[pf] familiar touch attack specialist

[SamsDisciple]

A similar discussion started up in the alchemist guide about being able to use magic items on a familiar, which lead to me finding out that there are specific feats for familiars especially including ones that essentially give free metamagic as long as the target is the familiar. The point of this post is to explore what silliness or awesomeness could be achieved with a familiar being the one to attack.

First off is the mention of the spell sponge feat where any spell that has a target of "You" and is shared via share spells now is extended on the familiar (free extend spell that normally doesn't matter but it is a feat that your familiar takes not you) unfortunately it cant be anything that has multiple targets but still a nice thing if you are looking at buffing up your familiar for combat.

Second is familiar focus which is again a familiar feat not a player feat which will cause any buffing spells to be treated as a higher caster level.

Last one I am going to talk about is the Familiar spell metamagic. This one is a player feat and it raises the spell slot by three levels so its only really worth it if you are focusing on doing this type of combat but it is even better than a quickened spell because you give your familiar its spell(s) and then it can cast those spells on its actions and not even taking up your swift actions because you gave those spells before combat. This also doesn't get rid of the ability to still share touch attack spells, it just saves you actions and lets the familiar stay out there longer causing havoc.

Now I don't know my spells worth anything and I haven't looked to much into familiars before but what kind of spells would be optimized for this kind of combat (both to buff the familiar and to wreak havoc on enemies) and which familiar do you think would be best for darting in, laying down a touch attack, then darting back to its master?

[stack]

Dazing spell and snapdragon fireworks and burning gaze. Add metamagic reducers, share with familiar. Now your familiar can save or daze twice a round (move and standard actions).

[grarrrg]

I'd lean towards a Gish-ish build if possible.
Familiars share your Bab, and get half your HP.
Recommend either Eldritch Knight, or finding a Full casting PrC with 3/4 Bab (there are a few, can check guide link in my signature).

[GreenZ]

Go Beast-bonded Witch (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/witch/archetypes/paizo---witch-archetypes/beast-bonded), grab Eldritch Heritage (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/eldritch-heritage): Arcane Bloodline (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/sorcerer/bloodlines/bloodlines-from-paizo/arcane-bloodline), and be an Aasimar and pick up Celestial Servant (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/arg-feats/celestial-servant-aasimar).

The two sources of familiars stack rather than giving you two familiars so your familiar now has abilities as if you where twice your level -2 or -1 after fourth level. At level 10 can use Twin Soul not only to keep you and your familiar alive but also for silly shenanigans. Just at 10th level your familiar considers you level 19 so it has +10 Natural Armor, 15 Intelligence, Spell Resistance 24, Resist Cold, Acid, and Electricity 15, DR/10 Evil, Smite Evil 1/day, and a myriad of good attributes.

Upgrading your familiar with Improved Familiar (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/improved-familiar) can give it plenty of new tricks depending on what you choose, and Evolved Familiar (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/evolved-familiar) can give it more AC, Natural Attacks, Resistances, or even Pounce.

And finally, at higher levels you can nab your familiar a Ring of Continuation (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic-items/rings/ring-of-continuation) and the Extra Item Slot (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/extra-item-slot) feat as well some some way of learning the spell Shapechange (such as grabbing more Eldridge Heritage feats for New Arcana or taking the Transformation Witch Patron). You can now pre-buff your Familiar and give it the ability to Shapechange into whatever it wants at any moment for the entire day! Your familiar is now have a Dragon with 35+ SR, suck it Wizard! :smallbiggrin:

[Suddo]

Go Beast-bonded Witch (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/witch/archetypes/paizo---witch-archetypes/beast-bonded), grab Eldritch Heritage (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/eldritch-heritage): Arcane Bloodline (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/sorcerer/bloodlines/bloodlines-from-paizo/arcane-bloodline), and be an Aasimar and pick up Celestial Servant (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/arg-feats/celestial-servant-aasimar).

The two sources of familiars stack rather than giving you two familiars so your familiar now has abilities as if you where twice your level -2 or -1 after fourth level.

Do you have a source on that?

[GreenZ]

Do you have a source on that?


Arcane Bond (Su): At 1st level, you gain an arcane bond, as a wizard equal to your sorcerer level. Your sorcerer levels stack with any wizard levels you possess when determining the powers of your familiar or bonded object. Once per day, your bonded item allows you to cast any one of your spells known (unlike a wizard’s bonded item, which allows him to cast any one spell in his spellbook). This ability does not allow you to have both a familiar and a bonded item.


Witch’s Familiar (Ex)

At 1st level, a witch forms a close bond with a familiar, a creature that teaches her magic and helps to guide her along her path. Familiars also aid a witch by granting her skill bonuses, additional spells, and help with some types of magic. This functions like the wizard's arcane bond class feature, except as noted in the Witch’s Familiar section.

The important parts are in bold.

[SamsDisciple]

Reading your bolded lines I unfortunately don't think they stack. I may be wrong since I am using simple logic rather than written rules but let's take a look at how gestalt works. If you take a level of wizard and also say mystic theurge you only get one level of wizard spell casting not two (even though you have two class features that normally stack at level up) also look at other examples for multiclassing such as the practiced spell caster which raises your caster level but only up to your character level at max. Unless it specifically states that you can have a familiar that is treating you like if you are a higher level then I know my dm won't allow it. If it really does allow that then I am totally doing this except my player is the familiar and the witch is more my back up that only talks as needed.