D&D 4E 4e Familiars more than just a skill buff ?

[Lurks-no-More]

An interesting alternative would be if damaging the familiar damaged the wizard... the familiar only dies when the wizard does. Wizards could probably do with a bit more hp in this case.

In this case, you might get those extra HP when you acquire a familiar.

Edit: By the way, does anyone recall whether the familiars in 1e/2e had any worthwhile qualities? As far as I can remember, they were a pointless vulnerability you had to learn a spell for to inflict upon yourself. In comparision to that, the 3.* familiars have been terribly useful.

 

[The Merciful]

I'm not sure if every wizard in D&D should have a familiar, but they definetly should be a viable and fun option in the core.

An interesting alternative would be if damaging the familiar damaged the wizard... the familiar only dies when the wizard does. Wizards could probably do with a bit more hp in this case.

That is a very good idea!

 

[Li Shenron]

3e familiars are WAY MORE than a skill buff.

The problem with them is only that players are unable to use them, and prefer to just choose which one based on the flat bonus, and forget about it.

If it was for me, I'd "improve" them by eliminating the buff, which isn't truly mandatory in the concept of a familiar anyway.

 

[Haffrung Helleyes]

Ars Magica

Ars Magica has great familiar rules.

And who wrote Ars Magica? Jonathan Tweet.

So, I´m a little surprised that 3E familiars are so bland.

Ken

 

[DreamChaser]

Ars Magica has great familiar rules.

And who wrote Ars Magica? Jonathan Tweet.

So, I´m a little surprised that 3E familiars are so bland.

Ken

Moooo. I believe Mr. Tweet was attacked by a sacred cow in the process of 3e.

I like Kamakazi's ideas above. I think all of these would be cool (but I also agree that no familiar should be required ).

DC

 

[Ander00]

I might be imagining things, but I thought one of the designers mentioned the familiars from Descent in a blog or podcast a while back, saying how they're fun due to providing different abilities without the hassles associated with a familiar in D&D.
Similar to Divine Companion, the alternate class feature for sorcerers from Complete Champion, or an Eternal Blade's Blade Guide.


cheers

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

I don't like having a feature like a familiar built into a fundamental class like that, especially when fantasy wizards in literature/movies often *don't* have anything that resembles a "familiar"(there are examples that spring to mind, but more examples of spellcasters lacking them IMO).

Merlin's Archimedes and Harry Potter's Hedwig are potent examples for two different generations. (This thread suggests a lot of ENWorlders have never read The Once and Future King, alas.)

Witches' familiars are also pretty explicitly where the basic 1E familiar list came from, and that wasn't trying to emulate some crappy fantasy novel; it was hearkening back to the Salem and European witch trials and what people genuinely believed spellcasters had as companions and servants.

Keep them, make them a feat, and make them cool.

 

[Aloïsius]

Is it just me, or are familar better suited to sorcerers and warlocks than wizards ? Otherwordly beings that teach you their powers seems more warlocky than wizardly.

Anyway, it's perfectly possible to have interesting familars, but remember that the rules must fit in the PHB...

 

[Stalker0]

Make them cool then make them a feat (or perhaps a familiar TALENT TREE!!)

There's no need for them to mandatory, but they are stable enough to be provided.

 

[JohnSnow]

While I'm sure people probably get tired of me bringing up his name, Harry Dresden has a few companions who could arguably be thought of as "familiars."

There's "Bob" - a spirit of intellect trapped in a human skull who can only go out in daylight if he possesses some creature (and Harry lets him do it). Harry often has to negotiate "weekend passes" for Bob to get him to do some work. Bob does recon for Harry and he's an invaluable resource for prepping spells and potions.

Then there's Harry's cat "Mister" who's a giant (30+ lb.) grey tomcat. Mister's pretty bright, but he's just a cat, although Bob frequently possesses him.

Finally there's "Mouse," Harry's ridiculously smart, half-celestial "Wooly Chowmoth." Mouse is a guardian (Foo) dog, and is more like a druid's animal companion than a familiar.

I like the idea of familiars as resources (scouts and guides), rather than as combatants. I think there should be an incentive for casters to keep their familiars alive so they don't risk them unnecessarily, but I agree that familiars make far more sense as an "option" rather than as a requirement.

Birds of all sorts, bats and cats are pretty traditional familiars, along with rats, toads, weasels and miniature dragons. Similarly, the Tressym (winged cats from FR) make a pretty "cool" addition.