Unfamiliar Familiars [3.X]

[afroakuma]

I'm putting together an aquatic adversary and I've reached a small impasse... the PHB doesn't seem to have any aquatic familiars.

I considered substituting an item familiar, but it would be near-worthless (+1 skill bonus and an extra cantrip); he's a sorcerer, so the fun specialist wizard variants are out.

Does WotC have any printed aquatic familiars in some out-of-the-way sourcebook? Barring that, any suggestions?

[Adumbration]

Stormwrack has a whole bunch of them. Give me a sec.

Page 52:
- Albatross
- Eel
- Fish Owl
- Octopus
- Parrot
- Sea snake

[olentu]

Well from the SRD the toad entry has the Amphibious special quality. The entry does not list what it does but assuming it works the same as the Merfolk Amphibious special quality

Amphibious (Ex): Merfolk can breathe both air and water, although they rarely travel more than a few feet from the water’s edge.

the toad could could work for an aquatic familiar. However since a toad has no swim speed familiars from other books would probably be a better choice.

[RTGoodman]

Isn't there an ACF for Sorcerers somewhere (PHB2, maybe?) where they lose their familiar in exchange for the ability to use metamagic normally? I'd go with that.

If not, pick the eel - that sounds freakin' sweet.

[Deth Muncher]

All I can think of is "Decomposing Composers" by Monty Python.


Anyway. If the Stormwrack ones don't tickle your fancy, I definately support the Metamagic ACF.

[Singhilarity]

Before I get Ninja'd

Albatross: +1 Spot
Eel: +3 escape artist checks
Fish Owl (statted as per Owl) +3 spot in shadows
Octopus +3 to Grapple (!! !)
Parrot (stats as Raven) +3 to appriase (and can speak one language as supernatural ability)
Sea Snake - +3 to bluff

[Occasional Sage]

How about a Miniature Aquatic Giant Space Hamster of Doom? Shouldn't require the Improved Familiar feat to take (although Improvised Familiar might be appropriate...).

[RTGoodman]

Sea Snake - +3 to bluff

Hey, you know what'd be even cooler than that? Angler Fish familiar - +3 to Bluff and/or Intimidate because, well, it's a pretty scary-lookin' critter:

WARNING: Angler fish may be inappropriate for some audiences. Parental discretion is advised.

Spoiler

Show

[Draz74]

You also could just always say that a familiar is the equivalent of a bonus feat.

[Malacode]

How about a Miniature Aquatic Giant Space Hamster of Doom? Shouldn't require the Improved Familiar feat to take (although Improvised Familiar might be appropriate...).

GO FOR THE EYES, BOO!

This deserves a cookie

[Myou]

I remember seeing a squid familiar in one book, but if it's not stormwrack then I don't know which book it was in.

[afroakuma]

You also could just always say that a familiar is the equivalent of a bonus feat.

I'll probably go with this...

I looked over the metamagic option, but I only have four levels of sorcerer to play with, which means I wouldn't be Extending or Enlarging anything particularly useful.

[kamuishirou]

GO FOR THE EYES, BOO!

This deserves a cookie

/cookie for you as well!

[The Glyphstone]

You also could just always say that a familiar is the equivalent of a bonus feat.

There's two identical flaws in different issues of Dragon Magazine - Loner and Forlorn, which agree with you 100%. So that's a pretty good option, actually.

[hamishspence]

I remember an entertaining kiddie book on witches, showing a variety of familiars, with one cat investigating under the witch's dress:

"Over-familiar familiar"