StickMan
2007-12-12, 11:20 AM
In loving memory of my dog Scruffy 1990-2007.
"Sure there are a lot of 'Good' familiars but there is only one that is also man's best friend"
Stan Sargo,
Dog Mage
Many Mages keep familiars but many will argue that the best familiar is man's best friend, the dog. Some Mages who have dogs as familiars take their bond to a new level and become Dog Mages. The most common class to become a Dog mage is Sorcerer because often times the companion ship of there dog is all they know for years.
Dogs as familiars were first published in Dragon 341 using the standard dog statistics from the monster manual. Dogs familiars grant a +3 to Sense Motive.
Prerequiste: Dog Familiar, Bonded Familiar [Feat], must have speak with master special ability.
Dog Mage
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special|Spells per Day
1st|
+0|
+0|
+0|
+2|Shape Change (Puppy), Bonded Life|+1 Level of Existing Class
2nd|
+1|
+0|
+0|
+3|Improved Hit points|+1 Level of Existing Class
3rd|
+1|
+1|
+1|
+3|Shape Change (Riding Dog)|+1 Level of Existing Class
4th|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+4|Improved Bond|+1 Level of Existing Class
5th|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+4|Shape Change (Dire Dog)|+1 Level of Existing Class
[/table]
Alignment: Any
Hit Die: 1d4
Class Skills:
Class Skills:Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Profession (Wis), and Spellcraft (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Survival (Wis).
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Shape Change: Starting at first level the familiar of a Dog Mage can as a standard action change its form. At first level the familiar can turn its self in to a puppy gaining all the physically characteristics of a puppy, but keeping its own mental characteristics and familiar abilities. At level 3 the familiar can turn its self in to a Riding dog and at 5th level it can turn its self into a Dire Dog form, in both forms it keeps its Mental characteristics and familiar abilities. When the familiar uses this ability any Items that it is wearing resize to fit its new form
Bonded life: The familiars length of life is tied to his master and ages from this point on at the same rate as his master. If the familiar dies its master automatically fails the Fortitude save to avoid losing experience points.
Improved Hit points: The familiar now gains Hit points equal to its masters and may use its own constitution modifier instead of its masters if higher.
Improved Bond: The benefits of the Bonded Familiar feat are improved allowing familiar and master to trade damage any number of times per day when an attack would drop them to below zero HP.
Puppy
Puppy Tiny Animal
Hit Dice: 1d8+2 (6 hp)
Initiative: +5
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 18 (+2 size, +5 Dex, +1 natural), touch 17, flat-footed 13
Base Attack/Grapple: +0
Attack: Bite +1 melee (1d3-1)
Full Attack: Bite +1 melee (1d3-1)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent, cute
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +1
Abilities: Str 9, Dex 20 , Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +7, Listen +5, Spot +5, Survival +1*
Feats: Alertness, TrackB
Environment: Temperate plains
Organization: Solitary or pack (5–12)
Challenge Rating: 1/3
Advancement: —
Level Adjustment: —
Cute: Puppys gain a +4 bonus on charisma checks with good aligned creatures and others who love dogs.
Dire Dog
Dire Dog
Size/Type: Large Animal
Hit Dice: 6d8+18 (45 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 50 ft. (10 squares)
Armor Class: 17 (-1 size, +2 Dex, +6 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 15
Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+15
Attack: Bite +11 melee (1d8+10)
Full Attack: Bite +11 melee (1d8+10)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Trip
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +6
Abilities: Str 25, Dex 15, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 10
Skills: Hide +0, Listen +7, Move Silently +4, Spot +7, Survival +2*
Feats: Alertness, Run, TrackB, Weapon Focus (bite)
Environment: Temperate forests
Organization: Solitary or pack (5-8)
Challenge Rating: 3
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 7-18 HD (Large)
Level Adjustment: —
"Sure there are a lot of 'Good' familiars but there is only one that is also man's best friend"
Stan Sargo,
Dog Mage
Many Mages keep familiars but many will argue that the best familiar is man's best friend, the dog. Some Mages who have dogs as familiars take their bond to a new level and become Dog Mages. The most common class to become a Dog mage is Sorcerer because often times the companion ship of there dog is all they know for years.
Dogs as familiars were first published in Dragon 341 using the standard dog statistics from the monster manual. Dogs familiars grant a +3 to Sense Motive.
Prerequiste: Dog Familiar, Bonded Familiar [Feat], must have speak with master special ability.
Dog Mage
{table=head]Level|Base Attack Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special|Spells per Day
1st|
+0|
+0|
+0|
+2|Shape Change (Puppy), Bonded Life|+1 Level of Existing Class
2nd|
+1|
+0|
+0|
+3|Improved Hit points|+1 Level of Existing Class
3rd|
+1|
+1|
+1|
+3|Shape Change (Riding Dog)|+1 Level of Existing Class
4th|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+4|Improved Bond|+1 Level of Existing Class
5th|
+2|
+1|
+1|
+4|Shape Change (Dire Dog)|+1 Level of Existing Class
[/table]
Alignment: Any
Hit Die: 1d4
Class Skills:
Class Skills:Bluff (Cha), Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Knowledge (arcana) (Int), Profession (Wis), and Spellcraft (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Survival (Wis).
Skill Points at Each Level: 2 + Int modifier.
Shape Change: Starting at first level the familiar of a Dog Mage can as a standard action change its form. At first level the familiar can turn its self in to a puppy gaining all the physically characteristics of a puppy, but keeping its own mental characteristics and familiar abilities. At level 3 the familiar can turn its self in to a Riding dog and at 5th level it can turn its self into a Dire Dog form, in both forms it keeps its Mental characteristics and familiar abilities. When the familiar uses this ability any Items that it is wearing resize to fit its new form
Bonded life: The familiars length of life is tied to his master and ages from this point on at the same rate as his master. If the familiar dies its master automatically fails the Fortitude save to avoid losing experience points.
Improved Hit points: The familiar now gains Hit points equal to its masters and may use its own constitution modifier instead of its masters if higher.
Improved Bond: The benefits of the Bonded Familiar feat are improved allowing familiar and master to trade damage any number of times per day when an attack would drop them to below zero HP.
Puppy
Puppy Tiny Animal
Hit Dice: 1d8+2 (6 hp)
Initiative: +5
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 18 (+2 size, +5 Dex, +1 natural), touch 17, flat-footed 13
Base Attack/Grapple: +0
Attack: Bite +1 melee (1d3-1)
Full Attack: Bite +1 melee (1d3-1)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent, cute
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +1
Abilities: Str 9, Dex 20 , Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +7, Listen +5, Spot +5, Survival +1*
Feats: Alertness, TrackB
Environment: Temperate plains
Organization: Solitary or pack (5–12)
Challenge Rating: 1/3
Advancement: —
Level Adjustment: —
Cute: Puppys gain a +4 bonus on charisma checks with good aligned creatures and others who love dogs.
Dire Dog
Dire Dog
Size/Type: Large Animal
Hit Dice: 6d8+18 (45 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 50 ft. (10 squares)
Armor Class: 17 (-1 size, +2 Dex, +6 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 15
Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+15
Attack: Bite +11 melee (1d8+10)
Full Attack: Bite +11 melee (1d8+10)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Trip
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +6
Abilities: Str 25, Dex 15, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 10
Skills: Hide +0, Listen +7, Move Silently +4, Spot +7, Survival +2*
Feats: Alertness, Run, TrackB, Weapon Focus (bite)
Environment: Temperate forests
Organization: Solitary or pack (5-8)
Challenge Rating: 3
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 7-18 HD (Large)
Level Adjustment: —