Help Tailoring a Familiar to My Character - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Help Tailoring a Familiar to My Character

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
Omnirahk_half-Rahkshi
Apr 20, 2009 19:04:47 So, with my preordered Arcane Power arriving in the mail today, the article on familiars handy, and my swordmage just hitting level 2, I've got this wonderful opportunity to make use of the 4e familiar rules - which so far, I love. However, I want to really start this off right. It's a Zelda-themed game, and I'm playing a Goron shielding swordmage. I've flavored his aegis of shielding as being an odd, ascetic weaponsmithing tradition. Basically, by meditating with his work while making it, he's learned to commune with the spirit of the weapons, asking them to turn aside from himself and his friends. A crafter homunculus would be most fitting RP-wise, but I also don't expect to be using its powers much. Of course, I could always send it running with a bomb and make use of its immunity to alchemical items... But honestly, I think the canine construct would suit my character best. In fact, that's the one I want. But a thing made of scrapped spellbook pages and the like doesn't fit very thematically. Thankfully, fluff is mutable. I'm looking for something that better matches my smithing history. I can't quite imagine it as a pile of scrap metal, or bits of shields, daggers, and the like. I can picture an anvil made somewhat dog-like (not unlike the footrest-dog from Beauty and the Beast). I could work with that, but I'm still looking for any other ideas.

What other concepts can you come up with?
#2
lord_karsus
Apr 20, 2009 23:36:50 -I saw the words 'Shield' and 'Goron', and immediately thought 'Armadillo'. I don't know how that'd work, rulewise or thematically in your game, but...
#3
entropy_judge
Apr 21, 2009 0:37:14 Has the character always done weaponswork? Rather, has he ever tried his hand at anything else? Perhaps he tried to make a doll (of some sort ... humanoid, goron, canine-like) out of a bronze/copper/rock mass that he just couldn't get right ... but he'd put so much work into it that he couldn't scrap it and kept it.
#4
Nyarlathotep
Apr 21, 2009 9:47:15 Clockwork maybe? Made out of gears and and plates of metal and such.
#5
Dragoncat
Apr 21, 2009 12:22:47 I second the armadillo.

If nothing else, so that when you use the signature Goron roll, it balls up and rolls right on top of you, snowman style.
#6
mellored
Apr 21, 2009 13:34:26 I think a gorgon would have a pet rock. It's a rock, and it can roll around.
#7
Omnirahk_half-Rahkshi
Apr 21, 2009 16:09:38 I'm liking the armadillo idea. I mentioned the anvil-dog idea to my fellow players, and they like that idea. It's begun to grow on me. And I can imagine a little statue. I like the idea that it's a continuing project that I'm always trying to sculpt better.

Also, a couple of character details:
- since the DM still has a hard time with magic-using gorons, even with the magical weaponsmith flavor text, I'm playing Tongoro as kind of a space cadet.
- in one session I couldn't make, my party members decided he has an obsession with nachos. I'm willing to roll with it, but I've realized that I now have a kind of spacey character who always has the munchies.
- last session, he kept trying to fly. Well, not precisely, but I do roll a lot of athletics checks to leap attack. Given the choice between using flame cyclone to take out the bat monsters and trying to leap up and grapple them, I opted for the second. Interestingly, we came close to getting a swiftwing amulet.
#8
Omnirahk_half-Rahkshi
Apr 25, 2009 1:04:45 Ok, so we met tonight, and I got my familiar: the anvil-dog. There was this funny exchange as I begin conversing with the spirits of the forge, and the anvil talks back. However, since it was my particular school of swordmage training (primal blacksmith, the party's called me) that allowed me to hear the spirits and converse with them, the rest of the party doesn't hear this. They just see me start talking to an anvil. They try to tempt me to stop acting crazy with the offer of nachos. It doesn't work. The anvil listens to the tale of my heroic cause, and decides I am a worthy companion - and a worthy smith (if I learned my trade among the Zora - Gorons as a whole have not yet discovered this path). The anvil sprouts four legs and stands up. Cue the rest of the party to freak out. The anvil recommends I pick up the sword next to it, for it is a fine blade and a worthy companion. A party member complains about me talking to inanimate objects again. Someone else points out it worked out pretty well the last time.

Anyway, new question: what's its name? DM says I get to choose the name for my familiar, but it's probably going to be a retcon of the anvil's introduction. Now I'm stumped. What would a spirit of the forge be called? I'm not quite happy with Forge or Anvy (both suggested). I'd also rather keep away from traditional Goron names, preferring that forge spirits have their own culture. Btw, Haephaesto is out - that was the name of the boss in the boss battle - a homebrewed iron golem of sorts.
#9
entropy_judge
Apr 25, 2009 1:25:53 Make it something anvilicious ...
Ferromas? Ferricane? Ignatius?
#10
ElCucuy
Apr 25, 2009 2:19:52 Entropy saying "Ferromas" made me think that "Ferro" would be fitting. I'm sure you get the Ferro-part, but also "perro" is Spanish for "dog"... So it works on both ideas.

El Cucuy
#11
Omnirahk_half-Rahkshi
Apr 25, 2009 7:53:02 Ferro does sound good. I like it. I did not know the perro tie-in. Or maybe I did vaguely, but it's been years since Spanish class, and I discovered that Speak Language is cross-class for me.

Anyway, I like Ferricane - rough translation: iron hurricane. Almost too impressive for a familiar. I'll keep it in mind if I ever play some sort of artificer/beast master. Ferromas does have a ring to it too. But the Ferro ending does seem to fit the Goron tendency for names to end in -o. Nickname, maybe? Besides, it's awesome to have a familiar named Ferro (pronounced like Pharaoh). I think I'll go with Ferromas.
#12
entropy_judge
Apr 25, 2009 10:27:52 "Ferricane" was actually supposed to be ferro-canis, an iron dog. I get funny voices in my head when I'm up too late
#13
Omnirahk_half-Rahkshi
Apr 26, 2009 12:55:04 I should've gotten that. Ferricane - pronounce the e at the end. Alternatively, Ferricanis, which now also brings to mind arcanis - perfect for an arcane character.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Omnirahk_half-Rahkshi Apr 20, 2009 19:04:47	So, with my preordered Arcane Power arriving in the mail today, the article on familiars handy, and my swordmage just hitting level 2, I've got this wonderful opportunity to make use of the 4e familiar rules - which so far, I love. However, I want to really start this off right. It's a Zelda-themed game, and I'm playing a Goron shielding swordmage. I've flavored his aegis of shielding as being an odd, ascetic weaponsmithing tradition. Basically, by meditating with his work while making it, he's learned to commune with the spirit of the weapons, asking them to turn aside from himself and his friends. A crafter homunculus would be most fitting RP-wise, but I also don't expect to be using its powers much. Of course, I could always send it running with a bomb and make use of its immunity to alchemical items... But honestly, I think the canine construct would suit my character best. In fact, that's the one I want. But a thing made of scrapped spellbook pages and the like doesn't fit very thematically. Thankfully, fluff is mutable. I'm looking for something that better matches my smithing history. I can't quite imagine it as a pile of scrap metal, or bits of shields, daggers, and the like. I can picture an anvil made somewhat dog-like (not unlike the footrest-dog from Beauty and the Beast). I could work with that, but I'm still looking for any other ideas. What other concepts can you come up with?
#2 lord_karsus Apr 20, 2009 23:36:50	-I saw the words 'Shield' and 'Goron', and immediately thought 'Armadillo'. I don't know how that'd work, rulewise or thematically in your game, but...
#3 entropy_judge Apr 21, 2009 0:37:14	Has the character always done weaponswork? Rather, has he ever tried his hand at anything else? Perhaps he tried to make a doll (of some sort ... humanoid, goron, canine-like) out of a bronze/copper/rock mass that he just couldn't get right ... but he'd put so much work into it that he couldn't scrap it and kept it.
#4 Nyarlathotep Apr 21, 2009 9:47:15	Clockwork maybe? Made out of gears and and plates of metal and such.
#5 Dragoncat Apr 21, 2009 12:22:47	I second the armadillo. If nothing else, so that when you use the signature Goron roll, it balls up and rolls right on top of you, snowman style.
#6 mellored Apr 21, 2009 13:34:26	I think a gorgon would have a pet rock. It's a rock, and it can roll around.
#7 Omnirahk_half-Rahkshi Apr 21, 2009 16:09:38	I'm liking the armadillo idea. I mentioned the anvil-dog idea to my fellow players, and they like that idea. It's begun to grow on me. And I can imagine a little statue. I like the idea that it's a continuing project that I'm always trying to sculpt better. Also, a couple of character details: - since the DM still has a hard time with magic-using gorons, even with the magical weaponsmith flavor text, I'm playing Tongoro as kind of a space cadet. - in one session I couldn't make, my party members decided he has an obsession with nachos. I'm willing to roll with it, but I've realized that I now have a kind of spacey character who always has the munchies. - last session, he kept trying to fly. Well, not precisely, but I do roll a lot of athletics checks to leap attack. Given the choice between using flame cyclone to take out the bat monsters and trying to leap up and grapple them, I opted for the second. Interestingly, we came close to getting a swiftwing amulet.
#8 Omnirahk_half-Rahkshi Apr 25, 2009 1:04:45	Ok, so we met tonight, and I got my familiar: the anvil-dog. There was this funny exchange as I begin conversing with the spirits of the forge, and the anvil talks back. However, since it was my particular school of swordmage training (primal blacksmith, the party's called me) that allowed me to hear the spirits and converse with them, the rest of the party doesn't hear this. They just see me start talking to an anvil. They try to tempt me to stop acting crazy with the offer of nachos. It doesn't work. The anvil listens to the tale of my heroic cause, and decides I am a worthy companion - and a worthy smith (if I learned my trade among the Zora - Gorons as a whole have not yet discovered this path). The anvil sprouts four legs and stands up. Cue the rest of the party to freak out. The anvil recommends I pick up the sword next to it, for it is a fine blade and a worthy companion. A party member complains about me talking to inanimate objects again. Someone else points out it worked out pretty well the last time. Anyway, new question: what's its name? DM says I get to choose the name for my familiar, but it's probably going to be a retcon of the anvil's introduction. Now I'm stumped. What would a spirit of the forge be called? I'm not quite happy with Forge or Anvy (both suggested). I'd also rather keep away from traditional Goron names, preferring that forge spirits have their own culture. Btw, Haephaesto is out - that was the name of the boss in the boss battle - a homebrewed iron golem of sorts.
#9 entropy_judge Apr 25, 2009 1:25:53	Make it something anvilicious ... Ferromas? Ferricane? Ignatius?
#10 ElCucuy Apr 25, 2009 2:19:52	Entropy saying "Ferromas" made me think that "Ferro" would be fitting. I'm sure you get the Ferro-part, but also "perro" is Spanish for "dog"... So it works on both ideas. El Cucuy
#11 Omnirahk_half-Rahkshi Apr 25, 2009 7:53:02	Ferro does sound good. I like it. I did not know the perro tie-in. Or maybe I did vaguely, but it's been years since Spanish class, and I discovered that Speak Language is cross-class for me. Anyway, I like Ferricane - rough translation: iron hurricane. Almost too impressive for a familiar. I'll keep it in mind if I ever play some sort of artificer/beast master. Ferromas does have a ring to it too. But the Ferro ending does seem to fit the Goron tendency for names to end in -o. Nickname, maybe? Besides, it's awesome to have a familiar named Ferro (pronounced like Pharaoh). I think I'll go with Ferromas.
#12 entropy_judge Apr 25, 2009 10:27:52	"Ferricane" was actually supposed to be ferro-canis, an iron dog. I get funny voices in my head when I'm up too late
#13 Omnirahk_half-Rahkshi Apr 26, 2009 12:55:04	I should've gotten that. Ferricane - pronounce the e at the end. Alternatively, Ferricanis, which now also brings to mind arcanis - perfect for an arcane character.