Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Harmor 09-12-04, 01:18 AM	Besides the familiars here:Bat +3 bonus on Listen checks Cat +3 bonus on Move Silently checks Hawk +3 bonus on Spot checks in bright light Lizard +3 bonus on Climb checks Owl +3 bonus on Spot checks in shadows Rat +2 bonus on Fortitude saves Raven +3 bonus on Appraise checks Snake +3 bonus on Bluff checks Toad +3 hit points Weasel +2 bonus on Reflex savesWhat other familiars can you choose from without having to take the Improved Familiar feat? I remember one guy asking for a Turkey familiar awhile back. [EDIT]1. Turkey +3 hit points
Sacrusha 09-12-04, 03:18 AM	Whatever the DM allows. The DM is free to not allow anything else
Dracoulis The Phyrexian 09-12-04, 06:27 AM	Obviously, it's whatever the DM says. However, I would say that, based off of those standards there, a familiar should be able to provide a +3 bonus to any one skill, or a +2 bonus to any save. It might be able to provide an effect similar to another minor feat (definitely no prerequisites) that has an obvious numerical benefit, but that's really pushing it. Of course, the animal would have to have a relevant bonus to apply. I don't think you'll manage to convince anyone that a turtle should give you a bonus to Tumble checks. Of course, this would mean that most Craft, Knowledge, Perform, and Profession skills are right out for most familiars.
Mondreyes 09-12-04, 07:32 AM	+3 bonus to one skill at 1st level is just ridiculous. Itr should be based on level.
MetalGemini 09-12-04, 10:12 AM	+3 is nothing. It's only 1 higher than the +2 that some races give to skills. And wait another level and there is no clear advantage unless you are dumping a lot of ranks into it, like a Wiz/Rog with cat familiar. I generally tell my players they can have a familiar that is size Tiny or smaller and has no more than 1 full HD. Otherwise you start getting creatures that can really contribute to a fight and familiars just shouldn't be a significant force in combat, unless you use the Improved Familiar feat for a larger one.
DwarvinJedi 09-12-04, 12:09 PM	well, Frostburn is reportedly going to have a PENGUIN Familiar, GO PENGUINS, But I like MetalGemini's rule.
Harmor 09-12-04, 12:35 PM	Kewl, so far we have two on this list of alternate familiars: 2. Penguin +3 bonus to Swim checks
Razorblade Smile 09-12-04, 01:09 PM	Here's one I've allowed in one of my campaigns in the past for a player who was inspired by the Merlin mini-series some time ago... Riding Horse (master gains the Run feat for free)
Seeker95 09-12-04, 07:17 PM	I understand where you're going with this, but... If my DM doesn't allow it, it does me no good. If your DM doesn't allow it, it does you know good. The generic answer to your question is "whatever the DM allows". The generic list answer is "all the animals in the PHB that your DM will allow". The generic megalist answer is "all animals you can think of stats for." (With the added restriction of not permitting animals that would require Improved Familiar, you're looking at all animals with one hit die or less -- since the hawk has one hit die).