Post/Author/DateTime	Post
DM Zoc 01-13-05, 02:28 AM	Would it be unbalanced to have a variant druid where you give up an animal companion in exchange for a familiar?
Nuntius128 01-13-05, 02:34 AM	I wouldn't say so, as most familiars only give a +2 bonus to one thing, and can't do much beyond deliver a touch spell here & there, whereas a Druid's companion can be a mount, and aid in combat. I'd say its balanced, underbalanced in my eyes, but that is just me. Yes, seems very fine w/ me.
Cymraegmorgan 01-13-05, 08:50 PM	I think it might kneecap the Druid, but I am a great fan of the class. The animal companion is fits the class better. I look at it as a ally(animal companion) versus serf(familiar) relationship question, and ally fits the druid mentality better.
Avihs 01-13-05, 09:24 PM	Personally, I don't think it would hurt the druid. From one stand point, some references to the druid saw men and women as two seperate factions within the religion. To better reflect that break in the order, and from a flavor standpoint, it may be possible to protray them along those lines. The male portion of the class as per the standard Druid in the PHB. While the female sector of the class, may possess a familiar in the place of the animal companion. Concidering they would be losinging something for a weaker "pet", you may seek to give the female druids a stronger aspect elsewhere, such as in the healing department (as in a healing domain type bonus). Just my thoughts.
strenoth 01-14-05, 02:14 AM	either that, or give the Improved Familiar Feat for free, and upon receipt of the feat, may gain a better familair w/o loss of XP for dismissing the old familiar. Alternative bonus familair feats are celestial familiar, fiendish familiar, and draconic familiar.
DM Zoc 01-14-05, 02:58 AM	Interesting discussion. I'd never considered gender as a basis for class abilities. Out of curiosity, though, how would such a druidic order deal with someone whose gender changes as a function of time (hermaphromorph)?