Familiars/Pets/Animal Companions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Familiars/Pets/Animal Companions [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Dinendal Nenharma
09-15-05, 01:53 PM What is available for you to choose from for an animal companion or familiar? I know of the standard bat/raven/owl/falcon/etc...but is there anything else in terms of a familiar?

Does it differ from familiar to animal companion?

Can you have a familiar AND an animal companion?

Ideally I would like a dragon (any size or age restrictions?) is this possible?
kenobi65
09-15-05, 03:09 PM In Living Greyhawk, you're limited to what's in the books.

Wizards and sorcerers get familiars. Druids and rangers get animal companions. The available animals for each are in the Player's Handbook (the details on familiars are in a sidebar under the description of the Sorcerer class; the details on animal companions are in a sidebar under the description of the Druid class). The lists *are* different, and familars function differently from animal companions. Again, all those details are in the PHB.

Wizards and sorcerers can get other familiars, by taking the Improved Familiar feat (it's in the DM's Guide, as well as in Complete Warrior). Among the familiars available on that list is the pseudodragon. I don't think there's any way to get a "real" dragon as a familiar.

Classes that don't normally get familiars may be able to get one by taking the Obtain Familiar feat, which is in Complete Arcane.

(And, no way to get any sort of dragon as an animal companion, as animal companions *must* be of the Animal type, and all dragons are of the Dragon type.)

You could, in theory, have both a familiar and an animal companion, if you were a wizard or sorcerer, as well as being a druid or ranger.
Dinendal Nenharma
09-15-05, 03:35 PM I heard there is a way to get dragons as familiars in the draconomicon...i'll have to investigate...something about them only being able to be as big as a wyrmling or something.
kenobi65
09-15-05, 04:15 PM I heard there is a way to get dragons as familiars in the draconomicon...i'll have to investigate...something about them only being able to be as big as a wyrmling or something.

There may be...but that's not going to be allowed in Living Greyhawk unless you were to somehow get access to it on an Adventure Record. (Keep in mind that this board is specifically about Living Greyhawk, not D&D in general.)
Namarus
09-15-05, 04:31 PM The important thing to remember for LG is the basic rule of thumb that if it is not in the players handbook, you generally need an AR documentation for familiars.

Some meta-organisations may provide you with additional access to 'pets' but that may change with the meta-org revamp taking place.
King Kashue
09-16-05, 09:22 AM The important thing to remember for LG is the basic rule of thumb that if it is not in the players handbook, you generally need an AR documentation for familiars.

Some meta-organisations may provide you with additional access to 'pets' but that may change with the meta-org revamp taking place.

Indeed...There are retired Nyrond modules that provides access to a pseudodragon familiar and a shocker lizard familiar...I have run into characters from other regions with such familiars as well, though I do not know the modules from whence they gained said beasties...

And there is always the improved familiar feat, which each region treats differently (some are accomodating, others are...less so...)
ShinAkuma2
09-17-05, 12:27 AM The most popular basic animal companions are the Wolf and the Riding Dog, because they can trip (I think there's some question about Riding Dogs, since "trained for war" is not clearly defined...see the MM entry). Personally, I like the Ape, especially when you teach it the Hold trick from Complete Adventurer.
JohnduBois
09-17-05, 12:41 PM Of course, if you didn't want two animals following you around all the time, you could take the Arcane Hierophant prestige class, which dismisses your familiar and gives you a "companion familiar"...
Dinendal Nenharma
09-19-05, 05:28 PM What is a companion familiar?
Namarus
09-19-05, 08:44 PM The most popular basic animal companions are the Wolf and the Riding Dog, because they can trip (I think there's some question about Riding Dogs, since "trained for war" is not clearly defined...see the MM entry). Personally, I like the Ape, especially when you teach it the Hold trick from Complete Adventurer.

Problem with that is you would need Campaign Documentation in order to teach an ape that trick.
Namarus
09-19-05, 08:45 PM What is a companion familiar?

This is a special type of animal companion, which is basically a mixture between a familiar and an animal companion. Giving you the benefits of both.
kenobi65
09-19-05, 09:23 PM What is a companion familiar?

As Namarus says, a companion familiar is essentially a druid's animal companion, that gains the powers of a familiar, as well.

It's only available to members of the Arcane Hierophant prestige class (in the Races of the Wild book), which is essentially a druid / wizard mixture (much like the Mystic Theurge prestige class, in the DMG, is a cleric / wizard mixture).
King Kashue
09-20-05, 07:29 AM As Namarus says, a companion familiar is essentially a druid's animal companion, that gains the powers of a familiar, as well.

It's only available to members of the Arcane Hierophant prestige class (in the Races of the Wild book), which is essentially a druid / wizard mixture (much like the Mystic Theurge prestige class, in the DMG, is a cleric / wizard mixture).

Well, Mystic Theurge can be Druid/Wizard or Druid/Cleric (or even Druid/Bard for that matter)...It's not limited in either the divine or the arcane classes...Arcane Hierophant is limited, at least as far as the Divine side goes...
Namarus
09-20-05, 11:27 PM Well, Mystic Theurge can be Druid/Wizard or Druid/Cleric (or even Druid/Bard for that matter)...It's not limited in either the divine or the arcane classes...Arcane Hierophant is limited, at least as far as the Divine side goes...

Druid/Cleric does not qualify for the Mystic Theurge PrC in any shape or form.

Requirements

To qualify to become a mystic theurge, a character must fulfill all the following criteria.
Skills

Knowledge (arcana) 6 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 6 ranks.
Spells

Able to cast 2nd-level divine spells and 2nd-level arcane spells.
King Kashue
09-21-05, 08:45 AM Druid/Cleric does not qualify for the Mystic Theurge PrC in any shape or form.

It was a typo, ease up...It was supposed to be Druid/Sor (the one PHB arcane class I didn't mention in my two other correct examples)...No need to start citing verbatim there counselor, your objection is sustained...
qstor
09-21-05, 12:13 PM And there is always the improved familiar feat, which each region treats differently (some are accomodating, others are...less so...)

Improved familiar is now a Core feat which you can take after 3rd level to gain access to the lists in Complete Warrior and the DMG. There is a note about this in the LGCS under the familiars section.

Mike
King Kashue
09-22-05, 03:08 AM Improved familiar is now a Core feat which you can take after 3rd level to gain access to the lists in Complete Warrior and the DMG. There is a note about this in the LGCS under the familiars section.

Mike

Yeah...but some Triads only allow the familiars on the list, and others will allow a player to make suggestions (since the list is 'lacking' to say the least)...

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Dinendal Nenharma 09-15-05, 01:53 PM	What is available for you to choose from for an animal companion or familiar? I know of the standard bat/raven/owl/falcon/etc...but is there anything else in terms of a familiar? Does it differ from familiar to animal companion? Can you have a familiar AND an animal companion? Ideally I would like a dragon (any size or age restrictions?) is this possible?
kenobi65 09-15-05, 03:09 PM	In Living Greyhawk, you're limited to what's in the books. Wizards and sorcerers get familiars. Druids and rangers get animal companions. The available animals for each are in the Player's Handbook (the details on familiars are in a sidebar under the description of the Sorcerer class; the details on animal companions are in a sidebar under the description of the Druid class). The lists are different, and familars function differently from animal companions. Again, all those details are in the PHB. Wizards and sorcerers can get other familiars, by taking the Improved Familiar feat (it's in the DM's Guide, as well as in Complete Warrior). Among the familiars available on that list is the pseudodragon. I don't think there's any way to get a "real" dragon as a familiar. Classes that don't normally get familiars may be able to get one by taking the Obtain Familiar feat, which is in Complete Arcane. (And, no way to get any sort of dragon as an animal companion, as animal companions must be of the Animal type, and all dragons are of the Dragon type.) You could, in theory, have both a familiar and an animal companion, if you were a wizard or sorcerer, as well as being a druid or ranger.
Dinendal Nenharma 09-15-05, 03:35 PM	I heard there is a way to get dragons as familiars in the draconomicon...i'll have to investigate...something about them only being able to be as big as a wyrmling or something.
kenobi65 09-15-05, 04:15 PM	I heard there is a way to get dragons as familiars in the draconomicon...i'll have to investigate...something about them only being able to be as big as a wyrmling or something. There may be...but that's not going to be allowed in Living Greyhawk unless you were to somehow get access to it on an Adventure Record. (Keep in mind that this board is specifically about Living Greyhawk, not D&D in general.)
Namarus 09-15-05, 04:31 PM	The important thing to remember for LG is the basic rule of thumb that if it is not in the players handbook, you generally need an AR documentation for familiars. Some meta-organisations may provide you with additional access to 'pets' but that may change with the meta-org revamp taking place.
King Kashue 09-16-05, 09:22 AM	The important thing to remember for LG is the basic rule of thumb that if it is not in the players handbook, you generally need an AR documentation for familiars. Some meta-organisations may provide you with additional access to 'pets' but that may change with the meta-org revamp taking place. Indeed...There are retired Nyrond modules that provides access to a pseudodragon familiar and a shocker lizard familiar...I have run into characters from other regions with such familiars as well, though I do not know the modules from whence they gained said beasties... And there is always the improved familiar feat, which each region treats differently (some are accomodating, others are...less so...)
ShinAkuma2 09-17-05, 12:27 AM	The most popular basic animal companions are the Wolf and the Riding Dog, because they can trip (I think there's some question about Riding Dogs, since "trained for war" is not clearly defined...see the MM entry). Personally, I like the Ape, especially when you teach it the Hold trick from Complete Adventurer.
JohnduBois 09-17-05, 12:41 PM	Of course, if you didn't want two animals following you around all the time, you could take the Arcane Hierophant prestige class, which dismisses your familiar and gives you a "companion familiar"...
Dinendal Nenharma 09-19-05, 05:28 PM	What is a companion familiar?
Namarus 09-19-05, 08:44 PM	The most popular basic animal companions are the Wolf and the Riding Dog, because they can trip (I think there's some question about Riding Dogs, since "trained for war" is not clearly defined...see the MM entry). Personally, I like the Ape, especially when you teach it the Hold trick from Complete Adventurer. Problem with that is you would need Campaign Documentation in order to teach an ape that trick.
Namarus 09-19-05, 08:45 PM	What is a companion familiar? This is a special type of animal companion, which is basically a mixture between a familiar and an animal companion. Giving you the benefits of both.
kenobi65 09-19-05, 09:23 PM	What is a companion familiar? As Namarus says, a companion familiar is essentially a druid's animal companion, that gains the powers of a familiar, as well. It's only available to members of the Arcane Hierophant prestige class (in the Races of the Wild book), which is essentially a druid / wizard mixture (much like the Mystic Theurge prestige class, in the DMG, is a cleric / wizard mixture).
King Kashue 09-20-05, 07:29 AM	As Namarus says, a companion familiar is essentially a druid's animal companion, that gains the powers of a familiar, as well. It's only available to members of the Arcane Hierophant prestige class (in the Races of the Wild book), which is essentially a druid / wizard mixture (much like the Mystic Theurge prestige class, in the DMG, is a cleric / wizard mixture). Well, Mystic Theurge can be Druid/Wizard or Druid/Cleric (or even Druid/Bard for that matter)...It's not limited in either the divine or the arcane classes...Arcane Hierophant is limited, at least as far as the Divine side goes...
Namarus 09-20-05, 11:27 PM	Well, Mystic Theurge can be Druid/Wizard or Druid/Cleric (or even Druid/Bard for that matter)...It's not limited in either the divine or the arcane classes...Arcane Hierophant is limited, at least as far as the Divine side goes... Druid/Cleric does not qualify for the Mystic Theurge PrC in any shape or form. Requirements To qualify to become a mystic theurge, a character must fulfill all the following criteria. Skills Knowledge (arcana) 6 ranks, Knowledge (religion) 6 ranks. Spells Able to cast 2nd-level divine spells and 2nd-level arcane spells.
King Kashue 09-21-05, 08:45 AM	Druid/Cleric does not qualify for the Mystic Theurge PrC in any shape or form. It was a typo, ease up...It was supposed to be Druid/Sor (the one PHB arcane class I didn't mention in my two other correct examples)...No need to start citing verbatim there counselor, your objection is sustained...
qstor 09-21-05, 12:13 PM	And there is always the improved familiar feat, which each region treats differently (some are accomodating, others are...less so...) Improved familiar is now a Core feat which you can take after 3rd level to gain access to the lists in Complete Warrior and the DMG. There is a note about this in the LGCS under the familiars section. Mike
King Kashue 09-22-05, 03:08 AM	Improved familiar is now a Core feat which you can take after 3rd level to gain access to the lists in Complete Warrior and the DMG. There is a note about this in the LGCS under the familiars section. Mike Yeah...but some Triads only allow the familiars on the list, and others will allow a player to make suggestions (since the list is 'lacking' to say the least)...