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While they have made familiars more appealling in 4e, in this article they introduce Paragon and Epic familiars.
One of my criticism is that while I feel the concepts are good, I can't help but feel that you'll be doing the same thing as casting aside one familiar for a new improved one. Even though it's very likely that your Skull Familiar you replaced with a Blazing Skull, is just the old one upgraded. I know that technically you could just say your Cat became an Arcane Wisp, but some might feel that the familiars they thematically want as certain animals, are behind always these "newer and better" Paragon and Epic Familiars. A couple I can see a clear progression from Arcane Eye to Beholderkin to Gibbering Pet, or Disembodied Hand to Rakshasa Claw, but others there's no clear progression from tier to tier if they want to do such a thing.
As for things about familiars, well they really have some interesting choices. My favourite being the Disembodied Hand, as you can literally have Thing from the Addam's Family as your familiar. Skull makes another interesting choice, especially for anyone who likes Planescape (it's your Mimir) or companion like Morte from Planescape: Torment. Arcane Eye's and Beholderkin definitely interesting choices. All of the Epic Familiars such as the Chaos Shard, Shadow Incarnate, and Gibbering Pet, are all neat ideas.
I really like the Eye of Kilrogg-- I mean, uh, Arcane Eye.
I'm curious about Arcane Power now because of the Book Imp, which is just mentioned in this article. I like the idea of a brave wizard who commands a cowardly imp to hold his tome for him in the midst of battle.
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Amazing, they've actually managed to get me to like familiars.
The list of quirks is the best part:
Yeah, those will provide a host of roleplaying opportunities. I particularily like how they extended the list of available familiars from the mundane animals. I can see the disembodied hand being a hit with all necromancers.
Now I want to play a dragonborn bard with a toad. +5(ish) bonus to healing surge at first level is almost like spending 2 healing surges for the price of 1, and extra 1d8 healing per encounter is a pretty fantastic boost to one majestic word.
Actually, with my warlord dragonborn, I might retrain to bard multiclass so I can have a toad... Nah, I'm happy with my ranger multiclass.
Someone on the design team must really like toads.
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For myself, I think my favourite part is that the badger familiar is a minion (see the devoted familiar active benefit.) Who's my little minion? You are!
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They remind me a bit of the 3E psicrystals which granted a bonus to their master based on their personality. Those were also a good source for a bit of roleplaying.
Familiars rock! They just look like so much fun. I really like the concept of the familiar being destroyed, then after the encounter walking out from underneath the wizard's cloak like nothing ever happened. Cool & magical in my book!
I'm guessing between the Active Benefit of the Whitespawn Snowstepper and the Aggressive Familiar feat (each either destroying the familiar outright or dropping it to 0 hp), that losing a familiar isn't a big deal anymore? I'm all for the familiars being useful, but I'm not sure I like them being easily expendable resources.
"Okay Frances! You just waddle over to that group, and I'll ready the fireball!"
I'm guessing between the Active Benefit of the Whitespawn Snowstepper and the Aggressive Familiar feat (each either destroying the familiar outright or dropping it to 0 hp), that losing a familiar isn't a big deal anymore? I'm all for the familiars being useful, but I'm not sure I like them being easily expendable resources.
"Okay Frances! You just waddle over to that group, and I'll ready the fireball!"
Please note, it does say "reduced to 0" not destroyed. I see it being blasted and scorched, then the badger hides behind a rock until after the encounter; at which time the wizard has to go looking for it (ala heal check).
The next time he suggests it "waddle over to that group" it promptly urinates on his boots.
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Please note, it does say "reduced to 0" not destroyed. I see it being blasted and scorched, then the badger hides behind a rock until after the encounter; at which time the wizard has to go looking for it (ala heal check).
The next time he suggests it "waddle over to that group" it promptly urinates on his boots.
*imagines cat familiar getting hit by a fireball, launching it screaming into the sky like Team Rocket*
I love the role-playing quirks! Love, love, love them!
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Please note, it does say "reduced to 0" not destroyed.
Nitpicking, but the Aggressive Famliar feat does say:
"Effect: Your familiar is destroyed, and you gain..."
Just strikes me as a bit crazy from the perspective of "this is your ally". Then again, this is something for lvl 16+, and that's near the territory where powers say "The first time you die each day".
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