Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 CameraObscura83 Sep 15, 2014 14:06:11	Hey all!  So i did a google search and cant seem to find anything but, how do familiars level with you in 5th ed, do they? (i am asking cause of a warlock im playing with pact of the chained)   thanks in advance     Logan
#2 Captain_Kobold Sep 15, 2014 15:00:33	Familiars don't really level with you: you only get additional abilities though class features or similar. The only stat that changes with your level is the attack modifier for when the familiar delivers a touch spell.
(Reply to #2) CameraObscura83	Captain_Kobold wrote:
#4 Thank_Dog Sep 15, 2014 18:24:55	CameraObscura83 wrote:
#5 2Chlorobutanal Sep 15, 2014 21:04:48	Familiars can't "die" in 5e, they can only be temporarily vanquished through damage until re-summoned, and there is no shock to the owner when they disappear.  Therefore, they don't need many defensive abilities because they're effectively immortal.
(Reply to #5) CameraObscura83	2Chlorobutanal wrote:
#7 2Chlorobutanal Sep 15, 2014 23:28:37	If you lose a familiar in one fight, you get it back for the next one, most of the time.  It's a pseudo-limited limited resource.  I don't think they're designed to be up there with animal companions.  The pact manifestations themselves are fairly minor on their own - a conjurable magic weapon with proficiency, three bonus cantrips from any class, or a pet that has its own actions and you can use to deliver some spells or make a special attack, but basically only lasts until struck.
#8 Mind_Flayer_Monk Sep 16, 2014 3:23:12	The familiar can also stand/hide (while invisible) in a square next to an enemy caster and the caster will have disadvantage on ranged attack roles. If the familiar is adjacent to an enemy, it will also  provide sneak attack for rogues.   They also can be popped back into existence within 30 feet of you (sight is not listed in the spell description) so you can pop them into existence on the other side of a door and have them communicate whats on the other side of the door to you (with telepathy or sight etc).   The spell description makes them a cheap arcane eye spell. (action) Temporarily dismiss -> (action) pop on other side of door -> look through familiar eyes/or telepathy -> (action) temp dismiss -> (action) repop familiar next to you.   You can stick a light or darkness on them and then have them move around as well.
#9 Thank_Dog Sep 16, 2014 3:52:00	Mind_Flayer_Monk wrote:
#10 Hailrobonia Sep 16, 2014 11:12:29	Remember that when you attack with a familiar (either with a touch spell or if you're a chain warlock and use your attack action to make the familiar attack) this does not use up the familiar's action... so it can still use its own action to hide, dodge, disengage, etc. When in doubt, your familiar should always be dodging.
(Reply to #10) SandyStriker	Luke-Lightning wrote:
(Reply to #11) Hailrobonia	SandyStriker wrote:
(Reply to #12) SandyStriker	Luke-Lightning wrote:
#14 Doomaflatchi Sep 20, 2014 16:52:18	SandyStriker wrote:
(Reply to #14) 2Chlorobutanal	They have poison spray.
(Reply to #14) Ashrym	Doomaflatchi wrote:
#17 SandyStriker Sep 27, 2014 1:59:04	Forgetting the comparison to other classes, chain pact is mechanically weak compared to tome. Tome gives you a familiar if you want it and access to a level scaling attack.   At 12th level if your familiar struggles to fend off a kobold that means it is broken. You can fix it with a feat but you don't need feats to fix the other pacts. Out of the box they do what they are designed to do and get better as you level.   The equivalent for blade pact would be if you could only use a weapon with which you have proficiency. Sure you can grab a feat to use a rapier but that would be a high price to pay for the build to work.   Chain pact has flavurful pets with useful abilities. You also get special attacks that quickly become irrelevant.   Giving the pact a level scaling attack would help. It would also help if warlocks had more touch spells but they are pretty sparse. You actually can't use a spell slot if you don't even have the option of prepping a touch spell. Since Eldritch blast is the schtick for the class maybe an invocation that let's it have an origin from your familiar.   My personal fix will be taking shocking grasp at level 4, no feat. If DM isn't down with that I will just go tome pact and take shocking grasp at level 3 instead and try to find the find familiar ritual.
#18 Novacat Sep 27, 2014 2:03:29	Slay the necromancer!