Pseudodragon "Familiar"

[BlueInc]

Hello, everyone. I started a very short lived campaign in which a long-term player of mine befriended a pseudodragon.

Well, now the player is asking if their rogue character in my next PF Campaign can have a pseudodragon friend. We're starting at level 1, and I'm worried that a pseudodragon will be a very powerful member of the team at low levels and then will become a liability at high levels.

Pseudodragon Stats
http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/monsters/pseudodragon.html

Pseudodragon
This housecat-sized miniature dragon has fine scales, sharp horns, wicked little teeth, and a tail tipped with a barbed stinger.

Pseudodragon CR 1
XP 400

NG Tiny dragon

Init +2; Senses blindsense 60 ft., darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; Perception +6

Defense

AC 16, touch 14, flat-footed 14 (+2 Dex, +2 natural, +2 size)

hp 15 (2d12+2)

Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +4

Immune paralysis, sleep; SR 12

Offense

Speed 15 ft., fly 60 ft. (good)

Melee sting +6 (1d3–2 plus poison), bite +6 (1d2–2)

Space 2-1/2 ft.; Reach 0 ft. (5 ft. with tail)

Statistics

Str 7, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 10

Base Atk +2; CMB +2; CMD 10 (14 vs. trip)

Feats Weapon Finesse

Skills Diplomacy +5, Fly +15, Perception +6, Sense Motive +6, Stealth +19 (+23 in forests), Survival +6; Racial Modifiers +4 Stealth (improves to +8 in forests)

Languages Draconic; telepathy (60 ft.)

Ecology

Environment temperate forests

Organization solitary, pair, or clutch (3–5)

Treasure standard

Special Abilities

Poison (Ex) Sting—injury; save Fort DC 14; frequency 1/minute for 10 minutes; effect sleep for 1 minute; cure 1 save. The save DC is Constitution-based and includes a +2 racial bonus.

Pseudodragons are tiny cousins of true dragons, and are playful but shy. They often only vocalize in chirps, hisses, growls, and purrs, but can communicate telepathically with any intelligent creature. If approached peacefully and offered food, they are usually willing to share information about what they've seen in their territory, but threats or violence make them flee.

Pseudodragons are carnivores, devouring insects, rodents, small birds, and snakes, though they sometimes eat eggs, and most also enjoy butter, cheese, and fish. They either hunt on the ground like lizards or look for prey on the wing like a raptor. As smart as a typical humanoid, they do not enjoy being treated as pets and prefer being treated as friends. They are wary of evil folk but can bond with sorcerers and wizards as familiars, and some have befriended druids and rangers or partnered with good dragons as scouts. Pseudodragons will serve as familiars if they approve of a spellcaster's personality (and if the spellcaster takes the Improved Familiar feat), but often also bond with those whose company they enjoy or who have proven themselves true friends. A pseudodragon might follow another character in this manner for days, weeks, years, or even a lifetime if the creature is treated well, provided with food, and generally well-loved.

Upon reaching adulthood, a pseudodragon's body is about 1 foot long with a 2-foot tail, and weighs about 7 pounds. A pseudodragon egg is the size of a chicken egg, but leathery and spotted brown, and a mating female lays 2–5 eggs every spring. A clutch of pseudodragons (the collective noun—not to be confused with pseudodragons from the same brood of eggs) usually consists of a mated pair and several near-adult offspring.

I tried talking them into playing a wizard or witch so that way they could just get a pseudodragon at higher levels with an Improved Familiar feat, but they're set on rogue.

My best idea so far is to let them buy a pseudodragon egg around level 2 and make them raise it and train it, not letting it hatch until level 3-4. That way it won't be as powerful as another member of the party in the early game, but that doesn't really do anything as far as making it not a gnat at higher levels.

Thoughts for balancing it at low levels/high levels?

EDIT: Added Pseudodragon stats for Pathfinder.

[Big Fau]

If the player isn't a Wizard, a pet Psuedodragon isn't going to survive past level 7 or so. You may wish to look up Wild Cohort, a feat on WotC's website.

[Yuki Akuma]

Wild Cohort wouldn't apply to a pseudodragon. Because it's a dragon, not an animal.

I'd go with Leadership. That way the dragon will gain class levels and more-or-less keep up with everyone else.

[BlueInc]

If the player isn't a Wizard, a pet Psuedodragon isn't going to survive past level 7 or so. You may wish to look up Wild Cohort, a feat on WotC's website.

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031118a

This?

Hmm... doesn't seem too overpowered. Anyone played with this and would know better than I?

If it's balanced, should I let the rogue get a pseudodragon at 1st level with this? A few of the animals on the suggested list (wolf, riding dog) are CR 1 creatures, and so is the pseudodragon. If not, maybe cut the poison sting first level and say it's immature and won't grow that until it's older?

[Big Fau]

Wild Cohort wouldn't apply to a pseudodragon. Because it's a dragon, not an animal.

I know that. I suggested it as a starting point, and because it's more balanced than Leadership.


http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/re/20031118a

This?

Hmm... doesn't seem too overpowered. Anyone played with this and would know better than I?

If it's balanced, should I let the rogue get a pseudodragon at 1st level with this? A few of the animals on the suggested list (wolf, riding dog) are CR 1 creatures, and so is the pseudodragon. If not, maybe cut the poison sting first level and say it's immature and won't grow that until it's older?

I'd say level 2, due to Flight.

[BlueInc]

Wild Cohort wouldn't apply to a pseudodragon. Because it's a dragon, not an animal.

I don't mind so much if it fits with the letter of the rules as much as if it's going to be balanced. A pseudodragon whose most powerful attack is a sleep poison with a low DC is a lot less of an issue than a wyrmling with a breath weapon.

[BlueInc]

I'd say level 2, due to Flight.

For fluff reasons, I'll probably let her take it at level one, only its wings and sting won't be fully grown until level 2. Sound fair?

[Big Fau]

For fluff reasons, I'll probably let her take it at level one, only its wings and sting won't be fully grown until level 2. Sound fair?

Sounds fine. Have fun.

[SamBurke]

Yeah, sounds good to me. Level one, full grade, it's just another member of the party. By level 3, without feats, it's just an annoyance. By 5-7, it's a fun pet. Nothing more.

[BlueInc]

Thank you Big Fau! You've made one happy rogue and one relieved DM!

[graeylin]

A pseudodragon whose most powerful attack is a sleep poison with a low DC is a lot less of an issue than a wyrmling with a breath weapon.

A pseudodragon can wield wands, have rings, and communicate telepathically. That makes them little flying magic users, if you get the right gear for them. My PD carries a necklace of fireballs, a wand of lightning, and a ring of spell storing. (granted, this is at a bit higher than first level, but).

She also acts as a mobile communications center for the party, as she can use telepathy to speak with everyone, relay plans, thoughts, etc.. And, she almost has blindsense...

That's a pretty powerful ally to toss into a group at 1st or 2nd level.

[Amnestic]

I know that. I suggested it as a starting point, and because it's more balanced than Leadership.


There's the Dragon Cohort feat in...the Draconomnomnomicon which can give you a Pseuodragon if you so wish. Requires you to speak Draconic and be 9th level to take it and honestly I don't know how it plays in an actual game, but it's there.

[Prime32]

For fluff reasons, I'll probably let her take it at level one, only its wings and sting won't be fully grown until level 2. Sound fair?
There's a few pseudodragon monster classes floating around. Use one of them?

[faceroll]

It's a dragon; it's going to demand a share of treasure.

Remember, it's a friend, but not another PC. Sometimes the rogue will have to diplomacy it or bluff it.

[Nessa Ellenesse]

with a little doctoring dragconic cohort and posibely give the pseduo pc levels to make up the ecl difference