Are there any rules about this? [familiar question] [Archive] - Wizards Community

Are there any rules about this? [familiar question] [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
St Alcohol
07-22-04, 10:54 PM i've been wondering if there were any rules for familiars taking levels in anything. i assume thats basically covered in the fact that they are familiar class, of the same level as their savant. But now that i've gone the Mystic theurge route, and in the underdark, my raven familiar is becoming a bit of an old flame. i guess i just want to spice him up abit because i love rp'ing my familiar.

most of the classes are right out the window, other than druid, and then only with the natural shape feat to let him cast. (he can speack, so i guess he could cast verbal component spells only, and then take the feat still spell later on in his adventuring "career".

i swear i'm not a munchkin. go ahead and slap me if i'm being du [OWW, what was that for!]
St Alcohol
07-22-04, 10:55 PM and no, unfortunalty i do not have the time nor feat slots to take improved familiar, and wait a frickin year to get a new familiar.
Seeker95
07-22-04, 10:57 PM Nope. Your familiar does not gain experience. You familiar advances in the manner listed. No experience = no classes.
Seeker95
07-22-04, 10:58 PM As for your raven...

If you take a PrC (or any other class) that prevents your familiar from advancing at a pace commensurate with your own, it is probably better to release it from service. Easier on the familiar.
glenw77
07-23-04, 02:08 PM As far as familiars go, if you do not want to advance as a Wizard/Sorcer or other class that receives Familiar advancement, your only rule based alternatives are to trick it out with spells and magic items.

Many magical items will alter their form to fit a creature (and this is discussed in Tome and Magic as a good alternative).

You can also go through the trouble of having some permanent spells cast on it like Magic Fang.
tarkin
07-23-04, 02:38 PM Familiars are actually FORBIDDEN from taking levels.

In addition to casting permanent spells on your familiar, and giving them magic items, you can transform them.

Specifally you might be interested in the following spells, published on the WoTC Web Site:

Web Site: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/sb/sb20030504x

Elemental Familiar (Wiz/Sorc 3) Make your familiar an elemental.
Animate Dead Familiar (Wiz/Sor 5) Make your familiar undead.
Planar Familar (Cleric 3) Make your familiar/animal companion/mount celestial, fiendish, axiomatic, or anarchic

You can only use one of these spells and they cost you some XP.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
St Alcohol 07-22-04, 10:54 PM	i've been wondering if there were any rules for familiars taking levels in anything. i assume thats basically covered in the fact that they are familiar class, of the same level as their savant. But now that i've gone the Mystic theurge route, and in the underdark, my raven familiar is becoming a bit of an old flame. i guess i just want to spice him up abit because i love rp'ing my familiar. most of the classes are right out the window, other than druid, and then only with the natural shape feat to let him cast. (he can speack, so i guess he could cast verbal component spells only, and then take the feat still spell later on in his adventuring "career". i swear i'm not a munchkin. go ahead and slap me if i'm being du [OWW, what was that for!]
St Alcohol 07-22-04, 10:55 PM	and no, unfortunalty i do not have the time nor feat slots to take improved familiar, and wait a frickin year to get a new familiar.
Seeker95 07-22-04, 10:57 PM	Nope. Your familiar does not gain experience. You familiar advances in the manner listed. No experience = no classes.
Seeker95 07-22-04, 10:58 PM	As for your raven... If you take a PrC (or any other class) that prevents your familiar from advancing at a pace commensurate with your own, it is probably better to release it from service. Easier on the familiar.
glenw77 07-23-04, 02:08 PM	As far as familiars go, if you do not want to advance as a Wizard/Sorcer or other class that receives Familiar advancement, your only rule based alternatives are to trick it out with spells and magic items. Many magical items will alter their form to fit a creature (and this is discussed in Tome and Magic as a good alternative). You can also go through the trouble of having some permanent spells cast on it like Magic Fang.
tarkin 07-23-04, 02:38 PM	Familiars are actually FORBIDDEN from taking levels. In addition to casting permanent spells on your familiar, and giving them magic items, you can transform them. Specifally you might be interested in the following spells, published on the WoTC Web Site: Web Site: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/sb/sb20030504x Elemental Familiar (Wiz/Sorc 3) Make your familiar an elemental. Animate Dead Familiar (Wiz/Sor 5) Make your familiar undead. Planar Familar (Cleric 3) Make your familiar/animal companion/mount celestial, fiendish, axiomatic, or anarchic You can only use one of these spells and they cost you some XP.