Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 SpiderQueen Dec 29, 2014 4:41:09	The spell find familiar mentions that "As an action, you can see through your familiar’s eyes and hear what it hears until the start of  your next turn, gaining the benefits of any special senses that the familiar has. During this time, you are deaf and blind with regard to your own senses." My question is, can the owner of a familiar target something (with a spell, an arrow or even with a sword in mellee) while deaf and blind basically by using the familiar's senses? (If this was possible one could gain blindsight at first level just by using a bat's senses)
#2 EzechielDantan Dec 29, 2014 5:11:44	Aside from spending you action on looking through a familiar's eyes, which only leaves you with a bonus action / reaction.   I would allow it with some difficulty if the bat stayed with you perched on your shoulder or head, either way your actions would still be limited since you are using your action to perceive your suroundings and I might give disadvantage on some checks / attacks (especially reactions)
(Reply to #2) SpiderQueen	EzechielDantan wrote:
(Reply to #3) EzechielDantan	SpiderQueen wrote:
#5 guachi Dec 29, 2014 15:58:38	I have a Arcane Trickster in the same situation. He's human and took Find Familiar as his one non-illusion/enchantment spell. He has an Owl familiar with 120 feet of Darkvision (at advantage!). If I were my own DM, I'd let my PC use his action to look through the Owl's eyes, aim, and fire at disadvantage on the next action (which would likely be the next round). If the target had moved, I'd rule the attack automatically missed.   I might rule that after a period of time with your familiar, you are practiced enough that you no longer have disadvantage.
#6 Byakugan01 Jan 02, 2015 0:16:54	Far as I can tell by RAW, there is no penalty for seeing through other creatures senses.  They seem to go out of their way to make it so you can't 'Stack' sensory input sources so you think they would have included penalties if they had intended them.    In the case of the familiar, if you are seeing through your familiar's eyes, and someone stabs it, you become blind until your next turn.  Seems fair.    Also, you should already effectively be able to target stuff based on what your familiar can see just because of the telepathic link...Distance and direction are things a bird of prey would be keenly aware of and thus should be able to communicate those things telepathically.  Unless your DM is a jerk and just makes it so your bird is named Groot.  IE all you get is a constant stream of 'FOOD NOT FOOD, FOOD NOT FOOD'.
(Reply to #6) Cutlass	Byakugan01 wrote:
#8 Byakugan01 Jan 02, 2015 20:44:33	"There's only so much you should be able to expect the familiar to be able to communicate."   i agree. It shouldnt be able to beat me at chess. But it should certainly be aware of size, location, and distance.  As a bird of prey, being able to tell those things is a basic requirement for their survival.    Normal animals in dnd can generally tell friend from foe, and familiars are capable of fairly advanced coordinated attacks with their masters hence the touch spell feature.  They can also use the 'help' action in most cases to assist the wizard, or even feed him healing potions.    The mage on the other hand should be able to easily calculate a2 +b2 = c2.
(Reply to #8) EzechielDantan	Byakugan01 wrote:
#10 Byakugan01 Jan 03, 2015 22:13:29	And at worst, you would probably apply disadvantage to his action.  Then the familiar can use the 'help' action, which would make it a normal d20 roll.  And this is in odd cases to begin with since he has to be hasted or have extra actions for it to matter anyways.        you are correct that i assume the smartest people in the game setting can do basic math.  We arent talking decimals or fractions here.  We are talking nice even 5 foot squares which square quite neatly.
(Reply to #10) EzechielDantan	Byakugan01 wrote:
#12 Byakugan01 Jan 06, 2015 23:58:11	The find familiar spell itself says the familiar can't attack but can use other actions as normal.    So it could cast spells if it knew any, but most don't.    Or it can Dodge, Dash, disengage, use an object, or Help someone.  That includes giving another creature advantage on an ability check or an attack roll.  They would have to get within 5' of the enemy for the attack portion.   Which for an owl is pretty easy.  Since they have flyby.    familiars can technically give you advantage on all your knowlege checks, because no proficiency is required to use them.  PCs do this all the time.    Anyone CAN get the spell, but only wizards or warlocks are likely to.  Its a waste for a bard (who could get find steed instead)  or a sorcerer (very limited spells).  Any other class taking magic initiate is...non-optimal.
#13 Byakugan01 Jan 07, 2015 0:03:28	I did forget ritual Caster possibility.  Which might attract a few more takers. But again it is a feat, so it is a steep price to pay for it.
(Reply to #7) Yunru	Cutlass wrote: