Hairy Spider as familiar - Help needed [Archive] - Wizards Community

Hairy Spider as familiar - Help needed [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Zofinur
05-14-07, 06:05 PM Hi,

planing to choose a hairy Spider as Familiar for my Lvl3 Wizard, but i am a bit confused about the damage.

It says
1d2-5 plus poison

This would mean the Spider kinda heals its target, right?
Lady_Mhaor
05-14-07, 07:59 PM no thats not how dmg works. . it basically does no dmg unless it scores a crit

unless im grossly mistaken about basic D&D functions
Duagloth
05-14-07, 08:22 PM Hm I believe you always deal 1 dmg at least.

If you hit.

But I could be wrong.
AbyssKnight
05-14-07, 11:02 PM A successful hit always deals 1 pt of damage despite any str penalty.

Of course, DR can reduce this to 0.
Another Gnome
05-15-07, 02:49 AM Effectively the spider always deals 1 point of damage (2 on a critical hit) on a successful attack. The reason for the damage entry to give it as a 1d2-5 rather than a flat 1 is because the -5 is due to low Strength score and not something inherent to the spider itself.

Even though you'd need to boost the spider's Str by 10 for its effective damage output to change any, it's nonetheless just following the standard method of showing a creature's damage potential.
Zofinur
05-15-07, 05:59 AM Thnx a lot for this answers especially from 'another Gnome'
Was very easy to understand why theres a -5 once i realized the low STR.

Even though there´s low damage (1) i think i´d go for the hairy-Spider-familiar :) Doubt it will be a killer and rarely will ask it even to attack

Like the idea of having a Spider on my Shoulders and it´s darkvision might be handy some day.
Zanan
05-15-07, 07:12 AM Methinks you will find the explanation of the "at least 1 point of damage" in the initial monster descriptions - description under Damage.
Empirate
05-15-07, 01:07 PM Normal familiars aren't for fighting, anyway. As long as you don't have an Improved Familiar, that is. But even those can only keep up in the low levels. The only important melee stat is the attack bonus, as you might have your familiar deliver touch spells.
Lady_Mhaor
05-15-07, 03:54 PM It does 1 dmg

oh. . .guess I missed that part

*cough* erm well I guess half the adventuring party didn't die
Zofinur
05-15-07, 05:21 PM Thnx again for all ur answers!

Of course a familiar is not for fighting, but to deliver Touch attacks. Though i would fear to let it out my hand ...

And while u all r here : The hairy spider doesnt give benefits like the normal familiars. May i hope i can participate from its darkvision?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Zofinur 05-14-07, 06:05 PM	Hi, planing to choose a hairy Spider as Familiar for my Lvl3 Wizard, but i am a bit confused about the damage. It says 1d2-5 plus poison This would mean the Spider kinda heals its target, right?
Lady_Mhaor 05-14-07, 07:59 PM	no thats not how dmg works. . it basically does no dmg unless it scores a crit unless im grossly mistaken about basic D&D functions
Duagloth 05-14-07, 08:22 PM	Hm I believe you always deal 1 dmg at least. If you hit. But I could be wrong.
AbyssKnight 05-14-07, 11:02 PM	A successful hit always deals 1 pt of damage despite any str penalty. Of course, DR can reduce this to 0.
Another Gnome 05-15-07, 02:49 AM	Effectively the spider always deals 1 point of damage (2 on a critical hit) on a successful attack. The reason for the damage entry to give it as a 1d2-5 rather than a flat 1 is because the -5 is due to low Strength score and not something inherent to the spider itself. Even though you'd need to boost the spider's Str by 10 for its effective damage output to change any, it's nonetheless just following the standard method of showing a creature's damage potential.
Zofinur 05-15-07, 05:59 AM	Thnx a lot for this answers especially from 'another Gnome' Was very easy to understand why theres a -5 once i realized the low STR. Even though there´s low damage (1) i think i´d go for the hairy-Spider-familiar :) Doubt it will be a killer and rarely will ask it even to attack Like the idea of having a Spider on my Shoulders and it´s darkvision might be handy some day.
Zanan 05-15-07, 07:12 AM	Methinks you will find the explanation of the "at least 1 point of damage" in the initial monster descriptions - description under Damage.
Empirate 05-15-07, 01:07 PM	Normal familiars aren't for fighting, anyway. As long as you don't have an Improved Familiar, that is. But even those can only keep up in the low levels. The only important melee stat is the attack bonus, as you might have your familiar deliver touch spells.
Lady_Mhaor 05-15-07, 03:54 PM	It does 1 dmg oh. . .guess I missed that part cough erm well I guess half the adventuring party didn't die
Zofinur 05-15-07, 05:21 PM	Thnx again for all ur answers! Of course a familiar is not for fighting, but to deliver Touch attacks. Though i would fear to let it out my hand ... And while u all r here : The hairy spider doesnt give benefits like the normal familiars. May i hope i can participate from its darkvision?