Class for animal companions/familiars [Archive] - Wizards Community

Class for animal companions/familiars [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Juliomartell
03-15-07, 06:42 PM Hi. I was wondering if there would possibly be a class that not just focus's on the character, BUT the animal itself? Wouldn't it be nice to have an animal that can cast a different school of magic or perhaps a domain of sorts unique to all others? Plus it wouldn't have to relate to religion or character alignment but it might. Truth is, I'm trying to create a new character class that utilizes animal companions/ familiars as the main source of the characters magic.

((comments and suggestions welcome and updates from suggestions taken will be on page 1.))

Some say that it is the person that utilizes the entirety of magic and it's splendors. Others say that it is the components used that unlock the magic and the person is just the one using it. If any apply, then what would the explaination be of having magical creatures? One goes to seek out or perhaps stumble upon one that granted the owner a quite magnificent power in relation to the other spells used by so many others. This, would be the start of special animal trainers, who's class name is currently unknown as of now.

The naming of this idea was going to perhaps be 'summoners' but that name was already used in lots of final fantasy games. anyone else have suggestions?

Edit:3/15/07 at 6:01PM

So far in considering, with this class you have to choose which type of magic you wish to cast. If you wish to cast divine magic (which has TONS of domain choices to choose from.) Then you get animal companions as the summons. If you choose arcana, you are given less animal companion choices to summon BUT can choose which school of magic a magical familiar can cast for you or through you.

so there forth, the caster in this case is the animal, not the person. So the person is lacking in attack bonus's and also in fortitude and will saves. reflex is high since he's the only one that must be used to cast these animals into existance. Then after, they can choose if they want their animal companion to stay along side them or to allow it to go back to where you summoned it from.

edit: 3/15/07 at 7:33 PM

Figured out weak BAB and strong Will save for stats. Level 1 grants you your affiliation to the magical connection of magic animals by granting you your very first summoning. this summon goes around with you as a normal pet of sorts for the duration of time before you can find out this normal companion contains magical powers. So at level 1 you choose which animal of sorts you wish to have that can grant you low level magics such as an abjuration magical beast or an evokation beast.

Just know that each beast has perhaps a limited number of spells memorized per day by its school of magic used. Like domains, each summon comes with a set number of 9 total spells, each one given by level.

so if you take knowledge domain for example and think about the 9 different possible abjuration spells to fit into each slot. 10 if including the level 0 spell slot for arcane casters. Later edit might suggest lessening to range between spell level 1 and 5.

Edit: 3/16/07 at 9:56 PM

Today's update involves knowing that your summon is limited to a specific level depending on your characters stat bonus.

A summoned beast has the ability to cast a spell of any level as many times as they want and don't have the same kind of spell slots like other classes do. this time, they can cast a number of any spell equal to the charisma bonus of the summoner.

Your summoner has currently 14 charisma with a +2 charisma bonus. That summon can access level 4 spells at the time and cast any of its spells 2 times a day. The higher your charisma and charisma bonus, the more spells you can access and the higher number of times your summon can cast them each day.
Juliomartell
03-16-07, 09:04 PM anyone have suggestions?
Zodiaq7
03-16-07, 09:14 PM I believe there is a familiarist class on the prestige class board, or this one, can't remember exactly which one, that deals with the familiar of a caster. You may find inspiration there.
Juliomartell
03-16-07, 09:15 PM Thanks. If you have the link I'd be more than happy to look at it. should I use domains or schools of magic for each area of expertese for the summons or familiars?
Zodiaq7
03-16-07, 09:59 PM So, the animal can act like a spellcasting cohort? If so, I would say go for a single domain or school of magic they can choose from, or go with a PrC spell list like Vigilante, or Hunter of the dead.
Juliomartell
03-16-07, 10:01 PM well I been going around the websites and I have some suggestions from there I will update the main page with.
Juliomartell
03-17-07, 04:30 AM double post bump
Fireclave
03-21-07, 02:42 PM I believe there is a familiarist class on the prestige class board, or this one, can't remember exactly which one, that deals with the familiar of a caster. You may find inspiration there.
Did someone call :D

Check out the class in my sig. I think it's just what you are looking for. And if you like it (or hate it) leave a critque. I'm still open to suggestions and criticism.
Juliomartell
03-21-07, 03:48 PM not really. Truth be told the summons are coming with their own domain from the divine side of casting. That in particular, it means that each summon you get lets you access a new domain of casting that it specializes in. Perhaps give them skills and see if they can be able to grant said skills to the player. There's an idea, a way of letting the caster using the summons to gain skill bonus's on each action by just having the summon.
Fireclave
03-21-07, 05:55 PM not really. Truth be told the summons are coming with their own domain from the divine side of casting. That in particular, it means that each summon you get lets you access a new domain of casting that it specializes in. Perhaps give them skills and see if they can be able to grant said skills to the player. There's an idea, a way of letting the caster using the summons to gain skill bonus's on each action by just having the summon.
*reads original post more carefully*

Oh :eek: Now I see :rolleyes:

Questions and comments:
1) Is this a base class or a PrC

2) If most of the spellcasting goodies are part of the summoned creatured, what can the character do?

3) You switch between using the terms "familiar" and "animal companion." If you summoned creature is casting spells, it's definately not an animal companion. But they're not quite familiars either. I suggest coming up with a new term (and perhaps new mechanics).

4) What kind of creatures qualify for being summoned.

5)
A summoned beast has the ability to cast a spell of any level as many times as they want and don't have the same kind of spell slots like other classes do. this time, they can cast a number of any spell equal to the charisma bonus of the summoner.
:emp: The brokenation is strong in this one :emp:

If I understand this correctly, this makes the spellcasting either insufficient for characters with a low to moderate cha, or overpowering once you add a decent cha score (like 16), increases to cha due to leveling, a cloak of charisma, inherent bonuses, epic levels, ect.

In other words, it's too variable. A Summoner with a cha of 14 is a completely different beast than a Summoner with 16 cha. I suggest creating a more solid baseline for spells/day.

6) There are Arcane Domains in Unearthed Arcana and on the optional rules in the d20srd. Might be worth a look.

I like the idea. It has a Final Fantasy 10 feel to it (which can be a good thing).
Juliomartell
07-23-07, 07:47 AM LOL that was a good one. I came back after some time and now I have to read up everything again to remember what I was doing. dang I'm forgetful.
Fallenangel359
07-23-07, 10:43 AM I only glanced over a couple posts, but there is a super companion build going on the char op boards, where everything is being focused into the paladinmount/druid animal companion. If you took that, and combined it a bit with wizard, and went with a arcane heiroplant build, you could have a paladinmount/druidanimalcompanion/wizardfamiliar dragon in 1 with more Hd than you do :P
Juliomartell
07-23-07, 06:55 PM well basically I been trying to go with something like a summoner from the final fantasy games. Just having damn problems how to approach it dnd.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Juliomartell 03-15-07, 06:42 PM	Hi. I was wondering if there would possibly be a class that not just focus's on the character, BUT the animal itself? Wouldn't it be nice to have an animal that can cast a different school of magic or perhaps a domain of sorts unique to all others? Plus it wouldn't have to relate to religion or character alignment but it might. Truth is, I'm trying to create a new character class that utilizes animal companions/ familiars as the main source of the characters magic. ((comments and suggestions welcome and updates from suggestions taken will be on page 1.)) Some say that it is the person that utilizes the entirety of magic and it's splendors. Others say that it is the components used that unlock the magic and the person is just the one using it. If any apply, then what would the explaination be of having magical creatures? One goes to seek out or perhaps stumble upon one that granted the owner a quite magnificent power in relation to the other spells used by so many others. This, would be the start of special animal trainers, who's class name is currently unknown as of now. The naming of this idea was going to perhaps be 'summoners' but that name was already used in lots of final fantasy games. anyone else have suggestions? Edit:3/15/07 at 6:01PM So far in considering, with this class you have to choose which type of magic you wish to cast. If you wish to cast divine magic (which has TONS of domain choices to choose from.) Then you get animal companions as the summons. If you choose arcana, you are given less animal companion choices to summon BUT can choose which school of magic a magical familiar can cast for you or through you. so there forth, the caster in this case is the animal, not the person. So the person is lacking in attack bonus's and also in fortitude and will saves. reflex is high since he's the only one that must be used to cast these animals into existance. Then after, they can choose if they want their animal companion to stay along side them or to allow it to go back to where you summoned it from. edit: 3/15/07 at 7:33 PM Figured out weak BAB and strong Will save for stats. Level 1 grants you your affiliation to the magical connection of magic animals by granting you your very first summoning. this summon goes around with you as a normal pet of sorts for the duration of time before you can find out this normal companion contains magical powers. So at level 1 you choose which animal of sorts you wish to have that can grant you low level magics such as an abjuration magical beast or an evokation beast. Just know that each beast has perhaps a limited number of spells memorized per day by its school of magic used. Like domains, each summon comes with a set number of 9 total spells, each one given by level. so if you take knowledge domain for example and think about the 9 different possible abjuration spells to fit into each slot. 10 if including the level 0 spell slot for arcane casters. Later edit might suggest lessening to range between spell level 1 and 5. Edit: 3/16/07 at 9:56 PM Today's update involves knowing that your summon is limited to a specific level depending on your characters stat bonus. A summoned beast has the ability to cast a spell of any level as many times as they want and don't have the same kind of spell slots like other classes do. this time, they can cast a number of any spell equal to the charisma bonus of the summoner. Your summoner has currently 14 charisma with a +2 charisma bonus. That summon can access level 4 spells at the time and cast any of its spells 2 times a day. The higher your charisma and charisma bonus, the more spells you can access and the higher number of times your summon can cast them each day.
Juliomartell 03-16-07, 09:04 PM	anyone have suggestions?
Zodiaq7 03-16-07, 09:14 PM	I believe there is a familiarist class on the prestige class board, or this one, can't remember exactly which one, that deals with the familiar of a caster. You may find inspiration there.
Juliomartell 03-16-07, 09:15 PM	Thanks. If you have the link I'd be more than happy to look at it. should I use domains or schools of magic for each area of expertese for the summons or familiars?
Zodiaq7 03-16-07, 09:59 PM	So, the animal can act like a spellcasting cohort? If so, I would say go for a single domain or school of magic they can choose from, or go with a PrC spell list like Vigilante, or Hunter of the dead.
Juliomartell 03-16-07, 10:01 PM	well I been going around the websites and I have some suggestions from there I will update the main page with.
Juliomartell 03-17-07, 04:30 AM	double post bump
Fireclave 03-21-07, 02:42 PM	I believe there is a familiarist class on the prestige class board, or this one, can't remember exactly which one, that deals with the familiar of a caster. You may find inspiration there. Did someone call :D Check out the class in my sig. I think it's just what you are looking for. And if you like it (or hate it) leave a critque. I'm still open to suggestions and criticism.
Juliomartell 03-21-07, 03:48 PM	not really. Truth be told the summons are coming with their own domain from the divine side of casting. That in particular, it means that each summon you get lets you access a new domain of casting that it specializes in. Perhaps give them skills and see if they can be able to grant said skills to the player. There's an idea, a way of letting the caster using the summons to gain skill bonus's on each action by just having the summon.
Fireclave 03-21-07, 05:55 PM	not really. Truth be told the summons are coming with their own domain from the divine side of casting. That in particular, it means that each summon you get lets you access a new domain of casting that it specializes in. Perhaps give them skills and see if they can be able to grant said skills to the player. There's an idea, a way of letting the caster using the summons to gain skill bonus's on each action by just having the summon. reads original post more carefully Oh :eek: Now I see :rolleyes: Questions and comments: 1) Is this a base class or a PrC 2) If most of the spellcasting goodies are part of the summoned creatured, what can the character do? 3) You switch between using the terms "familiar" and "animal companion." If you summoned creature is casting spells, it's definately not an animal companion. But they're not quite familiars either. I suggest coming up with a new term (and perhaps new mechanics). 4) What kind of creatures qualify for being summoned. 5) A summoned beast has the ability to cast a spell of any level as many times as they want and don't have the same kind of spell slots like other classes do. this time, they can cast a number of any spell equal to the charisma bonus of the summoner. :emp: The brokenation is strong in this one :emp: If I understand this correctly, this makes the spellcasting either insufficient for characters with a low to moderate cha, or overpowering once you add a decent cha score (like 16), increases to cha due to leveling, a cloak of charisma, inherent bonuses, epic levels, ect. In other words, it's too variable. A Summoner with a cha of 14 is a completely different beast than a Summoner with 16 cha. I suggest creating a more solid baseline for spells/day. 6) There are Arcane Domains in Unearthed Arcana and on the optional rules in the d20srd. Might be worth a look. I like the idea. It has a Final Fantasy 10 feel to it (which can be a good thing).
Juliomartell 07-23-07, 07:47 AM	LOL that was a good one. I came back after some time and now I have to read up everything again to remember what I was doing. dang I'm forgetful.
Fallenangel359 07-23-07, 10:43 AM	I only glanced over a couple posts, but there is a super companion build going on the char op boards, where everything is being focused into the paladinmount/druid animal companion. If you took that, and combined it a bit with wizard, and went with a arcane heiroplant build, you could have a paladinmount/druidanimalcompanion/wizardfamiliar dragon in 1 with more Hd than you do :P
Juliomartell 07-23-07, 06:55 PM	well basically I been trying to go with something like a summoner from the final fantasy games. Just having damn problems how to approach it dnd.