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Familiar-centric Character

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
ikasiero
Sep 28, 2008 5:26:19 Hi guys, I am currently planning a character for an upcoming campaign and finally hit a roadblock in the design, as I wasn't able to make the concept work (nicely) within the rules.
I am aiming towards an arcane caster who instead of traditional spellcasting focuses on the Familiar. I found the idea of a mage who invests a larger portion of his power into a familiar who then functions as a funnel (basically keeping away from its master some of magic's ill effects) for arcane energy very appealing and tried to build upon this idea.
My problem is, that it turns out to be extremely hard to find any appropriate (prestige) classes. I did find the Arcane Hierophant (the Druid/Wizard Mystic Theurge thingy), but due to the fact, that it would force me to take levels as a druid, I didn't find the class all that appealing.
What I am asking is: Do you know any classes (official or homebrew, I don't really care anymore) that continue to advance the familiar class feature and improve on it? Powerlevel is of no real concern to me, so just fire away.
I have talked the concept over with my DM already and he told me, just to forward anything I might turn up (you turn up ;)) to him, just so he can have a look at the material. It would be nice, if there was a solution within the wizards products or at least a homebrew solution, that seems somewhat reliable, just so I won't have to buy any obscure sourcebooks, but just fire away, with any suggestions.
If you think the wizard (or sorcerer) to be a bad base class for the idea of a Familiar focused character, I would be very much obliged if you told me of any alternatives, I still have some leeway with the character.

Thanks for your time and help.
#2
ninjarabbit
Sep 28, 2008 7:09:26 Wizard/sorcerer is a bad base for a familiar-centric character. You'll either want something with Full BAB and good hps like a hexblade or duskblade or something with a lot of skill points like a beguiler or spellthief for the base.

For example one build I like is a simple hexblade20 with a salt mephit improved familiar. The salt mephit has a debuffing breath weapon that synergizes well with the hexblade's other debuffing abilities. The salt mephit also has the power attack feat and can use glitterdust as a SLA once/hour. Ask your DM if you can swap the toughness feat it gets for something else.

1-power attack, dreadful wrath (PGtF)
3-practiced spellcaster
6-obtain familiar (get the dark companion feature at level 4 from PHB II)
9-improved familiar: salt mehpit
12-improved toughness
15-minor shapeshift
18-ability focus: hexblade curse

Beyond that here's the Familiar's handbook which'll give you all the knowledge that you need

http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=875062
#3
Senevri
Sep 28, 2008 11:59:37 Still, Sor/Wis gets access to some nice familiar-only buffs with Spell Compendium... They might be accessible by a Hexblade too, though...
#4
innabinder
Sep 28, 2008 15:15:34 Scion of Coldshard made this very nice Psionic build that focuses almost entirely on the psicrystal; it's not strictly what you're looking for but there are some obvious parallels. The Big Guy's with Me
#5
Fireclave
Oct 16, 2008 6:56:04 If you're still looking for alternatives, you could give my Familiarist class a try. It's a 10 level PRC that grants full casting and familiar advancement, and adds a couple of nice familiar-centric features, and grants your familiar a tiny bit of spellcasting to boot (which opens up wand/staff usage).
#6
natenate
Oct 16, 2008 14:32:30 The feat Obtain Familiar from Complete Arcane automatically makes every prestige class that advances at least one level of your arcane spellcasting also advance your familiar abilities for all of its levels.
#7
pithica
Oct 16, 2008 14:55:06 It's not in anyway official, but you've said 'homebrew' works. Me and my group have collectively houseruled that Familiars (among other things) advance with Caster level and have nothing to do with your class level in the appropriate class. We've found over time that noone ever used them, despite how 'flavorful' they were because everyone was prestiging out of their base class at the first opportunity. We also houseruled that if you make an effort in play to find an 'advanced' familiar, you didn't need the 'Improved Familiar' feat (for the same reason a Druid doesn't need a feat to get a more powerful Animal Companion).

I personally like the Imp if you can take it. They get alternate form and a humanoid choice is valid, so it's like getting a Valet as well as a poisonous demon that can turn itself invis.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 ikasiero Sep 28, 2008 5:26:19	Hi guys, I am currently planning a character for an upcoming campaign and finally hit a roadblock in the design, as I wasn't able to make the concept work (nicely) within the rules. I am aiming towards an arcane caster who instead of traditional spellcasting focuses on the Familiar. I found the idea of a mage who invests a larger portion of his power into a familiar who then functions as a funnel (basically keeping away from its master some of magic's ill effects) for arcane energy very appealing and tried to build upon this idea. My problem is, that it turns out to be extremely hard to find any appropriate (prestige) classes. I did find the Arcane Hierophant (the Druid/Wizard Mystic Theurge thingy), but due to the fact, that it would force me to take levels as a druid, I didn't find the class all that appealing. What I am asking is: Do you know any classes (official or homebrew, I don't really care anymore) that continue to advance the familiar class feature and improve on it? Powerlevel is of no real concern to me, so just fire away. I have talked the concept over with my DM already and he told me, just to forward anything I might turn up (you turn up ;)) to him, just so he can have a look at the material. It would be nice, if there was a solution within the wizards products or at least a homebrew solution, that seems somewhat reliable, just so I won't have to buy any obscure sourcebooks, but just fire away, with any suggestions. If you think the wizard (or sorcerer) to be a bad base class for the idea of a Familiar focused character, I would be very much obliged if you told me of any alternatives, I still have some leeway with the character. Thanks for your time and help.
#2 ninjarabbit Sep 28, 2008 7:09:26	Wizard/sorcerer is a bad base for a familiar-centric character. You'll either want something with Full BAB and good hps like a hexblade or duskblade or something with a lot of skill points like a beguiler or spellthief for the base. For example one build I like is a simple hexblade20 with a salt mephit improved familiar. The salt mephit has a debuffing breath weapon that synergizes well with the hexblade's other debuffing abilities. The salt mephit also has the power attack feat and can use glitterdust as a SLA once/hour. Ask your DM if you can swap the toughness feat it gets for something else. 1-power attack, dreadful wrath (PGtF) 3-practiced spellcaster 6-obtain familiar (get the dark companion feature at level 4 from PHB II) 9-improved familiar: salt mehpit 12-improved toughness 15-minor shapeshift 18-ability focus: hexblade curse Beyond that here's the Familiar's handbook which'll give you all the knowledge that you need http://forums.gleemax.com/showthread.php?t=875062
#3 Senevri Sep 28, 2008 11:59:37	Still, Sor/Wis gets access to some nice familiar-only buffs with Spell Compendium... They might be accessible by a Hexblade too, though...
#4 innabinder Sep 28, 2008 15:15:34	Scion of Coldshard made this very nice Psionic build that focuses almost entirely on the psicrystal; it's not strictly what you're looking for but there are some obvious parallels. The Big Guy's with Me
#5 Fireclave Oct 16, 2008 6:56:04	If you're still looking for alternatives, you could give my Familiarist class a try. It's a 10 level PRC that grants full casting and familiar advancement, and adds a couple of nice familiar-centric features, and grants your familiar a tiny bit of spellcasting to boot (which opens up wand/staff usage).
#6 natenate Oct 16, 2008 14:32:30	The feat Obtain Familiar from Complete Arcane automatically makes every prestige class that advances at least one level of your arcane spellcasting also advance your familiar abilities for all of its levels.
#7 pithica Oct 16, 2008 14:55:06	It's not in anyway official, but you've said 'homebrew' works. Me and my group have collectively houseruled that Familiars (among other things) advance with Caster level and have nothing to do with your class level in the appropriate class. We've found over time that noone ever used them, despite how 'flavorful' they were because everyone was prestiging out of their base class at the first opportunity. We also houseruled that if you make an effort in play to find an 'advanced' familiar, you didn't need the 'Improved Familiar' feat (for the same reason a Druid doesn't need a feat to get a more powerful Animal Companion). I personally like the Imp if you can take it. They get alternate form and a humanoid choice is valid, so it's like getting a Valet as well as a poisonous demon that can turn itself invis.