Specialist Wizard Variants [Archive] - Wizards Community

Specialist Wizard Variants [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Attack_the_Darkness
12-12-06, 05:24 AM I want to create a great summoner for a new campaign. I thought Conjurer Variant from Unearthed Arcana would be perfect.

Here's the problem:

I want to take the Rapid Summoning (Ex) class ability to reduce casting time of summoning spells. In exchange for this ability, I must "permanantly give up the ability to obtain a familair." This creates a problem because I would later like to take levels in the Bonded Summoner prestige class from the Miniatures Handbook, which requires that I have a familiar. My solution was to take the feat Obtain Familar from Complete Arcane. My friend brought to my attention the wording of Unearthed Arcana (in quotes above). He says the emphasis of the word permanant means I may never obtain a familiar, not even through feats. I chalked it up to careless wording.

What do you guys think?
Keterys
12-12-06, 09:12 AM Careless wording. Ask the DM if you can take Rapid Summoning as a feat (since it's clearly worth a feat), instead.
Attack_the_Darkness
12-12-06, 09:37 PM i was going to take that if he nix'ed the whole idea. rapid summoning casts as one spell level higher, so not as cool.
Keterys
12-13-06, 10:18 AM You're thinking of 'Rapid Spell' which is +1, but it does quite a bit more - it works on non-summon spells (like restoration!), and summon spells with it are able to do full round actions I believe (can't verify right now)

Rapid Summoning, as you said, is available when you trade in a familiar, but it limits the action of the summon to a standard action. That's worth a feat. Go for just that.
Millennium
12-13-06, 12:07 PM You could try taking a level of sorcerer. This allows you to use items (though not spells) from prohibited schools, and so I'd say it makes sense that it would let you keep a familiar around. It does cost you a level, though.
Bookwyrm Pendraconis
12-13-06, 08:17 PM Actually, I'd go with the variant, then take Obtain familiar; it counts ALL levels that grant arcane spellcasting to determine familiar abilities, including wizard, sorcerer, bard, and prestige classes.
Keterys
12-13-06, 11:30 PM Reread the post, please. His point is that he may not be allowed to do that because of the wording on permanently giving up his familiar.

Personally, I also find that solution a lot more ridiculous too. 'Give the wizard a bonus feat instead of a familiar... then spend a feat on a familiar to get an even _better_ familiar' effectively.
HalfMunchkin
12-13-06, 11:41 PM You give up the CLASS FEATURE that gives you a familiar. Taking the Obtain Familiar feat is completely different.
Kiirdon_of_Aundair
12-16-06, 03:32 AM Effectively, in most variants, you get a bonus feat for a familiar, especially in the case of a sorcerer(giving the option of Draconic Heritage, or Accelerated metamagic). It seems fair, and in fact is, but it is entirely up to your DM.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Attack_the_Darkness 12-12-06, 05:24 AM	I want to create a great summoner for a new campaign. I thought Conjurer Variant from Unearthed Arcana would be perfect. Here's the problem: I want to take the Rapid Summoning (Ex) class ability to reduce casting time of summoning spells. In exchange for this ability, I must "permanantly give up the ability to obtain a familair." This creates a problem because I would later like to take levels in the Bonded Summoner prestige class from the Miniatures Handbook, which requires that I have a familiar. My solution was to take the feat Obtain Familar from Complete Arcane. My friend brought to my attention the wording of Unearthed Arcana (in quotes above). He says the emphasis of the word permanant means I may never obtain a familiar, not even through feats. I chalked it up to careless wording. What do you guys think?
Keterys 12-12-06, 09:12 AM	Careless wording. Ask the DM if you can take Rapid Summoning as a feat (since it's clearly worth a feat), instead.
Attack_the_Darkness 12-12-06, 09:37 PM	i was going to take that if he nix'ed the whole idea. rapid summoning casts as one spell level higher, so not as cool.
Keterys 12-13-06, 10:18 AM	You're thinking of 'Rapid Spell' which is +1, but it does quite a bit more - it works on non-summon spells (like restoration!), and summon spells with it are able to do full round actions I believe (can't verify right now) Rapid Summoning, as you said, is available when you trade in a familiar, but it limits the action of the summon to a standard action. That's worth a feat. Go for just that.
Millennium 12-13-06, 12:07 PM	You could try taking a level of sorcerer. This allows you to use items (though not spells) from prohibited schools, and so I'd say it makes sense that it would let you keep a familiar around. It does cost you a level, though.
Bookwyrm Pendraconis 12-13-06, 08:17 PM	Actually, I'd go with the variant, then take Obtain familiar; it counts ALL levels that grant arcane spellcasting to determine familiar abilities, including wizard, sorcerer, bard, and prestige classes.
Keterys 12-13-06, 11:30 PM	Reread the post, please. His point is that he may not be allowed to do that because of the wording on permanently giving up his familiar. Personally, I also find that solution a lot more ridiculous too. 'Give the wizard a bonus feat instead of a familiar... then spend a feat on a familiar to get an even _better_ familiar' effectively.
HalfMunchkin 12-13-06, 11:41 PM	You give up the CLASS FEATURE that gives you a familiar. Taking the Obtain Familiar feat is completely different.
Kiirdon_of_Aundair 12-16-06, 03:32 AM	Effectively, in most variants, you get a bonus feat for a familiar, especially in the case of a sorcerer(giving the option of Draconic Heritage, or Accelerated metamagic). It seems fair, and in fact is, but it is entirely up to your DM.