Companions with Class Levels [Archive] - Wizards Community

Companions with Class Levels [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Burger
12-29-05, 02:23 PM I was thinking about a wizard's familiar, and i was wondering: when the animal gets enough inteligence, why he couldnt get a wizard level, or something?

I mean, any monster can have class levels, right? Even a ooze can! I dont know if there is a rule against wizard levels or something (realting to be able to make somatic and verbal components of the spell when you dont have a mouth or hands), but why couldnt a familiar get a wizard level? Monsters do not get xp?

k, thats all...

Burger
Talisman
12-29-05, 02:56 PM A familiar is not an independant creature. It is an extension of its master in many ways. It does not possess the individual volition to acquire experience and learn new things; this is why it doesn't gain skill points, feats, higher BAB, etc; as the master goes up in level.

If the familiar could earn XP, don't forget that it would get one share of all XP...thus reducing the amount the PCs get.
runestar
12-29-05, 09:45 PM Because familiars do not "level up" as normal creatures do but are instead subject to their own rules of advancement. Basically, they do not improve, but are instead entirely reliant on the lv/skills of their master for their lv dependant benefits. Besides, they don't even get xp from encounters!

You want a familiar to take class lvs, it stops becoming your familiar, maybe upgrading to a cohort or even PC.
Burger
12-30-05, 10:20 AM You want a familiar to take class lvs, it stops becoming your familiar, maybe upgrading to a cohort or even PC.

Thats what I was talking about! I didnt make myself clear, thou.

So, If i want to "upgrade" the familiar, the rules are not against this, right?
runestar
12-30-05, 10:35 AM Well, you end up losing a familiar, perhaps gaining a new cohort or even a new PC. Just remember that it has to be accorded its fair share of xp and trearure, and that it is no longer accorded your familiar benefits. Which kinda puts a damper in your plans.

I am not sure how overpowering it would be to allow a familiar to both be able to take class lvs while benefiting from master-familiar benefits.
BelRex
12-30-05, 10:43 AM You need to look at the book: Encyclopedia Arcane: Familiars. It has 3rd party rules for exactly what you are wanting to do. Your familiar can gain levels in any non divine class based on a spell ritual. They can gain a maximum of 8 levels at the master's 17th level(spell slot 9). You can also have a familiar that grants different bonuses(instead of the normal familiar abilities)..such as a guardian familiar gaining the ability to protect it's master and some healing abilities..or the assistant familiar which grants a bonus to various checks once or twice a day. It is a couple of years old..but it is still useful information. Especially if your party is lacking a rogue..a familiar with levels in rogue and gains abilities as an infiltrator.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Burger 12-29-05, 02:23 PM	I was thinking about a wizard's familiar, and i was wondering: when the animal gets enough inteligence, why he couldnt get a wizard level, or something? I mean, any monster can have class levels, right? Even a ooze can! I dont know if there is a rule against wizard levels or something (realting to be able to make somatic and verbal components of the spell when you dont have a mouth or hands), but why couldnt a familiar get a wizard level? Monsters do not get xp? k, thats all... Burger
Talisman 12-29-05, 02:56 PM	A familiar is not an independant creature. It is an extension of its master in many ways. It does not possess the individual volition to acquire experience and learn new things; this is why it doesn't gain skill points, feats, higher BAB, etc; as the master goes up in level. If the familiar could earn XP, don't forget that it would get one share of all XP...thus reducing the amount the PCs get.
runestar 12-29-05, 09:45 PM	Because familiars do not "level up" as normal creatures do but are instead subject to their own rules of advancement. Basically, they do not improve, but are instead entirely reliant on the lv/skills of their master for their lv dependant benefits. Besides, they don't even get xp from encounters! You want a familiar to take class lvs, it stops becoming your familiar, maybe upgrading to a cohort or even PC.
Burger 12-30-05, 10:20 AM	You want a familiar to take class lvs, it stops becoming your familiar, maybe upgrading to a cohort or even PC. Thats what I was talking about! I didnt make myself clear, thou. So, If i want to "upgrade" the familiar, the rules are not against this, right?
runestar 12-30-05, 10:35 AM	Well, you end up losing a familiar, perhaps gaining a new cohort or even a new PC. Just remember that it has to be accorded its fair share of xp and trearure, and that it is no longer accorded your familiar benefits. Which kinda puts a damper in your plans. I am not sure how overpowering it would be to allow a familiar to both be able to take class lvs while benefiting from master-familiar benefits.
BelRex 12-30-05, 10:43 AM	You need to look at the book: Encyclopedia Arcane: Familiars. It has 3rd party rules for exactly what you are wanting to do. Your familiar can gain levels in any non divine class based on a spell ritual. They can gain a maximum of 8 levels at the master's 17th level(spell slot 9). You can also have a familiar that grants different bonuses(instead of the normal familiar abilities)..such as a guardian familiar gaining the ability to protect it's master and some healing abilities..or the assistant familiar which grants a bonus to various checks once or twice a day. It is a couple of years old..but it is still useful information. Especially if your party is lacking a rogue..a familiar with levels in rogue and gains abilities as an infiltrator.