IMP FAMILIAR

Post/Author/DateTimePost
#1

Lipfi

Sep 21, 2014 17:37:07

VARIANT: IMP FAMILIAR 
Imps can be found in the service to mortal spellcasters, acting 
as advisors, spies, and familiars. An imp urges its master to 
acts of evil, knowing the mortal's soul is a prize the imp might 
ultimately claim. Imps display an unusual loyalty to their 
masters, and an imp can be quite dangerous if its master is 
threatened. Some such imps have the following trait. 
Familiar. The imp can enter into a contract to serve 
another creature as a familiar, forming a telepathic bond with 
its willing master. While the two are bonded, the master can 
sense what the imp senses as long as they are within l  mile 
of each other. While the imp is within 10 feet of its master, 
the master shares the imp's Magic Resistance trait. If its 
master violates the terms of the contract, the imp can end its 
service as a familiar, ending the telepathic bond. 

 

How do you understand this? My understanding is that caster can see what Imp sees without using an action. Also description says spellcaster not Warlock and it is a variant so maybe wizard can take Imp familiar too?

#2

obsid

Sep 21, 2014 17:46:16

Imp is not on the list of the "Find familar" spell so it cannot be aquired through that.  Is there some other way you think a wizard would gain the familar?

 

I assume that is in the Monster Manual, if thats the case, and the variant is allowed, that would make the imp a very strong choice for a pact of the chain warlock prehapse even buffing chain warlock from being the worst pact to one of the best.  Having a free Devil's Sight (ie can see through magical darkness) without even the invocation, and advantage on ALL savings throws against spells and magical effects is CRAZY powerful.

(Reply to #2)

Lipfi

obsid wrote:
#4

Undrhil

Sep 21, 2014 18:36:40

However, as a DM allowing this variant rule, I would make sure that the spellcaster actually works out what the contract says between him/her and the Imp.  If that contract is ever broken, the Imp can potentially become another hostile creature in the on-going combat, or can just go back home and leave the spellcaster blind.

 

Lipfi wrote:
#5

2Chlorobutanal

Sep 21, 2014 18:45:33

This seems like a distinct rule separate from the typical find familiar spell, and would mainly be used for NPC spellcasters.

 

A DM could of course have an imp forge a contract with a PC, but as the Imp initiates the contract, it's within the realm of campaign plot and DM ajudication rather than a player option.

 

Players can choose to gain a familiar using the find familiar spell (including the enhanced Warlock version), but it wouldn't qualify as a "variant imp familiar" unless the DM wanted it to be.  In contrast, any PC spellcaster could get an "imp variant familiar" without using the find familiar spell if the campaign allowed for it.

#6

FallingIcicle

Sep 21, 2014 19:40:12

Interesting. It seems that these imp familiars don't require the find familiar spell. It's just a contract.

 

I wonder if you could use planar binding on the imp to force it to agree to such a contract?

#7

StuleBrown

Sep 21, 2014 19:46:12

FallingIcicle wrote:
(Reply to #4)

Lipfi

Undrhil wrote:
(Reply to #5)

Lipfi

2Chlorobutanal wrote:
(Reply to #5)

1eejit

2Chlorobutanal wrote:
#11

Caliburn101.

Sep 22, 2014 1:21:36

My copy of the MM hasn't arrived yet - is there a similar rules entry for Quasit and Pseudodragon?

(Reply to #11)

1eejit

Caliburn101. wrote:
#13

RCanine

Sep 22, 2014 2:27:47

Wizards can get an imp as a familar. It just requires them to take 3 levels of Warlock and the Pact of the Chain boon.

 

Caliburn101. wrote:
(Reply to #10)

2Chlorobutanal

1eejit wrote:
(Reply to #14)

1eejit

2Chlorobutanal wrote:
#16

Danny_Montanny

Sep 22, 2014 7:01:01

As it stands the easiest way to get a familiar not on the spell's list is Pact of the Chain. Would it be the only way, though? No. Finding an intelligent creature willing to bind itself to you with the spell is a different story. Does the DM have to allow the variant rule just because the Imp is now your familiar? No. Before the MM your Warlock's Imp familiar didn't have the power to grant you it's magic resistance, but if your DM wants to allow it now, that's up to them.

#17

JohnnyBlaise

Sep 25, 2014 13:13:46

WTF: "While the two are bonded, the master can sense what the imp senses as long as they are within l  mile  of each other. while the imp is within 10 feet of its master,  the master shares the imp's Magic Resistance trait. "

 

Is that for real?  So this overrides the usual distance limit or is this just a straight up replacement of that feature? And really magic resistance?  Barbarian Warlock here I come...