Interaction between Essassin and a Familiar

[twilsemail]

I'm curious how the boards at large view the interaction of the Essassin's daily poisons (D394) and the Clockwork Scorpion from D377's Familiars of Eberron. Here are the relevant quotes:

Only you can use your assassin poisons, and you are immune to the effects of the ones you create.

Constant Benefit: The clockwork scorpion contains a small reservoir that can store 1 dose of a poison or alchemical oil that you can apply to a weapon. You can refill it during a rest.

Active Benefit: Once per encounter, when you or an ally hits an enemy adjacent to the clockwork scorpion with a weapon attack, that attack benefits from the effect of the stored substance, which is consumed.

I think that the way these elements would interaction means that you could apply your Essassin poison where you wish, if you've invested two feats in it. Thoughts, ENWorlders?

 

[Incenjucar]

I'm curious how the boards at large view the interaction of the Essassin's daily poisons (D394) and the Clockwork Scorpion from D377's Familiars of Eberron. Here are the relevant quotes:

I think that the way these elements would interaction means that you could apply your Essassin poison where you wish, if you've invested two feats in it. Thoughts, ENWorlders?

The DM may allow it, but I think the "Only you can use" part precludes the clockwork scorpion from using it.

 

[moxcamel]

The DM may allow it, but I think the "Only you can use" part precludes the clockwork scorpion from using it.

This is my initial thought also. I'm not familiar with Familiars of Eberron, is this specifically an Assassin's familiar? If so, I could see treating the familiar as something the Assassin can "use," and might allow it.

 

[Blue]

The DM may allow it, but I think the "Only you can use" part precludes the clockwork scorpion from using it.

But your familiar, summons, shaman spirit, etc. are always an extension of you for things like this. If you have a feat that gives you a bonus to defenses, your familiar's defenses improve as well. Those that attack do so with your attack bonus, including your implement that you are wielding.

I wouldn't allow the scorpion to add an Essassin poison to another's attack because of the wording, but I would to your own attack.

 

[Incenjucar]

But your familiar, summons, shaman spirit, etc. are always an extension of you for things like this. If you have a feat that gives you a bonus to defenses, your familiar's defenses improve as well. Those that attack do so with your attack bonus, including your implement that you are wielding.

I don't agree with the bolded. Characters have very limited actions they can do through non-character entities, and they are all explicitly stated. These creatures don't even have access to feat-granted bonuses unless they're constants.

 

[I'm A Banana]

I'd need the text of the Familiar rules to say if it's RAW-approved, but, as a DM, I'd personally permit it.

 

[Morrus]

Am I missing some in-joke on "Essassin" or are you just really bad at typing?

I hope this isn't one of those "PEACH" style imports from the WotC boards, which I aim lasers of fiery burny death at.

 

[Ryujin]

I'd need the text of the Familiar rules to say if it's RAW-approved, but, as a DM, I'd personally permit it.

I would also. especially given that it would take two feats in order to get that ability(MC to an Arcane class, then the Familiar feat). There are more effective ways to use those feats, from a mechanical perspective, so I would see this as being more of a flavour thing.

 

[chitzk0i]

'Essassin' is short for the Essentials-style Executioner Assassin.

I think that if one of my players was going to spend 2 feats on this, I'd let it work.

 

[I'm A Banana]

The thing is, if Familiars work kind of like a lot of summoning powers (using your stats to attack with) then it totally works. If you summon a thing that deals fire damage, and you have a feat that improves fire damage, then your feat improves your summon's fire damage. If you gain a +1 to hit with implement powers, and your summoning spell is an implement power, your summons gain +1 to hit with their attacks as well. Etc. So if familiars work that way, they are basically an extension of yourself, so the poisons you can use can be used through them (probably even if they weren't a clockwork scorpion).

If familiars use their own attack stats, however, that might not work so well.

I don't have the familiar rules in front of me ATM, though I am not sure why they wouldn't use the same rules that you use for a summoning effect.