Here's what I'm looking to do with a spell: animate a skeleton as a familiar instead of having a spider or snake or whatever.
Here's what I'm thinking:
A level 3 spell (ritual) that imbues a set of bones with the spirit of a familiar. The familiar replaces a level 1 familiar or any other familiar (can't have multiple familiars) with an animated skeleton or zombie (like the Animate Dead spell, but with a familiar). It functions exactly like the level 1 Find Familiar spell, but with the Animate Dead component the familiar becomes much more resilient.
Thoughts?
I think normally the Find Familiar spell only lets you have CR 0 creatures, right? Skeletons are CR 1/4 and can actually do damage with attacks. That would be my only problem with it. As a DM, I would probably let it go though -- I love flavor!
As long as the skeleton was no better than the familiars described in the Find Familiar spell, I would have no issue with a player using a skeleton instead fo the animals that are listed. It's just a bit of reflavoring.
Whir wrote:
Is this a spell for a player to use?
I would suggest probably higher level than animate dead, since the spell will be more powerful (possibly 4th/5th), with the additional abilities of permanence, delivering touch attacks, and seeing through its eyes.
Furthermore, increase the casting time, and material component cost.
Most important question for me is what type of skeleton.
If it is a skeletal bird (or something along those lines), no problem, just reflavor
If it is a tiny skeleton that could stand on your palm, no problem
If it is a full skeleton, like what is created with animate dead then you'd need to talk and work on how to handle it, because it would then be reasonable it has the stats of a full skeleton.
onceMoreIntoBreech wrote:
iserith wrote:
If it's for a player, I wouldn't make it a spell like out of the book. I'd make it a short side quest to get himself a skeleton minion that has the same characteristics of a familiar. This sidesteps the problem of creating a new spell and worrying about balance while creating an opportunity for adventure to boot.
If you wanted to build a shadow/gloom pact chainlock using a bunch of necromancer spells, I would let you have the skeleton as a familiar.
iserith wrote:
"shadow/gloom pact chainlock" means. It sounds warlock-esque, maybe?"
Yes, he is saying create your own shadow pact for the warlock with necromancy spells and let him get a skeleton as his familiar through the pact of the chain feature at level 3.
This is a pretty good solution if the player is interested in that route, otherwise I'd make it a sidequest for him.
woif wrote:
onceMoreIntoBreech wrote:
Mechagamera wrote:
What you're after is closest in concept to the "Beastmaster" Ranger archetype ability in terms of scope, with the added advantage that your companion is able to use opposable thumbs and humanoid gear, as well as skeletal/undead benefits.
I don't think that a one-shot spell that you can simply cast once really covers what you are getting out of it.
Just to get a better idea of what you are after, what would you want from this skeleton companion that simply casting Animate Dead every day doesn't give you?
Captain_Kobold wrote:
onceMoreIntoBreech wrote:
Captain_Kobold wrote:
What sort of level would you want the wizard to get this ability? Would you want the skeleton to scale in HP, proficiencies etc with the Wizard?
If you are a necromancer, would you be applying the Undead Thralls benetits to it? Is this why you're after an Undead version?
To be frank, I do not think that gaining a permanent, scaling, skeletal humanoid, familiar is something that should be granted by a once-off casting of a spell. The closest equivalents are an entire class archetype, or having to cast the spell every day, thus effectively losing a fairly high-level spell slot.
Might be worth homebrewing a feat actually. That still represents the permanent investment in this capability that is required, without the messing with your archetype or spell slots that you insist on.
Familiar benefits are:
Telepathic communication within 100ft.
See and Hear through its eyes.
Able to summon and dismiss into pocket dimension at will.
Deliver touch spells.
What about a spell that temporarily granted some of these benefits to an existing undead minion instead?
Didn't 3.5e have an Improved Familiar spell. Perhaps you could riff off that?
Cheers,
Redbeard2
Redbeard2 wrote:
Timborama wrote:
Looking over the conjure spells and their limitations I would be hard pressed to say anything less than a 6th or 7th level spell for a permanent conjuring. However, what about a version of animate dead(3rd lvl)that let's you conjure a skeleton with the familialr abilities, but you have to use spell slots to keep it animated. Say, every spell slot gives the skelly enough juice to operate for 6/8?? hours.
You'd want to put a limit on how many charges the skelly could hold. If not you might get a player that tries to use their down time to super juice the skelly.
"Ummm...yeah, during our two weeks off I put 100 spell spell slots into my skelly." 
Captain_Kobold wrote:
Redbeard2 wrote:
onceMoreIntoBreech wrote:
Captain_Kobold wrote: