Post/Author/DateTime	Post
BeauJest 07-27-07, 04:08 PM	What if the familiar has Con boosts or ability damage? What if the master takes ability damage? The familiar's hps seem dependent on its master. But I think spell buffs/ ability drains should be independent.
tarkin 07-27-07, 04:16 PM	1. Familiars con does not affect their HP at all. 2. I believe (am not 100% sure) that Ability Damage, being temporary does not lower their HP. But Ability Drain, being permanent, does affect a familiar's hitpoints.
Cariyaga 07-27-07, 04:25 PM	I think you just contradicted yourself. In point one you said that constitution doesn't affect a familiar's HP. In point two you said that Ability Drain affects it. I'm not sure what you mean.
Candin 07-27-07, 04:35 PM	According to the PHB, a familiar has one half its master's total hit points, no matter what it's con bonus, it has one half its master's total hit points (rounded down). Ability score damage is a little more tricky. If the wizard suffers enough constitution damage to lose hit points, then the question is if this redefines his new "total hit points". I would say yes, since increasing your constitution increases your maximum hit points, lowering your constitution should decrease it. If the master took con damage I would recalculate its hit points. But, seriously, it's probably not that big a deal. It isn't long before restoration is readily available to the party, and unless the familiar is used actively in combat and threatened by baddies, the temporary loss of hit points shouldn't cause its demise.
progresslevel9 07-27-07, 04:47 PM	Why not simply say that the Familiar's maximum, healthy HP is equal to half of the master's maximum, healthy HP, and damage and effects are calculated completely separately for each, otherwise? The only time the numbers change are when permanent changes take place, such as from ability drain (not damage) or level change. I.E. if the master takes Con damage, his HP is affected, but not the familiar's. and Vice Versa. Sure, there's a mystical link, but as the familiar doesn't die if the master does (By RAW, far as I know, but not sure), there's the succinct probability that, according to rules and fluff, the two are, even after bonding, discreet and separate organisms which don't share any bodily affects and changes save on a deep, metaphysical level.
Puca 07-27-07, 04:48 PM	I wouldnt adjust the familiars hit points based on the master taking Con damage. I dont adjust the familiars hit points based on any other damage I take. Like regular hit-point damage, the ability damage will eventually heal. It is really a temporary situation. But, like Tarkin said, ability drained is not something that would heal. It is by and large a permanent situation, so it would probably then effect the familiar. Why not simply say that the Familiar's maximum, healthy HP is equal to half of the master's maximum, healthy HP, and damage and effects are calculated completely separately for each, otherwise? The only time the numbers change are when permanent changes take place, such as from ability drain (not damage) or level change.Thats exactly what Ive always thought it meant.
tarkin 07-27-07, 04:52 PM	I think you just contradicted yourself. In point one you said that constitution doesn't affect a familiar's HP. In point two you said that Ability Drain affects it. I'm not sure what you mean. The FAMILIAR'S Con does not affect his HP. But Ability Draining the OWNER lowers the familiar's HP.
Thurbane 07-27-07, 08:41 PM	...it also makes feats and abilties like Toughness utterly useless for familiars...
Nephlite 07-27-07, 10:31 PM	...it also makes feats and abilties like Toughness utterly useless for familiars... Familiars don't even get feats though...
Thurbane 07-28-07, 03:29 AM	Sure they do: cats get Stealthy and Weapon Finesse, snakes get Improved Initiative and Weapon Finesse...
Zace66 07-28-07, 07:25 AM	Hmm, so what is the point of having a Homonculous familiar that you boost up to its 2HD less that you are. So.. at level 9 I have a 7HD Homonculous familiar. Now I rolled badly and at level 9 I have 27hp, does that mean that the 7HD Homonculous only had 13hp? Or is this different as it is a construct?
CantripN 07-28-07, 07:34 AM	It has the better of the two. If it somehow has more HP than you (It's possible) due to it's HD, then it uses that.