I'm A Banana
Potassium-Rich
It's level 3 in the playtest. I'm not a fan. I think it should be available at level 1.
I also think that, rather than having special unique little rules for spellcasters, the familiar needs to make use of a broader "useful pet" kind of concept.
Meaning, it should be something anyone can get. A cat or a raven or a monkey or a ferret or a parrot or a toad or even a horse or a serpent or even another person maybe. It should be your Disney Side-Kick Animal. Your Abu from Aladdin. What is a pirate without their parrot? What is a knight without their noble steed? Or a bond villain without their fluffy cat? Or a bard without their Number One Fan, maybe?
Everyone should have the option to gain a useful little pet that they can order around and help them out. From level 1.
Personally, I think it would make a great Theme.
You'd need to futz a bit with the current familiar mechanics. I'd do something like this:
[sblock]
Theme: Bonded Pet
You have a particularly close bond with an animal companion. You travel together, explore together, fight together, and rely on each other. You are perhaps each others' closest friend. As you gain levels, you teach your pet many tricks, and your bond grows closer.
At first level, you gain the Adventurer's Best Friend feat.
Adventurer's Best Friend: You have a close bond with a particular animal, and it follows you around and helps you out. Benefit: You can choose an animal to have as a pet. The animal is loyal to you, and obeys your commands. Due to your similarities, you gain one extra skill that both you and the animal share (your lucky cricket might give you Fiddling +3, or your noble steed might grant you Endurance +3). Your pet also does not die as long as you are alive. Your pet can be knocked out, but it automatically stabilizes and doesn't need to make death saves. Your pet has HP equal to 1/10th of your HP.
[/sblock]
That might need a bit more thought, but it's the version 0.1.
Now, what about the more...otherworldly elements of an arcane familiar? The idea of a creature from the otherworld teaching dark secrets to a student?
Two words: Warlocks, son.
Do you have Thoughts About Familiars? Post them here (if they are grandma-friendly).
I also think that, rather than having special unique little rules for spellcasters, the familiar needs to make use of a broader "useful pet" kind of concept.
Meaning, it should be something anyone can get. A cat or a raven or a monkey or a ferret or a parrot or a toad or even a horse or a serpent or even another person maybe. It should be your Disney Side-Kick Animal. Your Abu from Aladdin. What is a pirate without their parrot? What is a knight without their noble steed? Or a bond villain without their fluffy cat? Or a bard without their Number One Fan, maybe?
Everyone should have the option to gain a useful little pet that they can order around and help them out. From level 1.
Personally, I think it would make a great Theme.
You'd need to futz a bit with the current familiar mechanics. I'd do something like this:
[sblock]
Theme: Bonded Pet
You have a particularly close bond with an animal companion. You travel together, explore together, fight together, and rely on each other. You are perhaps each others' closest friend. As you gain levels, you teach your pet many tricks, and your bond grows closer.
At first level, you gain the Adventurer's Best Friend feat.
Adventurer's Best Friend: You have a close bond with a particular animal, and it follows you around and helps you out. Benefit: You can choose an animal to have as a pet. The animal is loyal to you, and obeys your commands. Due to your similarities, you gain one extra skill that both you and the animal share (your lucky cricket might give you Fiddling +3, or your noble steed might grant you Endurance +3). Your pet also does not die as long as you are alive. Your pet can be knocked out, but it automatically stabilizes and doesn't need to make death saves. Your pet has HP equal to 1/10th of your HP.
[/sblock]
That might need a bit more thought, but it's the version 0.1.

Now, what about the more...otherworldly elements of an arcane familiar? The idea of a creature from the otherworld teaching dark secrets to a student?
Two words: Warlocks, son.
Do you have Thoughts About Familiars? Post them here (if they are grandma-friendly).