A familiar question [Archive] - Wizards Community

A familiar question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Bounces
11-29-05, 03:54 PM So...Complete Adventurer has the natural bond feat that makes up for lost levels in regards to your animal companion...

Is there a feat like this for arcane casters and their familiars? something that gives a +2 or maybe a +4 boos to effective master level for determining familiar abilities?

If so can you please point me towards the source? Thanks!
Zathyr
11-29-05, 04:02 PM Obtain Familiar, Complete Arcane, pg 81 is the only thing I can think of.
Bounces
11-29-05, 04:08 PM No...that wouldn't work...I will have a familiar by virtue of my wizard levels...but my druid levels (I am making an arcane heirophant) are what keeps the familiar from being smart enough to get combat expertise and improved trip...Obtain familiar would not give any bonus to the familiar level because the druid levels do not allow me to cast arcane spells.

Anything else?
Zemyla
11-29-05, 04:56 PM Have your animal companion be a badger or wolverine or dire version of one of these and have him enrolled in the Wolf Berserker Lodge. Then he won't need a 13 Int to take Improved Trip.
Bounces
11-29-05, 04:58 PM The wolf beserker lodge? What is that and what book does it come from?
Zathyr
11-29-05, 05:39 PM If you have access to Dragon Magazine material, there's a feat called Theurgic Bond in issue 325 that would serve your purposes and then some.
Fiddlypoppin
11-29-05, 07:21 PM No...that wouldn't work...I will have a familiar by virtue of my wizard levels...but my druid levels (I am making an arcane heirophant) are what keeps the familiar from being smart enough to get combat expertise and improved trip...Obtain familiar would not give any bonus to the familiar level because the druid levels do not allow me to cast arcane spells.

Anything else?

Am I missing something? My last reading through the RAW said that familiars don't gain HD, feats, etc. They get more hp (as the master does), new abilities (based on the master level), Int, and NA bonus. The HD "increase" is only effective HD for purposes of spell effects, etc. (such as Sleep).

Is there somewhere that I missed the place where familiars actually gain additional HD and/or feats?
MechaboyDos
11-29-05, 07:24 PM Am I missing something? My last reading through the RAW said that familiars don't gain HD, feats, etc. They get more hp (as the master does), new abilities (based on the master level), Int, and NA bonus. The HD "increase" is only effective HD for purposes of spell effects, etc. (such as Sleep).

Is there somewhere that I missed the place where familiars actually gain additional HD and/or feats?

The Arcane Hierophant blends the Druid Animal Companion and the Wizard/Sorcerer Familiar into a single animal, with both classes contributing to its abilities, and since Animal Companions do gain hit dice, voila.
SoulGamit
11-29-05, 08:25 PM Is there a feat like this for arcane casters and their familiars? something that gives a +2 or maybe a +4 boos to effective master level for determining familiar abilities?

Not that I know of, but you may just want to ask your DM if he'll allow you to make one. Considering there's one for animal companions allready, and that animal companions get far better bonuses then familiers, it's reasonable.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Bounces 11-29-05, 03:54 PM	So...Complete Adventurer has the natural bond feat that makes up for lost levels in regards to your animal companion... Is there a feat like this for arcane casters and their familiars? something that gives a +2 or maybe a +4 boos to effective master level for determining familiar abilities? If so can you please point me towards the source? Thanks!
Zathyr 11-29-05, 04:02 PM	Obtain Familiar, Complete Arcane, pg 81 is the only thing I can think of.
Bounces 11-29-05, 04:08 PM	No...that wouldn't work...I will have a familiar by virtue of my wizard levels...but my druid levels (I am making an arcane heirophant) are what keeps the familiar from being smart enough to get combat expertise and improved trip...Obtain familiar would not give any bonus to the familiar level because the druid levels do not allow me to cast arcane spells. Anything else?
Zemyla 11-29-05, 04:56 PM	Have your animal companion be a badger or wolverine or dire version of one of these and have him enrolled in the Wolf Berserker Lodge. Then he won't need a 13 Int to take Improved Trip.
Bounces 11-29-05, 04:58 PM	The wolf beserker lodge? What is that and what book does it come from?
Zathyr 11-29-05, 05:39 PM	If you have access to Dragon Magazine material, there's a feat called Theurgic Bond in issue 325 that would serve your purposes and then some.
Fiddlypoppin 11-29-05, 07:21 PM	No...that wouldn't work...I will have a familiar by virtue of my wizard levels...but my druid levels (I am making an arcane heirophant) are what keeps the familiar from being smart enough to get combat expertise and improved trip...Obtain familiar would not give any bonus to the familiar level because the druid levels do not allow me to cast arcane spells. Anything else? Am I missing something? My last reading through the RAW said that familiars don't gain HD, feats, etc. They get more hp (as the master does), new abilities (based on the master level), Int, and NA bonus. The HD "increase" is only effective HD for purposes of spell effects, etc. (such as Sleep). Is there somewhere that I missed the place where familiars actually gain additional HD and/or feats?
MechaboyDos 11-29-05, 07:24 PM	Am I missing something? My last reading through the RAW said that familiars don't gain HD, feats, etc. They get more hp (as the master does), new abilities (based on the master level), Int, and NA bonus. The HD "increase" is only effective HD for purposes of spell effects, etc. (such as Sleep). Is there somewhere that I missed the place where familiars actually gain additional HD and/or feats? The Arcane Hierophant blends the Druid Animal Companion and the Wizard/Sorcerer Familiar into a single animal, with both classes contributing to its abilities, and since Animal Companions do gain hit dice, voila.
SoulGamit 11-29-05, 08:25 PM	Is there a feat like this for arcane casters and their familiars? something that gives a +2 or maybe a +4 boos to effective master level for determining familiar abilities? Not that I know of, but you may just want to ask your DM if he'll allow you to make one. Considering there's one for animal companions allready, and that animal companions get far better bonuses then familiers, it's reasonable.