiar to become more powerful than normally allowed.

Take a look at the ever-impressive Phoenix, from MM2. It has no listed LA, and a massive amount of abilities. These boards have their own method of calculating the ECL of such a creature, but it should be around 32-36. Using this idea, a Wizard of at least 34th-38th level could have a Phoenix as his companion, rather than the pitiful owl he would normally carry around.

And about the Int score: If the base creature's Int is higher than the Int listed in the table, don't change it. Instead, when the Int would increase, change the new Familiar's Int by the same number. Do not count any Int increases from before the Wizard could take the creature as a Familiar when doing this.

Thusly, a Wizard with a Troglodyte Familiar (normally impossible, but it is with this) of at least 7th level would have a Familiar with a base Int equal to that of your average Human Commoner. The next time the Wizard's Familiar would improve, he adds 1 to his Troglodyte's Int score.

Natural Armor does not follow this progression, due to none of the Improved Familiars being forced to use the lower Int score (if it would be lower than the average score).

This is a completely BSed House Rule I made a while back. I also allow my players to give their Animal Companions and Familiars the Elite Array (for certain stats) every now and again.
Hellsbells
04-20-08, 09:02 PM Cant you use symbiots (fiend folio) or the parasite creature from the symbiont template (savage species) as a familiar?
Sinfire Titan
04-20-08, 09:24 PM Cant you use symbiots (fiend folio) or the parasite creature from the symbiont template (savage species) as a familiar?

Not without a PrC, IIRC.
Hellsbells
04-20-08, 09:35 PM oh... cause that gave me an idea but apparently not.
Sinfire Titan
04-20-08, 09:45 PM oh... cause that gave me an idea but apparently not.

Oh, if you mean using my House Rule, then the answer is yes. Symbiots have an ECL based on what they do. Living Breastplate, for example, is just about an ELC of 3rd, so a 5th level Wizard could have one.
Hellsbells
04-20-08, 09:47 PM No i just meant in general but your house rule would mean I dont need a PrC.
SEJK
04-20-08, 10:18 PM Thanks for all the info. One more thing, what about the special benefits your familiar gives you? What determines those?
Sinfire Titan
04-20-08, 10:26 PM Thanks for all the info. One more thing, what about the special benefits your familiar gives you? What determines those?

Nothing. Only the basic ones grant them.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
SEJK 04-20-08, 08:03 PM	I was wondering if their were rules for using other kinds of animals as familiar. I've searched all over but can't find anything.
Sinfire Titan 04-20-08, 08:28 PM	I am your savior for this. Very little can actually be used for a Familiar (when you compare it to what can be used as an Animal Companion, the list is rather small). The rules offer some support for the choices you can via through the Improved Familiar and Exalted Familiar feats, and through several other that I have no clue about. There are also a few PrCs that upgrade existing Familiars, such as the Fiend-Blooded in Heroes of Horror, or the Alienist in Complete Arcane. All of those lack the ability to make a competent companion for a Wizard or Sorcerer. I find that using the Leadership rules and good judgment allows for more impressive, if somewhat unusual, Familiars for PCs to use. Basically, you have to find what the base creature's starting ECL would be (I just use good instinct and fix it on the fly, but some may wish to use Yabbathewhat's Feature Points to do this) and determine the starting level a Wizard or Sorcerer can take this creature as their Familiar. If the LA of the creature in question is +1, then the Wizard may take it as a Familiar when his CL reach the to-be Familiar's ECL+2. A Celestial Hawk can be taken as early as 3rd level (low HD, low LA creature using this logic and formula). For Familiars with an even higher LA, you increase the level required to take one on a one-for-one basis (+2 LA requires ECL+3, and so on). This results in the Wizard still being able to be more potent than his pet, but allows the Familiar to become more powerful than normally allowed. Take a look at the ever-impressive Phoenix, from MM2. It has no listed LA, and a massive amount of abilities. These boards have their own method of calculating the ECL of such a creature, but it should be around 32-36. Using this idea, a Wizard of at least 34th-38th level could have a Phoenix as his companion, rather than the pitiful owl he would normally carry around. And about the Int score: If the base creature's Int is higher than the Int listed in the table, don't change it. Instead, when the Int would increase, change the new Familiar's Int by the same number. Do not count any Int increases from before the Wizard could take the creature as a Familiar when doing this. Thusly, a Wizard with a Troglodyte Familiar (normally impossible, but it is with this) of at least 7th level would have a Familiar with a base Int equal to that of your average Human Commoner. The next time the Wizard's Familiar would improve, he adds 1 to his Troglodyte's Int score. Natural Armor does not follow this progression, due to none of the Improved Familiars being forced to use the lower Int score (if it would be lower than the average score). This is a completely BSed House Rule I made a while back. I also allow my players to give their Animal Companions and Familiars the Elite Array (for certain stats) every now and again.
Hellsbells 04-20-08, 09:02 PM	Cant you use symbiots (fiend folio) or the parasite creature from the symbiont template (savage species) as a familiar?
Sinfire Titan 04-20-08, 09:24 PM	Cant you use symbiots (fiend folio) or the parasite creature from the symbiont template (savage species) as a familiar? Not without a PrC, IIRC.
Hellsbells 04-20-08, 09:35 PM	oh... cause that gave me an idea but apparently not.
Sinfire Titan 04-20-08, 09:45 PM	oh... cause that gave me an idea but apparently not. Oh, if you mean using my House Rule, then the answer is yes. Symbiots have an ECL based on what they do. Living Breastplate, for example, is just about an ELC of 3rd, so a 5th level Wizard could have one.
Hellsbells 04-20-08, 09:47 PM	No i just meant in general but your house rule would mean I dont need a PrC.
SEJK 04-20-08, 10:18 PM	Thanks for all the info. One more thing, what about the special benefits your familiar gives you? What determines those?
Sinfire Titan 04-20-08, 10:26 PM	Thanks for all the info. One more thing, what about the special benefits your familiar gives you? What determines those? Nothing. Only the basic ones grant them.