Familiar in official artwork! It's wizards's there. - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Familiar in official artwork! It's wizards's there.

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
LordArchaon
Jan 30, 2009 7:51:44

So for now we can be sure wizards get familiars, since the tiefling there wields a staff and a book...

Here they say familiars for "arcane classes", so it's probable that they'll come up with feat based system for familiar, maybe multiclass feats at it, preventing familiar owners from multiclassing into other things (except for bards, that however don't look very good with familiars...).
The podcast in itself only says the book has "rules for familiars", and again says "arcane character".
So we can be positive that they will not be completely class-tied.
#2
Xeviat-DM
Jan 30, 2009 7:53:22 I'd prefer to see Familiars as a ritual. It should mostly be an out of combat effect anyway.
#3
LordArchaon
Jan 30, 2009 8:00:57
I'd prefer to see Familiars as a ritual. It should mostly be an out of combat effect anyway.

In the eyes of most, that would be like killing familiars. I also personally think they can add fun only if present at all times. I only hope they will differentiate them a little in function/shape like the ranger's animal companion.
The meanest ones could act as mini-bodyguards, others could just add bonuses, and so on.
#4
Discordian
Jan 30, 2009 8:16:12 I think handling them with multiclass feats is a reasonable way to go. That way they can be reasonably powerful with a reduced risk of weird, unbalancing power combos.

On another note, I can already hear all the complaints about "I can't make my favorite familiar" and/or "the familiars are bland and boring" depending on how specific they make the rules.
#5
wizardmon
Jan 30, 2009 11:50:24 I too hope that familiars are moved to "Multiclass" feats. That way, all arcane classes can get (the same) familiars. I can't imagine that Familiars will have all that in common with Animal Companions; their purpose, IMO, is to "aid" in spellcasting, not be an all new combatant (all the time).

Therefore, I kind of would like/appreciate/understand if, unless given a specific command (like "fetch"), the familiar was always at its master's side. I mean, all the pictures we have seen of 4e familiars HAVE been with them right next to, or on the shoulder of, their master.

That being said, I would love it if a familiar's location could be used in place of the master's location when casting spells... That would be HELLA awesome.
#6
Fireclave
Jan 30, 2009 12:11:42 My only hope is that Wizard's familiars retain the autonomy of their 3e breathern. I prefer my sidekicks to be smart and capable enough to act without my constant guidance and presence. If not, I'll simply assimilate Wizard's rules into my own homebrew :D
#7
Xeviat-DM
Jan 30, 2009 13:06:45 I didn't mean they wouldn't be around at all times, just that as a primarily non-combat ability the familiar should be purchased with a non-combat resource: rituals. So a wizard gets the familiar ritual, finds a monkey, and performs the ritual. Tada, they have a familiar now.
#8
johnthedm7000
Jan 30, 2009 13:11:46 THIS! IS! AWESOME!

Sorry about that...I just love me some familiars and I'm extremely happy to know that they're being handled through feats, so any arcanist who wants one can obtain a familiar. I do hope however, that they're handled like the heritage feats for dhampyr's, so multi-classed characters may have a familiar. I'm sure that they're going to keep their autonomy-using familiars as scouts and spies is a constant theme in fantasy, and a proud D&D tradition and it'd be a shame not to include it.
#9
Tharag_Bocc
Jan 30, 2009 13:21:58
I too hope that familiars are moved to "Multiclass" feats. That way, all arcane classes can get (the same) familiars. I can't imagine that Familiars will have all that in common with Animal Companions; their purpose, IMO, is to "aid" in spellcasting, not be an all new combatant (all the time).

...or perhaps a wizard class feature that is also available as part of an alternate feat for multi-classing into wizard.

When Beast Companions were first confirmed to be a Ranger class feature, I was very much hoping for such an alternate ranger multi-class option. Regrettably, that became one of my three biggest disappointments with Martial Power, a book I other wise enjoy very much.
#10
Arcane_Guyver
Jan 30, 2009 17:45:53 Another option is that the artwork is showing off the two new Wizard builds - familiar & spellbook implement...

Personally, I'd rather famiiliar acquisition not be covered by a ritual, as then anyone could get a familiar.
#11
rexracerjr
Jan 30, 2009 18:29:06 Not Necdasscerily. Rituals can have Pre-Reqs. Check out the Raise Pet Ritual.
#12
greylord
Jan 30, 2009 19:18:23 I like the idea of it as a ritual, but that could also mean weaker familiars. On the otherhand if they go with familiars as the animal companion for Rangers, it may be more like the 3e familiar in some ways, or maybe even more powerful. It could also mean a deeper integration between wizard and familiar...you DON'T want to lose your familiar.

I still like the idea of it as a ritual however, moreso than another line of powers.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 LordArchaon Jan 30, 2009 7:51:44	So for now we can be sure wizards get familiars, since the tiefling there wields a staff and a book... Here they say familiars for "arcane classes", so it's probable that they'll come up with feat based system for familiar, maybe multiclass feats at it, preventing familiar owners from multiclassing into other things (except for bards, that however don't look very good with familiars...). The podcast in itself only says the book has "rules for familiars", and again says "arcane character". So we can be positive that they will not be completely class-tied.
#2 Xeviat-DM Jan 30, 2009 7:53:22	I'd prefer to see Familiars as a ritual. It should mostly be an out of combat effect anyway.
#3 LordArchaon Jan 30, 2009 8:00:57	I'd prefer to see Familiars as a ritual. It should mostly be an out of combat effect anyway. In the eyes of most, that would be like killing familiars. I also personally think they can add fun only if present at all times. I only hope they will differentiate them a little in function/shape like the ranger's animal companion. The meanest ones could act as mini-bodyguards, others could just add bonuses, and so on.
#4 Discordian Jan 30, 2009 8:16:12	I think handling them with multiclass feats is a reasonable way to go. That way they can be reasonably powerful with a reduced risk of weird, unbalancing power combos. On another note, I can already hear all the complaints about "I can't make my favorite familiar" and/or "the familiars are bland and boring" depending on how specific they make the rules.
#5 wizardmon Jan 30, 2009 11:50:24	I too hope that familiars are moved to "Multiclass" feats. That way, all arcane classes can get (the same) familiars. I can't imagine that Familiars will have all that in common with Animal Companions; their purpose, IMO, is to "aid" in spellcasting, not be an all new combatant (all the time). Therefore, I kind of would like/appreciate/understand if, unless given a specific command (like "fetch"), the familiar was always at its master's side. I mean, all the pictures we have seen of 4e familiars HAVE been with them right next to, or on the shoulder of, their master. That being said, I would love it if a familiar's location could be used in place of the master's location when casting spells... That would be HELLA awesome.
#6 Fireclave Jan 30, 2009 12:11:42	My only hope is that Wizard's familiars retain the autonomy of their 3e breathern. I prefer my sidekicks to be smart and capable enough to act without my constant guidance and presence. If not, I'll simply assimilate Wizard's rules into my own homebrew :D
#7 Xeviat-DM Jan 30, 2009 13:06:45	I didn't mean they wouldn't be around at all times, just that as a primarily non-combat ability the familiar should be purchased with a non-combat resource: rituals. So a wizard gets the familiar ritual, finds a monkey, and performs the ritual. Tada, they have a familiar now.
#8 johnthedm7000 Jan 30, 2009 13:11:46	THIS! IS! AWESOME! Sorry about that...I just love me some familiars and I'm extremely happy to know that they're being handled through feats, so any arcanist who wants one can obtain a familiar. I do hope however, that they're handled like the heritage feats for dhampyr's, so multi-classed characters may have a familiar. I'm sure that they're going to keep their autonomy-using familiars as scouts and spies is a constant theme in fantasy, and a proud D&D tradition and it'd be a shame not to include it.
#9 Tharag_Bocc Jan 30, 2009 13:21:58	I too hope that familiars are moved to "Multiclass" feats. That way, all arcane classes can get (the same) familiars. I can't imagine that Familiars will have all that in common with Animal Companions; their purpose, IMO, is to "aid" in spellcasting, not be an all new combatant (all the time). ...or perhaps a wizard class feature that is also available as part of an alternate feat for multi-classing into wizard. When Beast Companions were first confirmed to be a Ranger class feature, I was very much hoping for such an alternate ranger multi-class option. Regrettably, that became one of my three biggest disappointments with Martial Power, a book I other wise enjoy very much.
#10 Arcane_Guyver Jan 30, 2009 17:45:53	Another option is that the artwork is showing off the two new Wizard builds - familiar & spellbook implement... Personally, I'd rather famiiliar acquisition not be covered by a ritual, as then anyone could get a familiar.
#11 rexracerjr Jan 30, 2009 18:29:06	Not Necdasscerily. Rituals can have Pre-Reqs. Check out the Raise Pet Ritual.
#12 greylord Jan 30, 2009 19:18:23	I like the idea of it as a ritual, but that could also mean weaker familiars. On the otherhand if they go with familiars as the animal companion for Rangers, it may be more like the 3e familiar in some ways, or maybe even more powerful. It could also mean a deeper integration between wizard and familiar...you DON'T want to lose your familiar. I still like the idea of it as a ritual however, moreso than another line of powers.