Alternative Familiars [Archive] - Wizards Community

Alternative Familiars [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
AZNsupermarket
07-06-06, 08:35 PM Are there any rules for alternative wizard/sorcerer familiars? I would like to see if there are any more interesting options than the ones listed in the PHB.
Escef
07-06-06, 10:01 PM There were some listed in an issue of Dragon within the last year. Any creature of appropriate CR and capabilities is probably good. For example, a rabbit or hare could use the stats for bat, change the movement to 40, and have it give +2 to listen and hide. (Just an off the top of the head example.)
Jovknee
07-07-06, 02:35 AM Improved Familiar is a feat in several different books. One that comes to mind is the campain setting of Faerun. However maybe even the DMG not to sure. But it is out there.
Gnome_Dragon_Disciple
07-07-06, 03:17 AM Generally, you can't go too far wrong with stat substitution. Someone wants a parrot familiiar? Raven with a bonus to Disguise checks instead. A Mongoose? A ferret with a bonus to Initiative. Or even a spider? Take the stats for the smallest possible spider and give the character a small bonus to climb and a +1 enhancement bonus to resist poisons.

It's fairly simple... Though one of these days I'm going to have to rewrite the familiars system so it's a little more worthwhile for spellcasters to take them...
DrakoShade
07-07-06, 03:59 AM Personally, I want a kinder for a familiar. They have about the right intelligence, right?
Vagrond
07-07-06, 04:40 AM FRCS and Tome and Blood have guidelines and the Improved Familiar feat. If you want a simple animal and not an elemental, a mephit or whatever, you don't need those books, you could do as Gnome Dragon Disciple said.
Zherog
07-07-06, 11:58 AM There were some listed in an issue of Dragon within the last year.

I co-wrote that article. :D You can find it in issue 341.

My personal favorite of the creatures from the article is the platypus. :D :D :D
amethal
07-07-06, 01:57 PM The Environment books have some more familiars in them.

Horned Lizard
Albatross
Eel
Fish Owl
Octopus
Parrot
Sea Snake
Arctic Fox
Gyrfalcon
Lemming
Snowy Owl
Penguin

Some of them just use existing stats (parrot uses raven, for example) whilst others are new monsters.

I can't see any self-respecting sorcerer having a lemming or a penguin as a familiar, but each to his own :)
razorboy
07-07-06, 02:09 PM Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, I think Unapproacheable East has the rules for Eyball Beholder familiar, and Lost Empires of Faerun has Tressym as an alternative familiar.

Now, what if you had a sorceror or wizard dragon of huge size or larger. Could it have a human for a familiar? What about a halfling familiar? :P What kind of bonuses could a human familiar give? Halfling probably would give +2 to hide and move silently. :)
Gonf
07-07-06, 03:15 PM Heh, humanoid familiers :D

Anyway, The Complete Warrior has a number of great combat familiers, ranging from Worgs to Winter Wolves, they added a master's Base Attack Bonus prequisite for each monster but the system is still similer to the Improved Familier feat.

The DMG, Forgotton Realms Campaign Setting, and Complete Warrior have current improved familier lists. Tomb and Blood was the rough draft for the DMG's list. The Complete Arcana probably has another extended list but I don't know for sure.
AZNsupermarket
07-07-06, 03:51 PM none of these familiars would happen to give a bonus to diplomacy, would they?
Grandpa Gamer
07-07-06, 09:12 PM none of these familiars would happen to give a bonus to diplomacy, would they?

No, but a Lemming simply HAS to give bonuses for Expeditious Retreat!!! :D
Gnome_Dragon_Disciple
07-07-06, 11:48 PM Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, I think Unapproacheable East has the rules for Eyball Beholder familiar, and Lost Empires of Faerun has Tressym as an alternative familiar.

Now, what if you had a sorceror or wizard dragon of huge size or larger. Could it have a human for a familiar? What about a halfling familiar? :P What kind of bonuses could a human familiar give? Halfling probably would give +2 to hide and move silently. :)

I'm not sure, but I'm told the Draconomicon has rules for dragons taking class-leveled PC races as familiars...
Azezel
07-08-06, 04:57 AM My Wizard has a Butterfly familiar which gives +3 to Diplomacy.
DarkCaller
07-08-06, 10:19 AM I think another Dragon article (not the one described above) talks about a construct familiar, and Libris Mortis has undead familiars, I think.
obrysii
07-08-06, 10:52 AM Now, what if you had a sorceror or wizard dragon of huge size or larger. Could it have a human for a familiar? What about a halfling familiar? :P What kind of bonuses could a human familiar give? Halfling probably would give +2 to hide and move silently. :)

In a campaign I DM'ed, a Great White Wyrm had a human as her familiar.

I'd say it's perfectly fine for it to happen--there aren't any rules against it...just that the possible familiar must be willing.
Rentar1743
07-08-06, 11:22 AM what are you looking for?

As far as I can tell just about anything can become a familiar if the DM allows it. CW has constructs, FRCS has elementals, psudoe dragon, Flying snakes and cats, Dragon mag has more animals, and draconominoc has dragons.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
AZNsupermarket 07-06-06, 08:35 PM	Are there any rules for alternative wizard/sorcerer familiars? I would like to see if there are any more interesting options than the ones listed in the PHB.
Escef 07-06-06, 10:01 PM	There were some listed in an issue of Dragon within the last year. Any creature of appropriate CR and capabilities is probably good. For example, a rabbit or hare could use the stats for bat, change the movement to 40, and have it give +2 to listen and hide. (Just an off the top of the head example.)
Jovknee 07-07-06, 02:35 AM	Improved Familiar is a feat in several different books. One that comes to mind is the campain setting of Faerun. However maybe even the DMG not to sure. But it is out there.
Gnome_Dragon_Disciple 07-07-06, 03:17 AM	Generally, you can't go too far wrong with stat substitution. Someone wants a parrot familiiar? Raven with a bonus to Disguise checks instead. A Mongoose? A ferret with a bonus to Initiative. Or even a spider? Take the stats for the smallest possible spider and give the character a small bonus to climb and a +1 enhancement bonus to resist poisons. It's fairly simple... Though one of these days I'm going to have to rewrite the familiars system so it's a little more worthwhile for spellcasters to take them...
DrakoShade 07-07-06, 03:59 AM	Personally, I want a kinder for a familiar. They have about the right intelligence, right?
Vagrond 07-07-06, 04:40 AM	FRCS and Tome and Blood have guidelines and the Improved Familiar feat. If you want a simple animal and not an elemental, a mephit or whatever, you don't need those books, you could do as Gnome Dragon Disciple said.
Zherog 07-07-06, 11:58 AM	There were some listed in an issue of Dragon within the last year. I co-wrote that article. :D You can find it in issue 341. My personal favorite of the creatures from the article is the platypus. :D :D :D
amethal 07-07-06, 01:57 PM	The Environment books have some more familiars in them. Horned Lizard Albatross Eel Fish Owl Octopus Parrot Sea Snake Arctic Fox Gyrfalcon Lemming Snowy Owl Penguin Some of them just use existing stats (parrot uses raven, for example) whilst others are new monsters. I can't see any self-respecting sorcerer having a lemming or a penguin as a familiar, but each to his own :)
razorboy 07-07-06, 02:09 PM	Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, I think Unapproacheable East has the rules for Eyball Beholder familiar, and Lost Empires of Faerun has Tressym as an alternative familiar. Now, what if you had a sorceror or wizard dragon of huge size or larger. Could it have a human for a familiar? What about a halfling familiar? :P What kind of bonuses could a human familiar give? Halfling probably would give +2 to hide and move silently. :)
Gonf 07-07-06, 03:15 PM	Heh, humanoid familiers :D Anyway, The Complete Warrior has a number of great combat familiers, ranging from Worgs to Winter Wolves, they added a master's Base Attack Bonus prequisite for each monster but the system is still similer to the Improved Familier feat. The DMG, Forgotton Realms Campaign Setting, and Complete Warrior have current improved familier lists. Tomb and Blood was the rough draft for the DMG's list. The Complete Arcana probably has another extended list but I don't know for sure.
AZNsupermarket 07-07-06, 03:51 PM	none of these familiars would happen to give a bonus to diplomacy, would they?
Grandpa Gamer 07-07-06, 09:12 PM	none of these familiars would happen to give a bonus to diplomacy, would they? No, but a Lemming simply HAS to give bonuses for Expeditious Retreat!!! :D
Gnome_Dragon_Disciple 07-07-06, 11:48 PM	Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting, I think Unapproacheable East has the rules for Eyball Beholder familiar, and Lost Empires of Faerun has Tressym as an alternative familiar. Now, what if you had a sorceror or wizard dragon of huge size or larger. Could it have a human for a familiar? What about a halfling familiar? :P What kind of bonuses could a human familiar give? Halfling probably would give +2 to hide and move silently. :) I'm not sure, but I'm told the Draconomicon has rules for dragons taking class-leveled PC races as familiars...
Azezel 07-08-06, 04:57 AM	My Wizard has a Butterfly familiar which gives +3 to Diplomacy.
DarkCaller 07-08-06, 10:19 AM	I think another Dragon article (not the one described above) talks about a construct familiar, and Libris Mortis has undead familiars, I think.
obrysii 07-08-06, 10:52 AM	Now, what if you had a sorceror or wizard dragon of huge size or larger. Could it have a human for a familiar? What about a halfling familiar? :P What kind of bonuses could a human familiar give? Halfling probably would give +2 to hide and move silently. :) In a campaign I DM'ed, a Great White Wyrm had a human as her familiar. I'd say it's perfectly fine for it to happen--there aren't any rules against it...just that the possible familiar must be willing.
Rentar1743 07-08-06, 11:22 AM	what are you looking for? As far as I can tell just about anything can become a familiar if the DM allows it. CW has constructs, FRCS has elementals, psudoe dragon, Flying snakes and cats, Dragon mag has more animals, and draconominoc has dragons.