Fleshing out my familiar [Archive] - Wizards Community

Fleshing out my familiar [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Dabriel
08-04-07, 11:33 PM I'm getting ready to play a Beguiler/Wizard/Ultimate Magus character and I have been back and forth on the familiar. Originally, I was just going to trade it for an extra feat, but after realizing that it could be great to have a familiar for RP reasons, I decided to keep it. Thematically, I like the Raven. It may not be the best from a optimization standpoint, but it speaks! Seems like a great addition to the party from a RP perspective. Granted, it has a low intelligence, but I bet it could beat the barbarian at chess. But, I was not satisfied. I really wanted a pseudodragon because, well, dragons are cool. Of course, I don't want to wait till 7th level or whatever it is to take a feat for the psuedodragon. So, I was stuck....until I started browsing the Deviant Art pictures and I came across this:

http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/24025232/?qo=1&q=fear+the+raven&qh=boost%3Apopular+age_sigma%3A24h+age_s cale%3A5

It's perfect! A cross between a raven and a psuedodragon. What could be more fitting? It fits thematically with my character. Raven for the wizard side, dragon for the sorcerer side.

Long story short, in what ways could I make this familiar more memorable? I am thinking of making him have a fascination with shiny objects, that will bring up some interesting situations. Also, I think that having him emulate my character casting spells would be fun. When my character does hand motions, the familiar tries to copy him. Since ravens speak one language, I am thinking about giving him Draconic. This could lead to some interesting situations if he gets his hands on a wand.:D The party is browsing through a magic shop when the familiar gets his hands on a wand of electric jolt. Moments later, the familiar and his master are thrown out of the shop by a rather upset shopkeep whose hair is standing on end.

Any other neat little things I could have my familiar do to make him more memorable? Thanks!
Free1983
08-05-07, 04:29 AM You said it yourself. Your raven/dragon speaks. You should give your creature a personality (well you're already doing it, but go on). How would your raven/dragon be:

sarcastic
humoristic
Barbarian head on style
Suave playboy
Easily angered
Etc.

For example, your familiar is a playboy. Every time (and i mean every time) he sees a beautiful creature (humanoid, fey, animal,...) he starts hitting on her. You can't go to a bar without proper agreements, but sometimes his behaviour gets you hooked up with the queen of the bar.

A sarcastic familiar could get you in all sorts of trouble by taunting a cityguard/the merchant your trying to get a discount from/... .

In essence you give your familiar a way to look at the world. Try to come up with some punchlines for your familiar. The suave familiar could have a dozen or so pickup-lines (each one worse than the former).

Hope this helps,

Cheers
Fithero
08-05-07, 10:14 AM I think Crow would be a good idea, and i like a few of Free1983's idea's on its personality.

Another bonus of the crow, is that since it can talk, it can use magic items that require a command word :P

Give it a ring of invisibility and it is a pretty decent spy!

Peace
Dabriel
08-05-07, 12:50 PM Well, my character is a bit cocky, so a sarcastic attitude would fit well. Any other interesting traits to make him memorable?
Free1983
08-05-07, 01:31 PM Try thinking of little things that make your familiar special. It's kind of the same as thinking of little things that make your character special.
For example:

What does your familiar hate in peticular
What's the favorite meal of your familiar
If the familiar gets an hour to spend on R&R, what will he do?

The answers could be legio. He likes to pick on the pets of other people, proving they are born stupid, he hates smokers because he thinks they stink and he'll commit a murder to get to those tasty wheats (was there anytime something that nutritious?).

Cheers
Dabriel
08-06-07, 11:48 PM Well, I have done a bit more thinking on it and I think I've got a pretty good idea of how he will behave. I also included a bit of a rivalry with a fellow spellcasters familiar. Should lead to some fun events.
Terjon of the Blue Rose
08-08-07, 06:46 AM I love ravens. In a previous campaign our spellsword didn't think his familiar would be too important so he let the party RP it. BIG MISTAKE!

Suddenly the familiar had the voice of a foul-mouthed Curly Joe, refused to refer to his master as anything other than :censored: (in reference to a part of the rear end), and ruined every attempt the poor bugger made at seducing young women by listing off previous "conquests" he (the spellsword not the raven) had made.

PS: suddenly the player for some reason started using his deliver touch spell ability far more often which led to some nice fun comment from the familiar about his leadership qualities... and dang near made his familiar immortal on a "the DM doesn't want it dead" basis.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Dabriel 08-04-07, 11:33 PM	I'm getting ready to play a Beguiler/Wizard/Ultimate Magus character and I have been back and forth on the familiar. Originally, I was just going to trade it for an extra feat, but after realizing that it could be great to have a familiar for RP reasons, I decided to keep it. Thematically, I like the Raven. It may not be the best from a optimization standpoint, but it speaks! Seems like a great addition to the party from a RP perspective. Granted, it has a low intelligence, but I bet it could beat the barbarian at chess. But, I was not satisfied. I really wanted a pseudodragon because, well, dragons are cool. Of course, I don't want to wait till 7th level or whatever it is to take a feat for the psuedodragon. So, I was stuck....until I started browsing the Deviant Art pictures and I came across this: http://www.deviantart.com/deviation/24025232/?qo=1&q=fear+the+raven&qh=boost%3Apopular+age_sigma%3A24h+age_s cale%3A5 It's perfect! A cross between a raven and a psuedodragon. What could be more fitting? It fits thematically with my character. Raven for the wizard side, dragon for the sorcerer side. Long story short, in what ways could I make this familiar more memorable? I am thinking of making him have a fascination with shiny objects, that will bring up some interesting situations. Also, I think that having him emulate my character casting spells would be fun. When my character does hand motions, the familiar tries to copy him. Since ravens speak one language, I am thinking about giving him Draconic. This could lead to some interesting situations if he gets his hands on a wand.:D The party is browsing through a magic shop when the familiar gets his hands on a wand of electric jolt. Moments later, the familiar and his master are thrown out of the shop by a rather upset shopkeep whose hair is standing on end. Any other neat little things I could have my familiar do to make him more memorable? Thanks!
Free1983 08-05-07, 04:29 AM	You said it yourself. Your raven/dragon speaks. You should give your creature a personality (well you're already doing it, but go on). How would your raven/dragon be: sarcastic humoristic Barbarian head on style Suave playboy Easily angered Etc. For example, your familiar is a playboy. Every time (and i mean every time) he sees a beautiful creature (humanoid, fey, animal,...) he starts hitting on her. You can't go to a bar without proper agreements, but sometimes his behaviour gets you hooked up with the queen of the bar. A sarcastic familiar could get you in all sorts of trouble by taunting a cityguard/the merchant your trying to get a discount from/... . In essence you give your familiar a way to look at the world. Try to come up with some punchlines for your familiar. The suave familiar could have a dozen or so pickup-lines (each one worse than the former). Hope this helps, Cheers
Fithero 08-05-07, 10:14 AM	I think Crow would be a good idea, and i like a few of Free1983's idea's on its personality. Another bonus of the crow, is that since it can talk, it can use magic items that require a command word :P Give it a ring of invisibility and it is a pretty decent spy! Peace
Dabriel 08-05-07, 12:50 PM	Well, my character is a bit cocky, so a sarcastic attitude would fit well. Any other interesting traits to make him memorable?
Free1983 08-05-07, 01:31 PM	Try thinking of little things that make your familiar special. It's kind of the same as thinking of little things that make your character special. For example: What does your familiar hate in peticular What's the favorite meal of your familiar If the familiar gets an hour to spend on R&R, what will he do? The answers could be legio. He likes to pick on the pets of other people, proving they are born stupid, he hates smokers because he thinks they stink and he'll commit a murder to get to those tasty wheats (was there anytime something that nutritious?). Cheers
Dabriel 08-06-07, 11:48 PM	Well, I have done a bit more thinking on it and I think I've got a pretty good idea of how he will behave. I also included a bit of a rivalry with a fellow spellcasters familiar. Should lead to some fun events.
Terjon of the Blue Rose 08-08-07, 06:46 AM	I love ravens. In a previous campaign our spellsword didn't think his familiar would be too important so he let the party RP it. BIG MISTAKE! Suddenly the familiar had the voice of a foul-mouthed Curly Joe, refused to refer to his master as anything other than :censored: (in reference to a part of the rear end), and ruined every attempt the poor bugger made at seducing young women by listing off previous "conquests" he (the spellsword not the raven) had made. PS: suddenly the player for some reason started using his deliver touch spell ability far more often which led to some nice fun comment from the familiar about his leadership qualities... and dang near made his familiar immortal on a "the DM doesn't want it dead" basis.