alt. familiar question [Archive] - Wizards Community

alt. familiar question [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
radkins
07-16-05, 03:41 PM ive got a player that wants to have a monkey familiar. a monkey's stats are comparable to the other animals on the familiar list, so i see no problem with this. my question is, what should the granted ability be for a monkey familiar? the player doesn't really have any preferences because the monkey was picked for backstory flavor. i was thinking of master gains +3 to climb, jump, or tumble checks. instead of +3 to a skill, i thought it might be interesting to let the master use his dex mod instead of strength mod for climb and jump checks. any thoughts would be much appreciated.
Ut-Napishtim
07-16-05, 03:47 PM I'd say +3 to Climb checks sounds good.
UltimateReality
07-16-05, 04:31 PM ive got a player that wants to have a monkey familiar. a monkey's stats are comparable to the other animals on the familiar list, so i see no problem with this.Why does the player want a monkey? My first thought is: opposable thumbs and training. You may end up essentially giving the character a small rogue...a monkey, with its increasing Int from being a familiar, can easily pick locks, get into small places, steal things, entertain people on street corners for petty cash....etc. etc. The main problem, though: magic items. A monkey has magic item slots just like a human, seeing as they are basically built the same way. Page 213 of the DMG states that "magic garments are made to be easily adjustable, or they adjust themselves magically to the wearer". Your player's monkey could get pretty gross with that...

But it is a cool idea. Personally, I'd say +3 to climb checks.
radkins
07-17-05, 02:39 PM actually the player mainly just likes monkeys. i mean come on, who doesn't? the player is a rog/sorc, so a monkey kind of fits well as a familiar. i expect the player to take advantage of the monkey's size to get into places his elf cannot and i plan on allowing the familiar to steal an occasional object. the character is kind of greedy and i really can't see him wasting his gold on equiping the monkey instead of himself. i think i'll just allow the monkey and let the player know that i may change my mind later if the monkey gets a little out of hand. on the topic i originally addressed, i think i am just going to go with the +3 to climb as the ability granted.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
radkins 07-16-05, 03:41 PM	ive got a player that wants to have a monkey familiar. a monkey's stats are comparable to the other animals on the familiar list, so i see no problem with this. my question is, what should the granted ability be for a monkey familiar? the player doesn't really have any preferences because the monkey was picked for backstory flavor. i was thinking of master gains +3 to climb, jump, or tumble checks. instead of +3 to a skill, i thought it might be interesting to let the master use his dex mod instead of strength mod for climb and jump checks. any thoughts would be much appreciated.
Ut-Napishtim 07-16-05, 03:47 PM	I'd say +3 to Climb checks sounds good.
UltimateReality 07-16-05, 04:31 PM	ive got a player that wants to have a monkey familiar. a monkey's stats are comparable to the other animals on the familiar list, so i see no problem with this.Why does the player want a monkey? My first thought is: opposable thumbs and training. You may end up essentially giving the character a small rogue...a monkey, with its increasing Int from being a familiar, can easily pick locks, get into small places, steal things, entertain people on street corners for petty cash....etc. etc. The main problem, though: magic items. A monkey has magic item slots just like a human, seeing as they are basically built the same way. Page 213 of the DMG states that "magic garments are made to be easily adjustable, or they adjust themselves magically to the wearer". Your player's monkey could get pretty gross with that... But it is a cool idea. Personally, I'd say +3 to climb checks.
radkins 07-17-05, 02:39 PM	actually the player mainly just likes monkeys. i mean come on, who doesn't? the player is a rog/sorc, so a monkey kind of fits well as a familiar. i expect the player to take advantage of the monkey's size to get into places his elf cannot and i plan on allowing the familiar to steal an occasional object. the character is kind of greedy and i really can't see him wasting his gold on equiping the monkey instead of himself. i think i'll just allow the monkey and let the player know that i may change my mind later if the monkey gets a little out of hand. on the topic i originally addressed, i think i am just going to go with the +3 to climb as the ability granted.