Cerebremancer question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Cerebremancer question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
criticalstriker
03-03-08, 02:18 AM Hey, I'm planning on entering Cerebremancer, and I'm focusing on making my psicrystal and familiar as strong as possible. My question is: Do Cerebremancer levels count towards both the Psicrystal and Familiar abilities? Or neither?

I looked in the FAQ, but couldn't find anything.
PhaedrusXY
03-03-08, 02:38 AM The psicrystal depends on all psionic classes. I think Cerebremancer would count for that. It definitely wouldn't count for the familiar, but you don't really lose much.
Lycanthromancer
03-03-08, 11:18 AM PhaedrusXY is right. Psicrystal yes, familiar no, unless the DM says otherwise on the familiar, and you're not losing much at all against the familiar (though getting a stronger psicrystal is awesome).
criticalstriker
03-03-08, 11:47 AM Aw, I was hoping it'd apply to both :/ I'm trying to pump up both as much as possible. Anyway, thanks for the information. :)
AntiDjinn
03-03-08, 10:49 PM The familiar is a class feature and you are not progressing in the class that granted it nor in a PrC that specifically advances this feature. The psicrystal is the benefit of a feat. You could actually take this feat at one of your Cerebremancer levels, so there is no reasonable way to argue that it should not advance with your Cerebremancer levels.

If you were to take feats such as Improved Familiar, Second Familiar, or whatever, then I would be inclined to allow the new familiar to improve with your Cerebremancer levels; again, you could actually take the feat as a Cerebremancer so its benefit should not be capped by your Wiz level.
Bedeverekm
03-04-08, 01:39 PM No books to hand, but would the practiced spellcaster feat add to your effective class level for purposes of a familiar?
Lycanthromancer
03-04-08, 02:21 PM No. Caster level for the purposes of spells only.
The_Shaman
03-04-08, 02:22 PM No if it's a familiar you get as a class feature. Yes if it's a familiar you get via the Obtain Familiar feat - as it will then be keyed off spellcaster level iirc. Thus,if you want a familiar that improves with PrCs, you can choose a variant that gets you something else at level 1 and then take the feat.
Asadeseth
03-05-08, 08:19 AM Several GMs i know alow a vairant that alows you to take esque material componets in lue of a Familar as a class feature. Not over powered, and removes a rather anoying aspect of playing a spell caster.
Orchomenos
03-05-08, 10:32 AM But whatever your class, the familiar still get "virtual HD" equals to yours, and half your total HP. Of course, that's still not that much if you only have d4 HD!
Bedeverekm
03-05-08, 11:45 AM I'm currently playing a level 20 wizard, who has rolled only 3 below maximum HP's. Each and every dice roll was in front the GM.

Given I also have a very respectable con score, and fully buffed it with wishes and items, my HP are actually very impressive.

Sometimes its not the hit dice type, its the bonuses. they all add up. :)

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
criticalstriker 03-03-08, 02:18 AM	Hey, I'm planning on entering Cerebremancer, and I'm focusing on making my psicrystal and familiar as strong as possible. My question is: Do Cerebremancer levels count towards both the Psicrystal and Familiar abilities? Or neither? I looked in the FAQ, but couldn't find anything.
PhaedrusXY 03-03-08, 02:38 AM	The psicrystal depends on all psionic classes. I think Cerebremancer would count for that. It definitely wouldn't count for the familiar, but you don't really lose much.
Lycanthromancer 03-03-08, 11:18 AM	PhaedrusXY is right. Psicrystal yes, familiar no, unless the DM says otherwise on the familiar, and you're not losing much at all against the familiar (though getting a stronger psicrystal is awesome).
criticalstriker 03-03-08, 11:47 AM	Aw, I was hoping it'd apply to both :/ I'm trying to pump up both as much as possible. Anyway, thanks for the information. :)
AntiDjinn 03-03-08, 10:49 PM	The familiar is a class feature and you are not progressing in the class that granted it nor in a PrC that specifically advances this feature. The psicrystal is the benefit of a feat. You could actually take this feat at one of your Cerebremancer levels, so there is no reasonable way to argue that it should not advance with your Cerebremancer levels. If you were to take feats such as Improved Familiar, Second Familiar, or whatever, then I would be inclined to allow the new familiar to improve with your Cerebremancer levels; again, you could actually take the feat as a Cerebremancer so its benefit should not be capped by your Wiz level.
Bedeverekm 03-04-08, 01:39 PM	No books to hand, but would the practiced spellcaster feat add to your effective class level for purposes of a familiar?
Lycanthromancer 03-04-08, 02:21 PM	No. Caster level for the purposes of spells only.
The_Shaman 03-04-08, 02:22 PM	No if it's a familiar you get as a class feature. Yes if it's a familiar you get via the Obtain Familiar feat - as it will then be keyed off spellcaster level iirc. Thus,if you want a familiar that improves with PrCs, you can choose a variant that gets you something else at level 1 and then take the feat.
Asadeseth 03-05-08, 08:19 AM	Several GMs i know alow a vairant that alows you to take esque material componets in lue of a Familar as a class feature. Not over powered, and removes a rather anoying aspect of playing a spell caster.
Orchomenos 03-05-08, 10:32 AM	But whatever your class, the familiar still get "virtual HD" equals to yours, and half your total HP. Of course, that's still not that much if you only have d4 HD!
Bedeverekm 03-05-08, 11:45 AM	I'm currently playing a level 20 wizard, who has rolled only 3 below maximum HP's. Each and every dice roll was in front the GM. Given I also have a very respectable con score, and fully buffed it with wishes and items, my HP are actually very impressive. Sometimes its not the hit dice type, its the bonuses. they all add up. :)