A familiar question [3.5]

[DM_for_once]

I was gonna make a pun here, but I'm too lazy. Anyway, my question; is there a good way to make familiars (preferably at low level) not as much of an xp liability? If there's already a thread for this a link would be appreciated.

I've had a few DMs who've used mysteriously intelligent monsters who seem to know to attack the harmless looking bird/cat/etc that's hanging out on the edge of battle. Even though the dude in a tin can just whacked it with a sword. So yeah. I'm thinking if there isn't decent way to make them less likely to go splat I'm just gonna start using ACFs more often. I do like that staff from dragon, and eidetic memory is pretty nice for wizards.

[Diarmuid]

You could just keep the familiar on your person.

[Coidzor]

There's a spell called familiar token.

There's also a feat called negative reinforcement, it involves punishing the DM out of the game for acting like a **** inside of it. Usually by rubbing his nose in it, though cutting off his supply of booze and snacks will generally suffice to remind him of the proper balance of power.

[HalfDragonCube]

You could just keep the familiar on your person.

Ewww...:smallyuk:

[Coidzor]

Ewww...:smallyuk:

...What is your issue with that?

[Moriato]

Well there's the Familiar Pocket spell. I don't remember the exact details, but basically it stores your familiar in an extradimentional space for a time. I believe it's in complete arcane and probably the spell compendium, too.


...What is your issue with that?

Perhaps he feels that's getting a little too... familiar with the animal. Like an animal companion with benefits.

[Sacrieur]

Metamagic Specialist from PH2 gives up your familiar for sorcerers.

[Coidzor]

Perhaps he feels that's getting a little too... familiar with the animal. Like an animal companion with benefits.

...Last I checked, Person was not a euphemism though.

[Moriato]

...Last I checked, Person was not a euphemism though.

I know, I just wanted to make that pun.

[danzibr]

I'm sorry, I'm not familiar with this question.

Oh wait. I'd say give it up for... whatever that ability's called, abrupt jaunt or something. Then take a feat which gives you a familiar later.

[DM_for_once]

You could just keep the familiar on your person.
That's what I usually do when I have a toad or something useless, usually with http://www.interspezi.de/treiber/router/jetway/handbuch/orginal/images/down.gif that spell.


Well there's the Familiar Pocket spell.



Perhaps he feels that's getting a little too... familiar with the animal. Like an animal companion with benefits.
Also, lol. I like puns :smallbiggrin:.

Metamagic Specialist from PH2 gives up your familiar for sorcerers.
:smallsigh: I figured ACFs would be the route to go. I was just hoping there might be some cool feat or something that I overlooked.

[dextercorvia]

If you just wait to summon your familiar, you can take Improved Familiar at 3rd, although the best Imp. Familiars you have to wait till 7th to get.

You can trade your familiar for a 1/2 strength Animal Companion and take the Natural Bond feat at first. You can take Obtain Familiar at 3rd and Improved Fam. at 6th. That will give you a full strength Animal Companion until 6th level, after which your Improved Familiar will really kick in.

[JeminiZero]

If your DM allows ACF chaining, you could
1) Swap Familiar for an Animal Companion, at half your effective Wizard level, as described here (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/variant/classes/variantCharacterClasses.htm).
2) Swap Animal Companion for an Urban Companion [Cityscape Web Enhancement (http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20070228a)], which acts like a familiar equal to your animal companion level (which is half your wizard levels)

The net result is a familiar that only has features tied to 1/2 your wizard level. But it still gets your skills and BAB, and has 3/4 your HP instead of 1/2. And its death does not cause XP loss, and it can be replaced in 24 hours.