Focus caster ACF

[Aerris]

So, I've recently discovered this obscure ACF (Dragon mag #348) and I've been wondering why I've never heard of it. I mean, i know that trading the familiar is usually a bad deal, but some builds are bound to lose it sooner or later (if you plan into going Arcane Hierophant for example). Anyway, does the playground have any fun and wacky ideas on how to use this ACF?

[Venger]

So, I've recently discovered this obscure ACF (Dragon mag #348) and I've been wondering why I've never heard of it. I mean, i know that trading the familiar is usually a bad deal, but some builds are bound to lose it sooner or later (if you plan into going Arcane Hierophant for example). Anyway, does the playground have any fun and wacky ideas on how to use this ACF?

in optimization circles, the general consensus is you want to get rid of your familiar ASAP as a traditional caster since their most useful function (skill stuff) is more worthwhile on stuff like factota/beguilers, etc.

the reason is likely that most people don't allow the bulk of dragmag content into their games since it's largely poorly written and poorly balanced.

what does it actually do? in general, when asking for advice on a specific piece of non widely-available content, it's a good idea to describe its function for people who either don't want to look it up or who have tried and found nothing (like me)

[Blackhawk748]

Judging from what ive seen (which isnt much) it could be fun on a thematic blaster. Getting to ignore the first 5 points of resistance is a good thing.

[killianh]

From what I can see the only one on the list that might be worth giving up a familiar would be the transmutation option that allows you to cast on an extra person. Combine with either a druid theurge or the leadership feat and ever buff covers you and companion without using higher spell slots or paying to reduce metamagic for chaining and the like, or using metamagic reducers for options other than increasing the amount of people buffed.

The 15th level ability looks nice and easy to abuse, but you would have to take a wizard the full 15 to get it which means giving up on nice classes like IotSFV or Incantrix. All told not all that good by comparison to a familiar

[Blackhawk748]

The 15th level ability looks nice and easy to abuse, but you would have to take a wizard the full 15 to get it which means giving up on nice classes like IotSFV or Incantrix. All told not all that good by comparison to a familiar

Or get a PrC that advances your Familiar. WHich brings up the question of if there is such a thing?

Also im curious, what are you doing with said familiar? All i do is use my Raven to make snarky comments in Giant or some other language the party doesnt speak. That being said i have debated about making a Tiefling Sorcerer/Eldritch Knight that drops darkness and just channels his touch spells through his bat familiar while he's stabbing things.

[Venger]

Or get a PrC that advances your Familiar. WHich brings up the question of if there is such a thing?

Also im curious, what are you doing with said familiar? All i do is use my Raven to make snarky comments in Giant or some other language the party doesnt speak. That being said i have debated about making a Tiefling Sorcerer/Eldritch Knight that drops darkness and just channels his touch spells through his bat familiar while he's stabbing things.

There are a handful. Alienist and fleshwarper both offer familiar advancement, as does arcane hierophant if you count its companion familiar, which merges the traits of both of your pokemon.

ravens can speak, so are most commonly used to activate wands. you ought to have him do that, especially if your guy has UMD, since familiars have your skilranks.

[Blackhawk748]

ravens can speak, so are most commonly used to activate wands. you ought to have him do that, especially if your guy has UMD, since familiars have your skilranks.

Im aware of that particular trick, just never had a need for a Raven Shoulder Cannon TM Generally i just have my guy talk to him or have him run recon for me, works well enough for my group. Also ive only ever had one Sorc with UMD and thats cause i went Wild Mage.

[Aerris]

in optimization circles, the general consensus is you want to get rid of your familiar ASAP as a traditional caster since their most useful function (skill stuff) is more worthwhile on stuff like factota/beguilers, etc.

the reason is likely that most people don't allow the bulk of dragmag content into their games since it's largely poorly written and poorly balanced.

what does it actually do? in general, when asking for advice on a specific piece of non widely-available content, it's a good idea to describe its function for people who either don't want to look it up or who have tried and found nothing (like me)

Had no idea losing your familiar was advised :O I guess I've never thought of it that way.

Also, sorry for not describing the ACF, I'm still kinda hew here :smallsmile:

This is copied from MinMax Boards "Dragon Mag Alternate Class Features" handbook since it sums it up much better than I ever could.


Focus Caster (Lose familiar); Bond to object, gain proficiency with that object, object becomes focus for your spells, gain one of various school-themed benefits, doesn't require specialization)

Some of the things that the quote doesn't mention are-
- you are unable to cast unless you have the focus item in your possession
- you can only chose a mastercraft item as your focus, you spend less xp on enhancing it with magic
- items hardness/hp increases
- you get three sets of bonuses based on the school of your focus and they are range from minor to useful, or at least it seems like that to me on the first glance. For instance, having a divination focus gets you +1 caster level with all divinations at first, then the duration of your divination spells doubles, and at the end, you gain a bonus to resist divinations equal to 1 + your int modifier.

[Blackhawk748]

Some of the things that the quote doesn't mention are-
- you are unable to cast unless you have the focus item in your possession
- you can only chose a mastercraft item as your focus, you spend less xp on enhancing it with magic
- items hardness/hp increases
- you get three sets of bonuses based on the school of your focus and they are range from minor to useful, or at least it seems like that to me on the first glance. For instance, having a divination focus gets you +1 caster level with all divinations at first, then the duration of your divination spells doubles, and at the end, you gain a bonus to resist divinations equal to 1 + your int modifier.

Hmmmm, this could be fun on a gish if the item is a Weapon. While this isnt Optimal it could be very flavorful if used on the right build. Im thinking a Dwarf Gish.

[Aerris]

Hmmmm, this could be fun on a gish if the item is a Weapon. While this isnt Optimal it could be very flavorful if used on the right build. Im thinking a Dwarf Gish.

That's exactly what I was thinking, its basically a "free" Exotic weapon proficiency. I kinda pictured it on an Elven gish for some reason, probably because of those thinblades, courtblades and other whatstheirnameblades :smalltongue:

[Blackhawk748]

That's exactly what I was thinking, its basically a "free" Exotic weapon proficiency.
I kinda pictured on an Elven gish for some reason, probably because of those thinblades, courtblades and other whatstheirnameblades :smalltongue:

Elf works too, i was thinking Dwarf Wizard/Fighter/Runesmith and using it on a Dwarven Warpike. Now your a Magical Dwarven Defender.

[Venger]

after looking up dragon 348, it probably depends on your school.

abj is pretty amazing, as is trans, but the others are probably a waste of time. not because a familiar's better, but because another ACF that costs your familiar is likely more useful to you.

[animewatcha]

Normally, providing a general idea can be done for class features. Unfortunately, I do see the focused caster thing to 'copy and paste it' would take over page ( it has that much specific language in it ). Generally though. You lose your familiar to bind yourself to a masterwork item as if it were a familiar. You need this focus item to cast any spells. It gains a few bonuses to hitpoints and what not. You gain proficiency with it specificly, but not proficiency with more of it's type ( you can bind/gain proficiency to a longsword, but you don't gain proficiency with other longswords as a result ). Something bad happens to it, proceed to bind yourself to another item. It cannot be magic ( starting off that is ), but is masterwork. Can be made out of special materials ( darkwood, mithral ). It gives a bonus to a specific school ( if you are a specialist, you must choose your specialist school ). Different benefits are gained depending upon the school chosen at 1st, 7th, and 15th levels. Bonuses from focus stack with similar bonuses from feats like spell focus. Some of these are okay, but very few may be tempting. Tranmutation 15th, once per day, transmutation spell you cast that grants bonus to ability scores, bonus is doubled. Bull strength becomes +8 instead of +4. For Optimizers, persisted Ability Enhancer 'once per day' Chasing Perfection to turn + 6 to all ability scores into a +12 to all ability scores. Chain it to addition party members and they will convince any paladins to fall and worship you as their god instead.

-edit- late/delayed posting

[Aerris]

Elf works too, i was thinking Dwarf Wizard/Fighter/Runesmith and using it on a Dwarven Warpike. Now your a Magical Dwarven Defender.

That does sound like fun. I guess the weapon you choose matters, a lot. If there only was an exotic weapon that for some reason benefits the wizard, the whole ACF would get way more fun.

EDIT - Also, I've reread the whole ACF, and it doesn't specify how the focus advances. I guess its implied the focus progress the same way the familiar does, but why couldn't it progress with your caster level? That would make it way more user friendly and useful.

[Biffoniacus_Furiou]

It's good for a Shadowcraft Mage, who will typically be spending >50% of his spell slots on illusions. In that case you may as well just make it a masterwork tool (http://www.d20srd.org/srd/equipment/goodsAndServices.htm#toolMasterwork), or maybe a (magical) mithral buckler or similar.