feedback please? Trying to bring back the familiar! - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

feedback please? Trying to bring back the familiar!

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
patrich9
Aug 25, 2008 18:03:07 please let me know if this seems broken or if you have any suggestions? I want to propose some familiar rules to my DM and he asked me to put something together.
thanks

RITUALS:
Find Familiar
You scribe a magic circle on the ground and call out into the ether. A small creature approaches and answers your call. As you lock eyes, you feel a small part of your soul bind to that of the creature and you become one.

Level: 1
Category: Binding
Time: 8 Hours
Duration: Permanent
Component Cost: 100gp
Market Price: 250gp
Key Skill: Arcana or Nature (no check)

You call into the ether and seek a natural creature of size Small or smaller to bind as your familiar. You can call for a specific creature, or cast this spell upon an animal already in your possession. A familiar is a creature which the caster can bond with to share senses, thoughts, and experiences (with later rituals of feats). The master and familiar can share a square with no penalty.

Upon the completion of the Find Familiar ritual, the caster is bound with the creature he called. When a master is within 1 square of his familiar he gains a +2 to perception checks. Upon forming this bond, the familiar becomes a magical beast and its maximum hit points rise to twice the total of his master’s healing surge value. Familiar’s maintain an empathic link with their master up to the range of 20 squares. Additionally the familiar takes no damage from area or burst effects (unless specifically targeted) when within 1 square of his master.

Should the caster’s familiar die, the master is subject to a death penalty: -1 to all attack rolls, skill checks, saving throws, and ability checks. This death penalty fades after the master reaches three milestones. The familiar may be raised from the dead with appropriate rituals (cancelling the death penalty on the master). Alternately, after the death penalty fades the master may summon another familiar.

Gift of Speech
As you finish your ritual your familiar lets out a short cough and starts to speak in a language you are fluent in.

Level: 2
Category: Exploration
Time: 10 Minutes
Duration: 24 Hours
Component Cost: 25gp + Bound Familiar
Market Cost: 50gp
Key Skill: Arcana or Nature

When beginning the ritual choose a language in which you are fluent. You imbue your familiar with the ability to speak this tongue for 24 hours. If your Arcana or Nature check is 35 or greater, your familiar can also read/write this language.

Rider Within
The bond with your familiar strengthens as you utter this ritual. You feel a strange detachment as you realize you can shift your focus to utilize the senses of your familiar at will.

Level: 4
Category: Divination
Time: 10 Minutes
Duration: 12 Hours
Component Cost: 25gp + Bound Familiar
Market Cost: 150gp
Key Skill: Arcana or Nature

This ritual grants the caster the ability to shift his focus and utilize the senses of his familiar in lieu of his own. The caster can shift sense focus between his own and his familiar’s as a minor action. When using the senses of his familiar, the master shares sight, smell, and hearing with his familiar. When the master is utilizing the senses of his familiar, his body is in an immobile trancelike state. The caster is fully aware of any interaction with his body, even when utilizing the senses of his familiar so he or she can revert senses back to their own body should someone touch or damage it. Should your skill check exceed 30, you can shift sense between you or your familiar as a free action.

Familiar’s Cloak
You draw upon shadows and light and they become slightly viscous in your hands, you spread this over your familiar and it is able to better remain out of sight.

Level: 6
Category: Deception
Time: 10 Minutes
Duration: 4 Hours
Component Cost: 100gp + Bound Familiar
Market Cost: 500gp
Key Skill: Arcana or Nature

You conceal your familiar in a cloak of camouflage and distraction ensuring no one notices it. The perception DC to notice a cloaked familiar is equal to the Arcana or Nature check with a +5 bonus. A cloaked familiar that attacks loses all benefit from this ritual.

Scry Familiar
You send your senses out to seek your bound familiar. You then look upon your familiar’s location and see its surroundings.
Level: 10
Category:
Time:
Duration:
Component Cost: + Bound Familiar
Market Cost:
Key Skill: Arcana

This spell functions as the Wizard’s Sight ritual, but you use your familiar as the sensor. Your sensor is created at your familiar no matter how far. You can see and hear as if you were standing where your Familiar’s current location is, and you have darkvision through your sensor. You cannot place a scrying sensor in a location you can see through scrying your familiar. Your Arcana check determines how long your sensor lasts:

Arcana Check Result:
• 19 or lower - 2 rounds
• 20-24 - 3 rounds
• 25-29 - 4 rounds
• 30-39 - 5 rounds
• 40+ - 6 rounds

The scrying sensor is stationary and shimmers in the air above your familiar’s location upon completion of the ritual. Watchful creatures might notice the sensor but they must succeed at a Perception check with a DC equal to 10 + your level to notice the sensor. They can’t disrupt or interact with the sensor in any way. Sufficiently powerful warding magic, such as the Forbiddance ritual, can block the creation of your sensor. If the location is warded in such a manner, you learn that as soon as you begin the ritual, so you can interrupt the ritual and not expend any components.

FEATS:

FEATS:
HEROIC
Imbue Spell [Familiar]
Prerequisite: Ritual Caster, Bound Familiar, Int 13
Benefit: You may bestow a single at-will or encounter power upon your familiar for use as a Daily spell – treating it as if you were casting the spell. While this power is bestowed upon your familiar, it cannot be exercised by the caster. Once the familiar expends the spell, the caster regains the ability to use it. This effect is cancelled by the death of you or your familiar

Locus Familiar [Familiar]
Prerequisite: Ritual Caster, Bound Familiar, Int 13
Benefit: As an encounter ability, you may use your familiar as point of origin for any spell you cast. Your familiar must be within 20 squares of you for this to work.

PARAGON
Bestow Spell [Familiar]
Prerequisite: Ritual Cater, Bound Familiar, Int 16
Benefit: You may bestow a single at-will or encounter power upon your familiar for 8 hours. Your familiar may then use this power as an encounter power, treating it as if you were casting the spell. You lose the ability to cast this spell while your familiar is bestowed. You may revoke the bestowal of this power as at any time as a minor action. This effect is cancelled by the death of you or your familiar.

EPIC
Relegate Spell [Familiar]
Prerequisite: Ritual Cater, Bound Familiar, Int 18
Benefit: You may bestow a single at-will, encounter, or utility spell upon your familiar for 8 hours. Your familiar may then use this power and treat it as if you were casting the spell. You lose the ability to cast this spell while your familiar is bestowed. You may revoke the bestowal of this power as at any time as a minor action. This effect is cancelled by the death of you or your familiar.
#2
ff6shadow
Aug 25, 2008 18:54:37 What kind of action is it to use Imbue Spell, Bestow Spell, and Relgate spell to give the familiar the spell?

Also, I don't think the ritual should let them summon a new familar automatically. If they choose not to ressurect the old one, make them pay the component cost of the ritual again.

Otherwise, I don't see any problems right now.
#3
wyld_mutation
Aug 25, 2008 19:12:22 Ya know...

Why hasn't anyone thought of using familiars as Implements?

That aside: They don't look broken. But I've seen the same thing a good 10 times by now.
#4
nerdicus
Aug 26, 2008 11:18:40 I don't think the +2 to perception is all that balanced. But that is just me.

otherwise everything looks pretty good.
#5
billthemaniac
Aug 26, 2008 14:41:22
Ya know...

Why hasn't anyone thought of using familiars as Implements?

That aside: They don't look broken. But I've seen the same thing a good 10 times by now.

familiar as implement - cool. Now what is the ability?

1/encounter shoot spell from familiar doesn't include an ability score...
shoot spell with [charisma, perhaps] instead of intelligence to attack and damage from familiar works.

Familiar is invulnerable, moves around. Feats & paragon paths could improve it...
(go derail!)

I don't like rituals because familiars should have combat utility. I also don't like the ritual mechanic due to the use of casting cost.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 patrich9 Aug 25, 2008 18:03:07	please let me know if this seems broken or if you have any suggestions? I want to propose some familiar rules to my DM and he asked me to put something together. thanks RITUALS: Find Familiar You scribe a magic circle on the ground and call out into the ether. A small creature approaches and answers your call. As you lock eyes, you feel a small part of your soul bind to that of the creature and you become one. Level: 1 Category: Binding Time: 8 Hours Duration: Permanent Component Cost: 100gp Market Price: 250gp Key Skill: Arcana or Nature (no check) You call into the ether and seek a natural creature of size Small or smaller to bind as your familiar. You can call for a specific creature, or cast this spell upon an animal already in your possession. A familiar is a creature which the caster can bond with to share senses, thoughts, and experiences (with later rituals of feats). The master and familiar can share a square with no penalty. Upon the completion of the Find Familiar ritual, the caster is bound with the creature he called. When a master is within 1 square of his familiar he gains a +2 to perception checks. Upon forming this bond, the familiar becomes a magical beast and its maximum hit points rise to twice the total of his master’s healing surge value. Familiar’s maintain an empathic link with their master up to the range of 20 squares. Additionally the familiar takes no damage from area or burst effects (unless specifically targeted) when within 1 square of his master. Should the caster’s familiar die, the master is subject to a death penalty: -1 to all attack rolls, skill checks, saving throws, and ability checks. This death penalty fades after the master reaches three milestones. The familiar may be raised from the dead with appropriate rituals (cancelling the death penalty on the master). Alternately, after the death penalty fades the master may summon another familiar. Gift of Speech As you finish your ritual your familiar lets out a short cough and starts to speak in a language you are fluent in. Level: 2 Category: Exploration Time: 10 Minutes Duration: 24 Hours Component Cost: 25gp + Bound Familiar Market Cost: 50gp Key Skill: Arcana or Nature When beginning the ritual choose a language in which you are fluent. You imbue your familiar with the ability to speak this tongue for 24 hours. If your Arcana or Nature check is 35 or greater, your familiar can also read/write this language. Rider Within The bond with your familiar strengthens as you utter this ritual. You feel a strange detachment as you realize you can shift your focus to utilize the senses of your familiar at will. Level: 4 Category: Divination Time: 10 Minutes Duration: 12 Hours Component Cost: 25gp + Bound Familiar Market Cost: 150gp Key Skill: Arcana or Nature This ritual grants the caster the ability to shift his focus and utilize the senses of his familiar in lieu of his own. The caster can shift sense focus between his own and his familiar’s as a minor action. When using the senses of his familiar, the master shares sight, smell, and hearing with his familiar. When the master is utilizing the senses of his familiar, his body is in an immobile trancelike state. The caster is fully aware of any interaction with his body, even when utilizing the senses of his familiar so he or she can revert senses back to their own body should someone touch or damage it. Should your skill check exceed 30, you can shift sense between you or your familiar as a free action. Familiar’s Cloak You draw upon shadows and light and they become slightly viscous in your hands, you spread this over your familiar and it is able to better remain out of sight. Level: 6 Category: Deception Time: 10 Minutes Duration: 4 Hours Component Cost: 100gp + Bound Familiar Market Cost: 500gp Key Skill: Arcana or Nature You conceal your familiar in a cloak of camouflage and distraction ensuring no one notices it. The perception DC to notice a cloaked familiar is equal to the Arcana or Nature check with a +5 bonus. A cloaked familiar that attacks loses all benefit from this ritual. Scry Familiar You send your senses out to seek your bound familiar. You then look upon your familiar’s location and see its surroundings. Level: 10 Category: Time: Duration: Component Cost: + Bound Familiar Market Cost: Key Skill: Arcana This spell functions as the Wizard’s Sight ritual, but you use your familiar as the sensor. Your sensor is created at your familiar no matter how far. You can see and hear as if you were standing where your Familiar’s current location is, and you have darkvision through your sensor. You cannot place a scrying sensor in a location you can see through scrying your familiar. Your Arcana check determines how long your sensor lasts: Arcana Check Result: • 19 or lower - 2 rounds • 20-24 - 3 rounds • 25-29 - 4 rounds • 30-39 - 5 rounds • 40+ - 6 rounds The scrying sensor is stationary and shimmers in the air above your familiar’s location upon completion of the ritual. Watchful creatures might notice the sensor but they must succeed at a Perception check with a DC equal to 10 + your level to notice the sensor. They can’t disrupt or interact with the sensor in any way. Sufficiently powerful warding magic, such as the Forbiddance ritual, can block the creation of your sensor. If the location is warded in such a manner, you learn that as soon as you begin the ritual, so you can interrupt the ritual and not expend any components. FEATS: FEATS: HEROIC Imbue Spell [Familiar] Prerequisite: Ritual Caster, Bound Familiar, Int 13 Benefit: You may bestow a single at-will or encounter power upon your familiar for use as a Daily spell – treating it as if you were casting the spell. While this power is bestowed upon your familiar, it cannot be exercised by the caster. Once the familiar expends the spell, the caster regains the ability to use it. This effect is cancelled by the death of you or your familiar Locus Familiar [Familiar] Prerequisite: Ritual Caster, Bound Familiar, Int 13 Benefit: As an encounter ability, you may use your familiar as point of origin for any spell you cast. Your familiar must be within 20 squares of you for this to work. PARAGON Bestow Spell [Familiar] Prerequisite: Ritual Cater, Bound Familiar, Int 16 Benefit: You may bestow a single at-will or encounter power upon your familiar for 8 hours. Your familiar may then use this power as an encounter power, treating it as if you were casting the spell. You lose the ability to cast this spell while your familiar is bestowed. You may revoke the bestowal of this power as at any time as a minor action. This effect is cancelled by the death of you or your familiar. EPIC Relegate Spell [Familiar] Prerequisite: Ritual Cater, Bound Familiar, Int 18 Benefit: You may bestow a single at-will, encounter, or utility spell upon your familiar for 8 hours. Your familiar may then use this power and treat it as if you were casting the spell. You lose the ability to cast this spell while your familiar is bestowed. You may revoke the bestowal of this power as at any time as a minor action. This effect is cancelled by the death of you or your familiar.
#2 ff6shadow Aug 25, 2008 18:54:37	What kind of action is it to use Imbue Spell, Bestow Spell, and Relgate spell to give the familiar the spell? Also, I don't think the ritual should let them summon a new familar automatically. If they choose not to ressurect the old one, make them pay the component cost of the ritual again. Otherwise, I don't see any problems right now.
#3 wyld_mutation Aug 25, 2008 19:12:22	Ya know... Why hasn't anyone thought of using familiars as Implements? That aside: They don't look broken. But I've seen the same thing a good 10 times by now.
#4 nerdicus Aug 26, 2008 11:18:40	I don't think the +2 to perception is all that balanced. But that is just me. otherwise everything looks pretty good.
#5 billthemaniac Aug 26, 2008 14:41:22	Ya know... Why hasn't anyone thought of using familiars as Implements? That aside: They don't look broken. But I've seen the same thing a good 10 times by now. familiar as implement - cool. Now what is the ability? 1/encounter shoot spell from familiar doesn't include an ability score... shoot spell with [charisma, perhaps] instead of intelligence to attack and damage from familiar works. Familiar is invulnerable, moves around. Feats & paragon paths could improve it... (go derail!) I don't like rituals because familiars should have combat utility. I also don't like the ritual mechanic due to the use of casting cost.