Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Dyne 05-16-07, 07:05 PM	If I understand the rules correctly, the only levels that contribute to a familiar's abilities are Wizard and Sorcerer levels. Prestige Classes that increase arcane spellcasting don't do anything for familiars: one of the tradeoffs for multiclassing into the PrC. Since PrC's have become so prevalent, there are few characters that don't pick up one or two (unless the DM bans them from the game). As such, it would seem like most arcane spellcasting characters wouldn't bother with familiars because they don't improve with their levels, and so aren't really worth thinking about. Is there a single PrC out there that specifies it continues a familiar's advancement? How do you handle familiar advancement in your games? Heck, might as well add another one: how common are familiars in your games?
Captain_Kobold 05-16-07, 07:31 PM	Is there a single PrC out there that specifies it continues a familiar's advancement? How do you handle familiar advancement in your games? Heck, might as well add another one: how common are familiars in your games? Look at it this way: Most spellcasting PrCs give full caster progression. The only thing a Sorceror gets in addition to spellcasting progression is familiar advancement. (Mages get same, but also a bonus feat every 5 levels.) If there was a prestige class that gave full spellcasting and familiar advancement, as well as other abilities, there would be little to no reason to stick with base classes.
Sigdel 05-17-07, 01:20 AM	The funny thing is that in Complete Arcane their is a feat called Obtain Familiar on page 81. The feat uses your arcane caster level to determine what abilities it gets. Kind of weird when the classes that get the ability gets hosed and those who get the feat prosper.
Dyne 05-17-07, 01:42 AM	If there was a prestige class that gave full spellcasting and familiar advancement, as well as other abilities, there would be little to no reason to stick with base classes. It already seems like there's practically no reason. I've never heard of someone sticking with the base class all the way to level 20 just because they wanted some feats and a familiar. Is this "balancing factor" really all that effective? The funny thing is that in Complete Arcane their is a feat called Obtain Familiar on page 81. The feat uses your arcane caster level to determine what abilities it gets. Kind of weird when the classes that get the ability gets hosed and those who get the feat prosper. Yeah, I was thinking about taking that with my wizard, just so his familiar could advance at his caster level. But it seems kinda ridiculous for a wizard to need to take that feat.
Nehpets 05-18-07, 07:21 AM	There are none that I know of and in our games we generally handle familiars by not having them, I beleive in the liberal use of an interesting thing we call variants so you never actually need a familiar