Item Familiar, useless ? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Item Familiar, useless ? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Asperdian
06-23-04, 12:53 PM What I'm referring to is the Feat "Item Familiar" in the UA.
It gives you, among others, the option to invest a Spellslot in the Item. So, my Question is the following:
If you invest the spellslot, is it then lost for you ? Because me as well as my DM have read it in this way: "You sacrifice one of your highest Spellslots to get a Bonus Spellslot two levels lower"

So, are we wrong with this ? Could it be that this feature was meant to be used like this: Giving you a true Bonus Slot while transferring one of your highest Slots in the Item, therefore beeing lost when you loose the Item ?
Or, is it just a Misprint and a totally useless option so far ?
DM Zoc
06-24-04, 02:13 AM You can still use the "invested" slot as long as you don't lose the Familiar, just as you can use "invested" skill ranks.

Edit: even if you couldn't, it wouldn't be entirely "worthless" because of the later option where you can get it to cast spells independently of you. Somthing along the lines of "cast maximized fireball whenever I cast (cold substitution) fireball and (electricity substitution) quickened fireball in the same round." Or my personal favorite "if I fall down, Heal me".
castlemike
07-20-04, 07:07 PM I agree. I thought taking the feat really helped in skill based campaigns in addition to opening up a lot of PRCs a lot earlier than normal because of the potential skill rank increases several levels earlier than normal. Thought it was unfortunate that a spell caster couldn't get in lieu of standard familiar at first level.
trapspringer
07-21-04, 06:09 PM Dude, it... dude!!

Besides the above comment, which is directed at the post prior to this one, Item familiar rocks. I like prestidigitation. It eliminates the need for soap.
Nolgoth
07-22-04, 03:05 PM On that note, have you ever bathed using a summoned water elemental?
Cinder
07-22-04, 03:13 PM Originally posted by trapspringer
I like prestidigitation. It eliminates the need for soap. That with a Ring Of Warmth and a Ring of Sustenance can make you into the wandering Naked Wise Guy, or the dreaded 'NWG.'

(coughs)

Extra spell slots are nice. The extra 10% XP bonus is nicer. Personally, I'm going to wait to consider taking it until 10th level and look into making my Blended Quartz shirt an Item Familiar. If you do make an item familiar, I'd take additional precautions to make sure the thing lasts: my main problem with "regular" familiars is that they can be squashed too easy. So look into funky materials like mithril or adamatium for additional hardness.

In game, I like the concept a lot.

Question: The Prerequisite for this feat is 3rd level, but Table 5-12, "Item Familiar Abilities" has the first entry as 1st level. (Invest Life Energy {which actually can't be done until 6th}; invest skill ranks; invest spell slots)

This is typp?
trapspringer
07-22-04, 03:24 PM The best thing to do is to buy something like a dagger, take the item familiar feat with said dagger, but talk loudly about your longsword. Never refer to your dagger as anything other than your back-up knife.
Cinder
07-22-04, 04:49 PM LOL! (claps) "Bravo!, Bravo!" (standing ovation) Thats just a ****ING GREAT IDEA!!

I plan on stealing it as my own. ;)

Actually I was gonna see about getting my shirt glammered but if I didn't have it, I'd definitely do the 'nothing to see here but my coool long sword routine.'

Hey- my question remains unanswered. :P
trapspringer
07-23-04, 07:13 PM You can inherit Item familiars.
Cinder
07-23-04, 10:59 PM Yup. Which I like- very LotRish. Help make exciting the interesting idea of playing a character's child. Overall, a neat aspect to the feat, especially if it has "sleeping" powers.

Soooo a first level character who inherits an Item Familiar could invest additional life energy, skill ranks, and spell slots? If thats so, they shoulda put an asterisk. :P

New question: the 'Invest Life Energy' says a character of "6th level or lower"; does that mean once the character becomes 7th the XP bonus stops?
trapspringer
07-23-04, 11:40 PM It means they can't start investing, I think.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Asperdian 06-23-04, 12:53 PM	What I'm referring to is the Feat "Item Familiar" in the UA. It gives you, among others, the option to invest a Spellslot in the Item. So, my Question is the following: If you invest the spellslot, is it then lost for you ? Because me as well as my DM have read it in this way: "You sacrifice one of your highest Spellslots to get a Bonus Spellslot two levels lower" So, are we wrong with this ? Could it be that this feature was meant to be used like this: Giving you a true Bonus Slot while transferring one of your highest Slots in the Item, therefore beeing lost when you loose the Item ? Or, is it just a Misprint and a totally useless option so far ?
DM Zoc 06-24-04, 02:13 AM	You can still use the "invested" slot as long as you don't lose the Familiar, just as you can use "invested" skill ranks. Edit: even if you couldn't, it wouldn't be entirely "worthless" because of the later option where you can get it to cast spells independently of you. Somthing along the lines of "cast maximized fireball whenever I cast (cold substitution) fireball and (electricity substitution) quickened fireball in the same round." Or my personal favorite "if I fall down, Heal me".
castlemike 07-20-04, 07:07 PM	I agree. I thought taking the feat really helped in skill based campaigns in addition to opening up a lot of PRCs a lot earlier than normal because of the potential skill rank increases several levels earlier than normal. Thought it was unfortunate that a spell caster couldn't get in lieu of standard familiar at first level.
trapspringer 07-21-04, 06:09 PM	Dude, it... dude!! Besides the above comment, which is directed at the post prior to this one, Item familiar rocks. I like prestidigitation. It eliminates the need for soap.
Nolgoth 07-22-04, 03:05 PM	On that note, have you ever bathed using a summoned water elemental?
Cinder 07-22-04, 03:13 PM	Originally posted by trapspringer I like prestidigitation. It eliminates the need for soap. That with a Ring Of Warmth and a Ring of Sustenance can make you into the wandering Naked Wise Guy, or the dreaded 'NWG.' (coughs) Extra spell slots are nice. The extra 10% XP bonus is nicer. Personally, I'm going to wait to consider taking it until 10th level and look into making my Blended Quartz shirt an Item Familiar. If you do make an item familiar, I'd take additional precautions to make sure the thing lasts: my main problem with "regular" familiars is that they can be squashed too easy. So look into funky materials like mithril or adamatium for additional hardness. In game, I like the concept a lot. Question: The Prerequisite for this feat is 3rd level, but Table 5-12, "Item Familiar Abilities" has the first entry as 1st level. (Invest Life Energy {which actually can't be done until 6th}; invest skill ranks; invest spell slots) This is typp?
trapspringer 07-22-04, 03:24 PM	The best thing to do is to buy something like a dagger, take the item familiar feat with said dagger, but talk loudly about your longsword. Never refer to your dagger as anything other than your back-up knife.
Cinder 07-22-04, 04:49 PM	LOL! (claps) "Bravo!, Bravo!" (standing ovation) Thats just a ****ING GREAT IDEA!! I plan on stealing it as my own. ;) Actually I was gonna see about getting my shirt glammered but if I didn't have it, I'd definitely do the 'nothing to see here but my coool long sword routine.' Hey- my question remains unanswered. :P
trapspringer 07-23-04, 07:13 PM	You can inherit Item familiars.
Cinder 07-23-04, 10:59 PM	Yup. Which I like- very LotRish. Help make exciting the interesting idea of playing a character's child. Overall, a neat aspect to the feat, especially if it has "sleeping" powers. Soooo a first level character who inherits an Item Familiar could invest additional life energy, skill ranks, and spell slots? If thats so, they shoulda put an asterisk. :P New question: the 'Invest Life Energy' says a character of "6th level or lower"; does that mean once the character becomes 7th the XP bonus stops?
trapspringer 07-23-04, 11:40 PM	It means they can't start investing, I think.