Familiar as the Character

[Milo v3]

I'm thinking of making a barbarian type character, who takes Eldritch Heritage to get a familiar, and then acts as though the familiar is the master and the barbarian is the summoned monster. But I'm not sure what type of familiar to take to be the master. Any suggestions on what would be good?

[Sam K]

Raven, because it can speak. That really helps with the act.

[VexingFool]

Parrot and Thrush also have the ability to speak a language in pathfinder.

I'd go with a Bloodrager with the bloodline familiar. Most of the 1st level bloodine powers are not that great so subbing them out for a full power familiar is a pretty good deal imo. The 1 level delay on bloodline spells is not that terrible either. This would leave your feats open for other things.

I'd then have the familiar take the Sage and Valet archetypes. The Sage archetype would give him increased intelligence and increased skill ranks as well as being able to use all knowledge skills with a nice bonus. The Valet archetype would allow him to cast prestidigitation on its own, use your teamwork feats and use aid another actions.

[Abrasis Mindlef]

Unfortunately, familiar archetypes are somewhat limited in their combo potential.

You may combine the Sage (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/wizard/familiar/familiar-archetypes/sage-familiar-archetype) and Figment (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/wizard/familiar/familiar-archetypes/figment-familiar-archetype) Familiar Archetypes;
every other familiar archetype cannot be combined with another(because they replace and/or modify the same abilities).

Similarly, Improved Familiars (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/improved-familiar) do not qualify for most Familiar Archetypes at all because they do not get the *speak with animals* power. They may take the Sage (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/wizard/familiar/familiar-archetypes/sage-familiar-archetype) archetype, however.

I second the suggestion for a Bloodrager; this allows you to use a Bloodline Familiar; in particular, a Fey Bloodline Familiar has a nice ability.

*start as Figment/Sage Fey Bloodline Familiar - perhaps an Ioun Wyrd (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/constructs/ioun-wyrd) that looks like a miniature planet, with ioun stones orbiting it like miniature moons.
Or be a Parrot/Raven/Thrush for the ability to speak, as others have suggested.

*Eventually, you may choose to *upgrade* into an Improved Sage Fey Bloodline Familiar - perhaps a Sprite (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/fey/sprite) to keep the fey theme, but Lyrakien Azata (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/outsiders/azata/azata-lyrakien) or Mockingfey (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/bestiary/monster-listings/fey/mockingfey) as upgrade of a bird is certainly possible.

I would dump the INT of the Bloodrager, and use the Sage familiar archetype to make the *familiar* obviously be the highly intelligent master, and the Bloodrager itself a dumb brute...

or you can try to recreate Link and his Fairy Helper...

[Milo v3]

Why would I take figment? The aim is for the familiar to be the character, not an imagined idea.

Bloodrager does sound like a good idea though with saving on feats (as mentioned).

[Prime32]

Similarly, Improved Familiars (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/general-feats/improved-familiar) do not qualify for most Familiar Archetypes at all because they do not get the *speak with animals* power. They may take the Sage (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/wizard/familiar/familiar-archetypes/sage-familiar-archetype) archetype, however.Theoretically you could get around that with a Patron Familiar (Animals patron), depending on your GM.