Butterfly Familiar? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Butterfly Familiar? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Seventh Seraph
04-03-04, 04:23 AM What kind of bonuses would a butterfly familiar give? Something to transmutation, perhaps?
Jeremiah the Red Sage
04-03-04, 04:37 AM Don't butterflies have extremely short lifespans? Familiars that dy a day or two after being summoned sounds like a bad idea.
SnowbearK
04-03-04, 04:38 AM Nope. Familiars don't grant special abilities like that. If you really want to go that route though, a butterfly would have a penalty to saves vs. transmutation.

Seriously though, a good bonus might be +3 to Craft-Weaving, or maybe to Move Silently (really, when was the last time you HEARD a butterfly?), or Hide (camouflage), or at the really high end, Blindsight 5ft radius.
super drow
04-03-04, 05:01 AM AN INSECT FAMILIAR !?!? whats next ? flower familiar ?
its not a bad idea if you put it in a little box so noone could harm it. But I agree with Jeremiah the Red Sage , its gonna die in two days if its not some kind of a magic butterfly
Geek
04-03-04, 06:19 AM In 3.5 all familiar benefits are transformed in soething a feat can do, so if you're pushing this through, pick a feat you like, and that fits.
ehrin
04-03-04, 09:23 AM I am not sure what would happen to its' lifespan either (some butterflies live for the better part of a year, BTW), but once it becomes a familiar, it is no longer a normal animal.

it becomes a magical beast. and probably, all rules change when that happens.

Flowers cannot become familiars. They are not animals. However, a sponge could be.
Arthur_Pendragon
04-03-04, 09:56 AM I remeber reading somewhere that the lifespan of the familiar is changed so that in matches the lifespan of the wizard, when it becomes a magical creature.
Winternova
04-03-04, 01:35 PM A Sponge familiar? Why don't you just go all out and get a Sea Cucumber familiar? What kinda benefits would an animal that literally pukes it's guts out when it's suprised give you?
Geethree
04-03-04, 01:51 PM It would give a penalty to intimidate.
Elessar
04-03-04, 02:18 PM Originally posted by SnowbearK
Nope. Familiars don't grant special abilities like that. If you really want to go that route though, a butterfly would have a penalty to saves vs. transmutation.

Originally posted by Geek
In 3.5 all familiar benefits are transformed in soething a feat can do, so if you're pushing this through, pick a feat you like, and that fits.

Just wanted to point out the fact that these two facts contradict one another even though they both seem correct. But what about the feat Spell Focus (transmutation)? And imagine a familiar that granted Spell Penetration. They seem to be a little too good to be true, yet they are both feats without prerequisites.

I don't personally think Spell Focus (transmutation) even fits all that well despite the whole cocoon analogy. Plus it seems to nudge Wizards into specialization. I think what SnowBearK meant was that as a general rule of thumb, the benefit should be good for the spellcaster, but not directly related to the casting of spells.

I think having a butterfly as a familiar is fine, don't worry about the lifespan. That's a minor detail unless your campaign is hyperrealistic. If I can believe that a rat can have human intelligence, I can believe that a butterfly can live for more than a year (rats don't live very long either as I remember.)

The other suggestions for the most part seem about right.
Caktid
04-03-04, 03:56 PM Sucks for the spellcaster, though, if some little kid caught his familiar in a net and pinned it to a board. :smirk:
Trillia
04-03-04, 04:13 PM Meh. No worse that your monkey getting kicked by the nasty, spoilt son of some guy you've got to be nice to. Grrrrrrrr.

How about a bonus to disguise? Or maybe Scent, on the condition that it only works if your familiar is within arm's reach, like the Alertness thing. *Starts thinking about how cool it would be to have a butterfly familiar - pretty!*
MinusInnocence
04-03-04, 04:22 PM I guess it would depend on what kind of butterfly it was. Maybe a King Butterfly or whatever it's called would grant Skill Focus: Diplomacy or something of the sort. Y'know, because they are majestic and all that jazz.

Or a butterfly whose coloration closely matched its typical, natural surroundings might grant Skill Focus: Disguise instead of Skill Focus: Hide... just to change things up a little. And yes, it's MAGICAL, so it would grant these bonuses even if it wasn't in its natural surroundings.

I think I want a Mule familiar. Maybe grant Toughness or Great Fortitude...
Seventh Seraph
04-04-04, 01:38 AM Originally posted by Trillia
*Starts thinking about how cool it would be to have a butterfly familiar - pretty!*

I've always wanted to make a character with a butterfly familiar--he'd be a very old, very wise, very powerful, yet very young-at-heart spellcaster/shaman-type (inspired by a Native American flavor).

I don't know why, but there's something funny, charming, and--dare I say--cute, about an old man dancing with a butterfly.

-SS
CrimsonRyoko
04-04-04, 01:50 AM Hmmm, well i had an idea erlier today, and itll fit in here:

Chicken Familiar
Grants the Run Feat :)
Winternova
04-04-04, 03:17 AM I'd think a dragonfly familiar would be pretty cool.
Ratguy629
04-04-04, 03:25 AM familars life span matches the owners? never heard that before good news to the elven wizard with a rat familar rat lives for 2 years then to old to move and dies and that aint long to an elf.........
Sweet Steph
04-04-04, 03:35 AM Originally posted by Geethree
It would give a penalty to intimidate.
On the contrary, if the butterfly familiar has eyespots, it may very well grant a bonus to Intimidate. That's exactly what those spots were developed for, you know. Just a thought.
Winternova
04-04-04, 04:31 AM excellent point - and some of the extremely bright "Hello! My name is POISONOUS" colorations of some butterflies could definately play a factor in the intimidate bonus too, but since intimidate bonuses from butterflies will doubtlessly win the "WTF?!" award from players, I'd probably rule a move silently bonus... or just bring a bat to add to my own intimidate skill.
TieraStarr
04-04-04, 04:43 AM According to Tome and Blood the size of the familiar is relative to the size of the spellcaster.

Therefore, in my opinion, a butterfly might be an appropriate familiar for a pixie spellcaster.
Piuro
04-05-04, 02:54 AM What about a pet rock familiar?
Winternova
04-05-04, 03:27 AM :rofl:

SCORE! That's freakin' hysterical!

THAT'S easily a hide bonus, or maybe the 'great fortitude' feat, or something.
Tenzhi
04-05-04, 03:35 AM Originally posted by Piuro
What about a pet rock familiar?

That would grant Weapon Focus: Thrown Rock/Sling...
Qlay
04-05-04, 04:00 AM +3 Diplomacy
just because its so damn pretty.
Boudewijn Brendergast
04-05-04, 05:10 AM Originally posted by Piuro
What about a pet rock familiar?
Immunity to critical hits?
No Alertness?

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Seventh Seraph 04-03-04, 04:23 AM	What kind of bonuses would a butterfly familiar give? Something to transmutation, perhaps?
Jeremiah the Red Sage 04-03-04, 04:37 AM	Don't butterflies have extremely short lifespans? Familiars that dy a day or two after being summoned sounds like a bad idea.
SnowbearK 04-03-04, 04:38 AM	Nope. Familiars don't grant special abilities like that. If you really want to go that route though, a butterfly would have a penalty to saves vs. transmutation. Seriously though, a good bonus might be +3 to Craft-Weaving, or maybe to Move Silently (really, when was the last time you HEARD a butterfly?), or Hide (camouflage), or at the really high end, Blindsight 5ft radius.
super drow 04-03-04, 05:01 AM	AN INSECT FAMILIAR !?!? whats next ? flower familiar ? its not a bad idea if you put it in a little box so noone could harm it. But I agree with Jeremiah the Red Sage , its gonna die in two days if its not some kind of a magic butterfly
Geek 04-03-04, 06:19 AM	In 3.5 all familiar benefits are transformed in soething a feat can do, so if you're pushing this through, pick a feat you like, and that fits.
ehrin 04-03-04, 09:23 AM	I am not sure what would happen to its' lifespan either (some butterflies live for the better part of a year, BTW), but once it becomes a familiar, it is no longer a normal animal. it becomes a magical beast. and probably, all rules change when that happens. Flowers cannot become familiars. They are not animals. However, a sponge could be.
Arthur_Pendragon 04-03-04, 09:56 AM	I remeber reading somewhere that the lifespan of the familiar is changed so that in matches the lifespan of the wizard, when it becomes a magical creature.
Winternova 04-03-04, 01:35 PM	A Sponge familiar? Why don't you just go all out and get a Sea Cucumber familiar? What kinda benefits would an animal that literally pukes it's guts out when it's suprised give you?
Geethree 04-03-04, 01:51 PM	It would give a penalty to intimidate.
Elessar 04-03-04, 02:18 PM	Originally posted by SnowbearK Nope. Familiars don't grant special abilities like that. If you really want to go that route though, a butterfly would have a penalty to saves vs. transmutation. Originally posted by Geek In 3.5 all familiar benefits are transformed in soething a feat can do, so if you're pushing this through, pick a feat you like, and that fits. Just wanted to point out the fact that these two facts contradict one another even though they both seem correct. But what about the feat Spell Focus (transmutation)? And imagine a familiar that granted Spell Penetration. They seem to be a little too good to be true, yet they are both feats without prerequisites. I don't personally think Spell Focus (transmutation) even fits all that well despite the whole cocoon analogy. Plus it seems to nudge Wizards into specialization. I think what SnowBearK meant was that as a general rule of thumb, the benefit should be good for the spellcaster, but not directly related to the casting of spells. I think having a butterfly as a familiar is fine, don't worry about the lifespan. That's a minor detail unless your campaign is hyperrealistic. If I can believe that a rat can have human intelligence, I can believe that a butterfly can live for more than a year (rats don't live very long either as I remember.) The other suggestions for the most part seem about right.
Caktid 04-03-04, 03:56 PM	Sucks for the spellcaster, though, if some little kid caught his familiar in a net and pinned it to a board. :smirk:
Trillia 04-03-04, 04:13 PM	Meh. No worse that your monkey getting kicked by the nasty, spoilt son of some guy you've got to be nice to. Grrrrrrrr. How about a bonus to disguise? Or maybe Scent, on the condition that it only works if your familiar is within arm's reach, like the Alertness thing. Starts thinking about how cool it would be to have a butterfly familiar - pretty!
MinusInnocence 04-03-04, 04:22 PM	I guess it would depend on what kind of butterfly it was. Maybe a King Butterfly or whatever it's called would grant Skill Focus: Diplomacy or something of the sort. Y'know, because they are majestic and all that jazz. Or a butterfly whose coloration closely matched its typical, natural surroundings might grant Skill Focus: Disguise instead of Skill Focus: Hide... just to change things up a little. And yes, it's MAGICAL, so it would grant these bonuses even if it wasn't in its natural surroundings. I think I want a Mule familiar. Maybe grant Toughness or Great Fortitude...
Seventh Seraph 04-04-04, 01:38 AM	Originally posted by Trillia Starts thinking about how cool it would be to have a butterfly familiar - pretty! I've always wanted to make a character with a butterfly familiar--he'd be a very old, very wise, very powerful, yet very young-at-heart spellcaster/shaman-type (inspired by a Native American flavor). I don't know why, but there's something funny, charming, and--dare I say--cute, about an old man dancing with a butterfly. -SS
CrimsonRyoko 04-04-04, 01:50 AM	Hmmm, well i had an idea erlier today, and itll fit in here: Chicken Familiar Grants the Run Feat :)
Winternova 04-04-04, 03:17 AM	I'd think a dragonfly familiar would be pretty cool.
Ratguy629 04-04-04, 03:25 AM	familars life span matches the owners? never heard that before good news to the elven wizard with a rat familar rat lives for 2 years then to old to move and dies and that aint long to an elf.........
Sweet Steph 04-04-04, 03:35 AM	Originally posted by Geethree It would give a penalty to intimidate. On the contrary, if the butterfly familiar has eyespots, it may very well grant a bonus to Intimidate. That's exactly what those spots were developed for, you know. Just a thought.
Winternova 04-04-04, 04:31 AM	excellent point - and some of the extremely bright "Hello! My name is POISONOUS" colorations of some butterflies could definately play a factor in the intimidate bonus too, but since intimidate bonuses from butterflies will doubtlessly win the "WTF?!" award from players, I'd probably rule a move silently bonus... or just bring a bat to add to my own intimidate skill.
TieraStarr 04-04-04, 04:43 AM	According to Tome and Blood the size of the familiar is relative to the size of the spellcaster. Therefore, in my opinion, a butterfly might be an appropriate familiar for a pixie spellcaster.
Piuro 04-05-04, 02:54 AM	What about a pet rock familiar?
Winternova 04-05-04, 03:27 AM	:rofl: SCORE! That's freakin' hysterical! THAT'S easily a hide bonus, or maybe the 'great fortitude' feat, or something.
Tenzhi 04-05-04, 03:35 AM	Originally posted by Piuro What about a pet rock familiar? That would grant Weapon Focus: Thrown Rock/Sling...
Qlay 04-05-04, 04:00 AM	+3 Diplomacy just because its so damn pretty.
Boudewijn Brendergast 04-05-04, 05:10 AM	Originally posted by Piuro What about a pet rock familiar? Immunity to critical hits? No Alertness?