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realbombchu
2010-11-09, 10:13 PM
Is there a nature-focused divine spellcaster class that grants the summon familiar ability? The closest thing I can think of is the Arcane Heirophant from Races of the Wild. Is there anything else? Maybe a base class?

avr
2010-11-09, 10:21 PM
Druid?

Or to put it another way, what do you want that an animal companion can't do?

Coidzor
2010-11-09, 10:29 PM
There's a druid alternate class feature that trades the animal companion for a familiar (gets 3/4 HP instead of 1/2 though), Urban Companion. (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a)


Urban Companion

The fearsome animal companions who accompany some casters in the wild are indeed a boon in combat, but a hulking wolf or creeping tiger is out of place in an urban environment. Some characters believe that small and subtle is of greater value than massive and mighty.

Class: Druid or ranger.

Level: 1st (druid) or 4th (ranger).

Replaces: If you select this class feature, you do not gain an animal companion.

Benefit: The character gains the companionship of a smaller but far more intelligent creature than she otherwise would have. This is identical to the sorcerer's ability to summon a familiar (PH 52), including all benefits granted and gained by the familiar, except as noted below. Her functional level for determining the abilities of the companion is equal to her druid level or one-half her ranger level.

* She does not lose experience points if her urban companion is slain, and she requires only 24 hours to replace one who is lost.

* Her urban companion has total hit points equal to 3/4 her own hit points, rather than half as per a familiar.

* The urban companion gains the ability to speak with other animals of its kind when she has an effective master level of 1st, rather than 7th.

* When she reaches an effective master level of 7th, she can speak with animals of her companion's kind, as per speak with animals. This is a supernatural ability that functions constantly, and it requires only a free action to reactivate if somehow dispelled.

realbombchu
2010-11-09, 10:31 PM
I like the familiar's human level intelligence (without awaken) and less intimidating natural form (in the nonimproved familiars' cases mostly).

realbombchu
2010-11-09, 10:43 PM
There's a druid alternate class feature that trades the animal companion for a familiar (gets 3/4 HP instead of 1/2 though), Urban Companion. (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a)



Perfect! Thanks.

Darrin
2010-11-09, 11:07 PM
Also, the Mystic Wanderer PrC (Magic of Faerun) is a divine caster that gets a familiar.

Thurbane
2010-11-09, 11:12 PM
Also, Adept...not particularly nature focused, though.

Zeofar
2010-11-09, 11:13 PM
Acquire familiar works, if you're willing to spend a feat.

Coidzor
2010-11-09, 11:41 PM
Acquire familiar works, if you're willing to spend a feat.

The feat Obtain Familiar requires an arcane caster level.

Fouredged Sword
2010-11-10, 06:44 AM
One level of sorrcerer + versitile spellcaster + levels in geomancer? Now your druid casting is arcane as well as divine.

Zeofar
2010-11-10, 07:27 PM
The feat Obtain Familiar requires an arcane caster level.

Eh, whoops.