A Familiar Question....(you all saw that pun comin) [Archive] - Wizards Community

A Familiar Question....(you all saw that pun comin) [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
DIEORC
11-03-03, 12:48 PM I'm sick of toads as a familiar. Obviously they're one of the best familiars you can take due to the +2 constitution bonus. And almost all my players take them because of this. But are toads the only animals that can give you +2 con?

So my question is...

Has anyone thought of any other animals that can be familiars? What bonuses would they give you, and what other familiars can give you a +2 Con?

Thanks a bunch.
anshar
11-03-03, 01:16 PM Originally posted by DIEORC
what other familiars can give you a +2 Con?

Well, turtles come to mind. Also mongoose, any small arctic animals, iguana, and desert snakes. That's just off the top of my head... if I think up any more, I'll post.
Seeker95
11-03-03, 03:13 PM In 3.5, they changed it. Now, the toad only gives you the toughness feat for free (meaning, you get +3 hit points).
DIEORC
11-03-03, 04:35 PM BOO to that!
kirellagen
11-03-03, 09:45 PM Darn 3.5! maybe like a lizard.

Kire
Alaina
12-06-03, 11:27 PM Originally posted by Seeker95
In 3.5, they changed it. Now, the toad only gives you the toughness feat for free (meaning, you get +3 hit points).
Thank goodness they did away with that! Most spellcasters have too high of a Con. score and are just OVERFLOWING with hit points.

.:rolleyes:
Steve G
green_yawgmoth
12-06-03, 11:40 PM Well, when you get an extra 20hp over 20 levels, at epic that toad can get so broken! Wait a minute... :rolleyes:

Anyways, I took a pseudodragon familiar. They be cool.
Alaina
12-07-03, 12:00 AM Air Elelemental here. Fit in perfect with my "Wind Witch" concept.

But seriously, who cares about 20 extra HP for an Epic Wizard? They're going to need them! Wizards are PATHETIC at low levels- limited spells, terrible hit points, lousy AC. You're basically hiding in the back, shooting missile weapons, praying no one notices you.

Toad was a perfect fit. But NOOOO, 3.5 has to hoze wizards yet again.

Sigmar forbid a familiar give a useful stat boost.

Steve G.

p.s broken familiars are the Dragon ones someone was posting about
FireSpark
12-07-03, 02:32 AM Personally, I like my magic users having a weasel around. Thoase 2 points on a refelx save can mean the difference between a fireball dealing 12 points of damage, or only 6.:dice:

And recently (after the hilarious demise of his monk), one of the guys I play with created a Sorcerer with a Spider Monkey familier. No one was sure what the benefit from having a Spider Monkey should be, so they went with my suggestion of +3 to tumble checks.
Sir Pandemonium
12-07-03, 03:27 AM I admit it.

I like the change to the toad familiar.

Why?

Name me any other place in the game where a character can get a +2 Con, that stacks with anything, for only 100 gold.
Alaina
12-07-03, 12:22 PM Ok, I'll bite. I don't have an encyclopedic knowledge of the game so I'll ask you this-

what else is there that will make a PC lose (a level?) XP if it gets "lost?" Familiars have a big bullseye painted on them and anything that knows anything about casters will happily go after the buggers.

If the bonus had been towards a already-heavy stat like INT, then I'd see the problem. Fact is, most Wizards don't have a high CON (they certainly don't have tons of hit points) so the bonus was much-meeded. It was decent, and thats what made it so cool, and therefore had to be taken away in 3.5 Land.

Steve G.
Nytmare
12-07-03, 01:12 PM Originally posted by Alaina
what else is there that will make a PC lose (a level?) XP if it gets "lost?"

A fight with a Wight?
WizO_Pony
12-07-03, 01:21 PM Of course at first and second levels, Toughness provides more hit points than a +2 to Con does.

So the 3.5 change to the toad familiar actually helps very-low level wizards and sorcerers, but hurts them at higher-levels.
Alaina
12-07-03, 01:38 PM Originally posted by Nytmare
A fight with a Wight?

:rolleyes:
I was talking about equipment or items or accessories. (Not that you can compare a Paladin's warhorse to backpack but hey)

The point being that a familiar is unique in the sense that it can take away just as much as it gives. That vulnerability is what makes a toad balanced; that and the fact that as a toad its not very likely to be helpful like say, a bird, might.

Steve G.

p.s. Fighting wights is stupid- slow them down with an obstacle and run the hell away.
Bunga
12-07-03, 01:42 PM I use raven familars myself. If I can, I colour them silver. They look really cool.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DIEORC 11-03-03, 12:48 PM	I'm sick of toads as a familiar. Obviously they're one of the best familiars you can take due to the +2 constitution bonus. And almost all my players take them because of this. But are toads the only animals that can give you +2 con? So my question is... Has anyone thought of any other animals that can be familiars? What bonuses would they give you, and what other familiars can give you a +2 Con? Thanks a bunch.
anshar 11-03-03, 01:16 PM	Originally posted by DIEORC what other familiars can give you a +2 Con? Well, turtles come to mind. Also mongoose, any small arctic animals, iguana, and desert snakes. That's just off the top of my head... if I think up any more, I'll post.
Seeker95 11-03-03, 03:13 PM	In 3.5, they changed it. Now, the toad only gives you the toughness feat for free (meaning, you get +3 hit points).
DIEORC 11-03-03, 04:35 PM	BOO to that!
kirellagen 11-03-03, 09:45 PM	Darn 3.5! maybe like a lizard. Kire
Alaina 12-06-03, 11:27 PM	Originally posted by Seeker95 In 3.5, they changed it. Now, the toad only gives you the toughness feat for free (meaning, you get +3 hit points). Thank goodness they did away with that! Most spellcasters have too high of a Con. score and are just OVERFLOWING with hit points. .:rolleyes: Steve G
green_yawgmoth 12-06-03, 11:40 PM	Well, when you get an extra 20hp over 20 levels, at epic that toad can get so broken! Wait a minute... :rolleyes: Anyways, I took a pseudodragon familiar. They be cool.
Alaina 12-07-03, 12:00 AM	Air Elelemental here. Fit in perfect with my "Wind Witch" concept. But seriously, who cares about 20 extra HP for an Epic Wizard? They're going to need them! Wizards are PATHETIC at low levels- limited spells, terrible hit points, lousy AC. You're basically hiding in the back, shooting missile weapons, praying no one notices you. Toad was a perfect fit. But NOOOO, 3.5 has to hoze wizards yet again. Sigmar forbid a familiar give a useful stat boost. Steve G. p.s broken familiars are the Dragon ones someone was posting about
FireSpark 12-07-03, 02:32 AM	Personally, I like my magic users having a weasel around. Thoase 2 points on a refelx save can mean the difference between a fireball dealing 12 points of damage, or only 6.:dice: And recently (after the hilarious demise of his monk), one of the guys I play with created a Sorcerer with a Spider Monkey familier. No one was sure what the benefit from having a Spider Monkey should be, so they went with my suggestion of +3 to tumble checks.
Sir Pandemonium 12-07-03, 03:27 AM	I admit it. I like the change to the toad familiar. Why? Name me any other place in the game where a character can get a +2 Con, that stacks with anything, for only 100 gold.
Alaina 12-07-03, 12:22 PM	Ok, I'll bite. I don't have an encyclopedic knowledge of the game so I'll ask you this- what else is there that will make a PC lose (a level?) XP if it gets "lost?" Familiars have a big bullseye painted on them and anything that knows anything about casters will happily go after the buggers. If the bonus had been towards a already-heavy stat like INT, then I'd see the problem. Fact is, most Wizards don't have a high CON (they certainly don't have tons of hit points) so the bonus was much-meeded. It was decent, and thats what made it so cool, and therefore had to be taken away in 3.5 Land. Steve G.
Nytmare 12-07-03, 01:12 PM	Originally posted by Alaina what else is there that will make a PC lose (a level?) XP if it gets "lost?" A fight with a Wight?
WizO_Pony 12-07-03, 01:21 PM	Of course at first and second levels, Toughness provides more hit points than a +2 to Con does. So the 3.5 change to the toad familiar actually helps very-low level wizards and sorcerers, but hurts them at higher-levels.
Alaina 12-07-03, 01:38 PM	Originally posted by Nytmare A fight with a Wight? :rolleyes: I was talking about equipment or items or accessories. (Not that you can compare a Paladin's warhorse to backpack but hey) The point being that a familiar is unique in the sense that it can take away just as much as it gives. That vulnerability is what makes a toad balanced; that and the fact that as a toad its not very likely to be helpful like say, a bird, might. Steve G. p.s. Fighting wights is stupid- slow them down with an obstacle and run the hell away.
Bunga 12-07-03, 01:42 PM	I use raven familars myself. If I can, I colour them silver. They look really cool.