Deviston
2015-03-29, 09:03 AM
Greetings all.
Problem
Half-Daelkyr (HD) takes a level of Wizard and wants to make his personal symbiont (breed leech in this case) his familiar instead of the option provided.
Observations
1) Symbionts when not attached have very low HD similar to the base animals with several concerning differences (NA, Darkvision, blindsight)
2) When attached has a better/worse version of Share Spells in that spells the caster casts on himself automatically effect the symbiont and the symbiont can have spells it casts on itself effect the host (which familiar does not have IF the familiar has a spell) AND it can choose to Share Spells with its host or not (unlike the caster which it automatically shares).
3) When attached gives access by proxy to blindsight (if it chooses to communicate this information to the host, as it is not compelled to as an intelligence creature).
4) When attached can make Ego checks as an intelligent magical item to control the host.
5) When attached has telepathy (which equates to speak with master).
6) Familiars have an INT level on their table.
Questions
1) Primary question, would allowing this meshing be a major unbalancing factor?
2) Could the familiar/symbiont still make Ego checks taking into account the "master/slave" relationship of a familiar?
3) Would the INT if the symbiont stay at its base level until the wizard got up into level in which the improve INT begins applying to it, or would this symbiont be less intelligent than standard ones of its type and only have the INT displayed on the familiar table?
4) Should a feat perhaps be required to make this combination? (Improved Familiar for example, like a tax for the better creature)
5) Discrepancy between slain familiar replacement and slain symbiont replacement.
Balance Arguments For/Against
1) The combined creature being slain would be a double penalty in this single loss.
2) If Ego checks are still allowed, this every present creature (while attached, or also while unattached due to the familiar link?) would forever be a Ego concern.
3) Counts against Wealth By Level. (DM discretion, depending on how they handle the personal symbiont in general)
4) Can be mentally controlled to make Ego checks/detach by villain.
5) Rule could be made that symbiont loses some of its things when the combination is made. (loses blindsight for example)
Afterword
I like the concept that the player wants to go for, it makes sense and in general I don't see a whole heck of a lot wrong with it. I wanted to get the opinion of the community before I made a final decision. My primary concern in all of this is the "power level" of the combination. I thank you for your time and consideration.
VR
Deviston
Problem
Half-Daelkyr (HD) takes a level of Wizard and wants to make his personal symbiont (breed leech in this case) his familiar instead of the option provided.
Observations
1) Symbionts when not attached have very low HD similar to the base animals with several concerning differences (NA, Darkvision, blindsight)
2) When attached has a better/worse version of Share Spells in that spells the caster casts on himself automatically effect the symbiont and the symbiont can have spells it casts on itself effect the host (which familiar does not have IF the familiar has a spell) AND it can choose to Share Spells with its host or not (unlike the caster which it automatically shares).
3) When attached gives access by proxy to blindsight (if it chooses to communicate this information to the host, as it is not compelled to as an intelligence creature).
4) When attached can make Ego checks as an intelligent magical item to control the host.
5) When attached has telepathy (which equates to speak with master).
6) Familiars have an INT level on their table.
Questions
1) Primary question, would allowing this meshing be a major unbalancing factor?
2) Could the familiar/symbiont still make Ego checks taking into account the "master/slave" relationship of a familiar?
3) Would the INT if the symbiont stay at its base level until the wizard got up into level in which the improve INT begins applying to it, or would this symbiont be less intelligent than standard ones of its type and only have the INT displayed on the familiar table?
4) Should a feat perhaps be required to make this combination? (Improved Familiar for example, like a tax for the better creature)
5) Discrepancy between slain familiar replacement and slain symbiont replacement.
Balance Arguments For/Against
1) The combined creature being slain would be a double penalty in this single loss.
2) If Ego checks are still allowed, this every present creature (while attached, or also while unattached due to the familiar link?) would forever be a Ego concern.
3) Counts against Wealth By Level. (DM discretion, depending on how they handle the personal symbiont in general)
4) Can be mentally controlled to make Ego checks/detach by villain.
5) Rule could be made that symbiont loses some of its things when the combination is made. (loses blindsight for example)
Afterword
I like the concept that the player wants to go for, it makes sense and in general I don't see a whole heck of a lot wrong with it. I wanted to get the opinion of the community before I made a final decision. My primary concern in all of this is the "power level" of the combination. I thank you for your time and consideration.
VR
Deviston