Familiars and feats [Archive] - Wizards Community

Familiars and feats [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
ThroteCutter
02-17-08, 11:18 AM Since familiars gain HD equal to your character level, do they gain feats at 1/3/6... level?
What about stat bonuses and skill points?
InkBlot
02-17-08, 01:27 PM Familiars don't actually gain hit dice. They're just treated as having extra hit dice for spells, and similar effects, which work off of hit-dice (like sleep or color spray).

So, no, familiars don't gain extra feats when you level up.
Amaril
02-17-08, 01:37 PM Players have tried to make this same argument for Psicrystals, and for some reason, a significant number of individuals have been sold on the idea, forgetting the psicrystals are the psionic counterpart to familiars.
ThroteCutter
02-17-08, 01:52 PM OK, thanks for the help
InkBlot
02-17-08, 02:19 PM Players have tried to make this same argument for Psicrystals, and for some reason, a significant number of individuals have been sold on the idea, forgetting the psicrystals are the psionic counterpart to familiars.

Psicrystals aren't a copy-paste from familiars. They use different rules. The Familiars rules in the PHB includes the following line, which doesn't have an equivalent in the Expanded Psionics Handbook (XPH).
Hit Dice: For the purpose of effects related to number of Hit Dice, use the master’s character level or the familiar’s normal HD total, whichever is higher.

However, in the psicrystals creature entry in the back of the XPH, it has the following information.
PSICRYSTAL
Diminutive Construct
Hit Dice: As master’s HD (hp 1/2 master’s)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares), climb 20 ft.*
...
Combat
A psicrystal’s characteristics depend on its master. Its Hit Dice are equal to its master’s Hit Dice (counting only levels in psion or wilder), its hit points are equal to half its master’s, and its saving throw bonuses are the same as its master’s.

Whether or not psicrystals gain actual hit dice, they're as different from familiars as animal companions are.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
ThroteCutter 02-17-08, 11:18 AM	Since familiars gain HD equal to your character level, do they gain feats at 1/3/6... level? What about stat bonuses and skill points?
InkBlot 02-17-08, 01:27 PM	Familiars don't actually gain hit dice. They're just treated as having extra hit dice for spells, and similar effects, which work off of hit-dice (like sleep or color spray). So, no, familiars don't gain extra feats when you level up.
Amaril 02-17-08, 01:37 PM	Players have tried to make this same argument for Psicrystals, and for some reason, a significant number of individuals have been sold on the idea, forgetting the psicrystals are the psionic counterpart to familiars.
ThroteCutter 02-17-08, 01:52 PM	OK, thanks for the help
InkBlot 02-17-08, 02:19 PM	Players have tried to make this same argument for Psicrystals, and for some reason, a significant number of individuals have been sold on the idea, forgetting the psicrystals are the psionic counterpart to familiars. Psicrystals aren't a copy-paste from familiars. They use different rules. The Familiars rules in the PHB includes the following line, which doesn't have an equivalent in the Expanded Psionics Handbook (XPH). Hit Dice: For the purpose of effects related to number of Hit Dice, use the master’s character level or the familiar’s normal HD total, whichever is higher. However, in the psicrystals creature entry in the back of the XPH, it has the following information. PSICRYSTAL Diminutive Construct Hit Dice: As master’s HD (hp 1/2 master’s) Initiative: +2 Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares), climb 20 ft.* ... Combat A psicrystal’s characteristics depend on its master. Its Hit Dice are equal to its master’s Hit Dice (counting only levels in psion or wilder), its hit points are equal to half its master’s, and its saving throw bonuses are the same as its master’s. Whether or not psicrystals gain actual hit dice, they're as different from familiars as animal companions are.