3.5 How exactly do you obtain a familiar? [Archive] - Wizards Community

3.5 How exactly do you obtain a familiar? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Harmor
11-07-04, 08:01 PM How do exactly obtain a familiar?
Cymraegmorgan
11-07-04, 08:16 PM First level Sorcerers and Wizards choose their familiar from the get-go.
Ipsissimus
11-08-04, 12:18 AM Did you see Harry Potter Movie? That could easily be a way to obtain one, but it's a grey area. I believe it's more detailed in T&B since alternate familiars are there.

Basically, you spend a day or two alone with a piece of food that the familiar you would normally want likes to eat and burn some incense. You attract it, and either bind it or convince it that you would be a good master.

Hope that helps.
Seeker95
11-08-04, 03:20 PM Step 1. Pull out a #2 pencil.
Step 2. Write the name of your familiar on your character sheet.
Step 3. Subtract 100gp from your character sheet.

The remaining details are left to your DMs perversity.
Lukeal
11-08-04, 05:57 PM And maybe the actual purpose of the original post:

Is the 'summon familiar' ability at first level for wizard/sorcerer a spell that they cast. From the description on replacing one: Yes. Therefore does it benefit from the augment summoning feat (+4 str and +4 con for DURATION of summon...) hmmm?
kSquared
11-08-04, 06:29 PM You can't use Augment Summoning on a familiar.

Is the 'summon familiar' ability at first level for wizard/sorcerer a spell that they cast. From the description on replacing one: Yes. Therefore does it benefit from the augment summoning feat (+4 str and +4 con for DURATION of summon...) hmmm?Where are you getting that stuff from? The word "spell" doesn't even appear in that whole section.

In any case, summon familiar is not a spell; it's a class feature of wizards and sorcerers. You can tell this because it's not on any of the class spell lists. Additionally, if it were a spell, this would mean any specialist wizard who chose conjuration as a forbidden school would not be allowed to have a familiar. Clearly that's convoluted and silly.
Cymraegmorgan
11-08-04, 06:47 PM You can't use Augment Summoning on a familiar.

Where are you getting that stuff from? The word "spell" doesn't even appear in that whole section.

In any case, summon familiar is not a spell. You can tell this because it's not on any of the class spell lists. Additionally, if it were a spell, this would mean any specialist wizard who chose conjuration as a forbidden school would not be allowed to have a familiar. Clearly that's convoluted and silly.

Exactly, Summon Familiar is not a spell it is a feature of the Sorcerer and Wizard classes. And if you dismiss a familiar or it dies, it takes a year and a day to get another. And you take an XP penalty if the little beatie dies or you dismiss it.

This ain't no variant of Summon Monster, this is a familiar, a soulmate of sorts.
Seeker95
11-08-04, 08:38 PM You want +4 Str and +4 Con on your familiar for the duration of the spell?
Share a Bull's Strength and a Bear's Endurance with it. :P
Seeker95
11-08-04, 08:40 PM Is the 'summon familiar' ability at first level for wizard/sorcerer a spell that they cast?No.
From the description on replacing one: Yes.Or... no.
Therefore does it benefit from the augment summoning feat (+4 str and +4 con for DURATION of summon?Since it isn't a summon spell, the answer is again, no.

(or, in other words, what kSquared said.)
kilos
11-08-04, 10:53 PM No one answered the question... I want an answer to this also.

Say you have the improved familiar feat and want an imp. Do you need to have access to the plane shift spell to get to the area which has these creatures? Do you have to phsyically find an imp? Does this imp have to agree?

Oh, oh, What about Animal Companions.

Say you're a level 4 druid and want a dire bat animal companion. Do you need to find a dire bat and say "be my animal companion"? Does he have to agree?

What if you don't know about imps? Can you just say... "I want an evil familiar damnit!"?

So many questions. So little answers... thats where you people come in.
kSquared
11-08-04, 11:00 PM It's up to your DM. Depending on the DM, it may range from, "You snap your fingers twice and say 'glooblesnatz', and an imp appears beside you" to "A 20 HD outsider by the name of Smashy appears and geases you to find an imp."
kilos
11-08-04, 11:04 PM HAHAHAHAHA!!!

Although the imp one would be easier for the player... I think, it'd be more enjoyable for the player(me) and the dm for "Smashy" to come and geas me... oh, I hope he is a mild tempered outsider.... lol.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Harmor 11-07-04, 08:01 PM	How do exactly obtain a familiar?
Cymraegmorgan 11-07-04, 08:16 PM	First level Sorcerers and Wizards choose their familiar from the get-go.
Ipsissimus 11-08-04, 12:18 AM	Did you see Harry Potter Movie? That could easily be a way to obtain one, but it's a grey area. I believe it's more detailed in T&B since alternate familiars are there. Basically, you spend a day or two alone with a piece of food that the familiar you would normally want likes to eat and burn some incense. You attract it, and either bind it or convince it that you would be a good master. Hope that helps.
Seeker95 11-08-04, 03:20 PM	Step 1. Pull out a #2 pencil. Step 2. Write the name of your familiar on your character sheet. Step 3. Subtract 100gp from your character sheet. The remaining details are left to your DMs perversity.
Lukeal 11-08-04, 05:57 PM	And maybe the actual purpose of the original post: Is the 'summon familiar' ability at first level for wizard/sorcerer a spell that they cast. From the description on replacing one: Yes. Therefore does it benefit from the augment summoning feat (+4 str and +4 con for DURATION of summon...) hmmm?
kSquared 11-08-04, 06:29 PM	You can't use Augment Summoning on a familiar. Is the 'summon familiar' ability at first level for wizard/sorcerer a spell that they cast. From the description on replacing one: Yes. Therefore does it benefit from the augment summoning feat (+4 str and +4 con for DURATION of summon...) hmmm?Where are you getting that stuff from? The word "spell" doesn't even appear in that whole section. In any case, summon familiar is not a spell; it's a class feature of wizards and sorcerers. You can tell this because it's not on any of the class spell lists. Additionally, if it were a spell, this would mean any specialist wizard who chose conjuration as a forbidden school would not be allowed to have a familiar. Clearly that's convoluted and silly.
Cymraegmorgan 11-08-04, 06:47 PM	You can't use Augment Summoning on a familiar. Where are you getting that stuff from? The word "spell" doesn't even appear in that whole section. In any case, summon familiar is not a spell. You can tell this because it's not on any of the class spell lists. Additionally, if it were a spell, this would mean any specialist wizard who chose conjuration as a forbidden school would not be allowed to have a familiar. Clearly that's convoluted and silly. Exactly, Summon Familiar is not a spell it is a feature of the Sorcerer and Wizard classes. And if you dismiss a familiar or it dies, it takes a year and a day to get another. And you take an XP penalty if the little beatie dies or you dismiss it. This ain't no variant of Summon Monster, this is a familiar, a soulmate of sorts.
Seeker95 11-08-04, 08:38 PM	You want +4 Str and +4 Con on your familiar for the duration of the spell? Share a Bull's Strength and a Bear's Endurance with it. :P
Seeker95 11-08-04, 08:40 PM	Is the 'summon familiar' ability at first level for wizard/sorcerer a spell that they cast?No. From the description on replacing one: Yes.Or... no. Therefore does it benefit from the augment summoning feat (+4 str and +4 con for DURATION of summon?Since it isn't a summon spell, the answer is again, no. (or, in other words, what kSquared said.)
kilos 11-08-04, 10:53 PM	No one answered the question... I want an answer to this also. Say you have the improved familiar feat and want an imp. Do you need to have access to the plane shift spell to get to the area which has these creatures? Do you have to phsyically find an imp? Does this imp have to agree? Oh, oh, What about Animal Companions. Say you're a level 4 druid and want a dire bat animal companion. Do you need to find a dire bat and say "be my animal companion"? Does he have to agree? What if you don't know about imps? Can you just say... "I want an evil familiar damnit!"? So many questions. So little answers... thats where you people come in.
kSquared 11-08-04, 11:00 PM	It's up to your DM. Depending on the DM, it may range from, "You snap your fingers twice and say 'glooblesnatz', and an imp appears beside you" to "A 20 HD outsider by the name of Smashy appears and geases you to find an imp."
kilos 11-08-04, 11:04 PM	HAHAHAHAHA!!! Although the imp one would be easier for the player... I think, it'd be more enjoyable for the player(me) and the dm for "Smashy" to come and geas me... oh, I hope he is a mild tempered outsider.... lol.