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A familiars size?

Zarthon

Explorer
Greetings all,

Here is my question: Does a familiars size increase according to how many hitdice it has?

I know that monsters with PC levels do not get a size increase, could this have something to do with it.

Thanks
 

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I don't think familiars gain additional hit dice. Paladin mounts do, but not familiars.

Well, I suppose, the size category always stays the same (especially for the Paladin mount).

Bye
Thanee
 

Familars don't gain HD so to speak but they do increase hp as the caster does. But as to the size issue it would really depend on the familar type in question. ie a toad may indeed get bigger as it's HP increases, but a mefit on the other hand prolly would not.
 

According to "Tome and Blood" on page 10 I quote:
"Hit Dice : For effects that depend on Hit Dice (such as the sleep spell), use your level or the familiar's normal total, whichever is higher."

Now the book is a little vague as to whether this counts towards he familiar's size.

The reason I ask is one of my players (9th lvl wiz) wants to get a small Air elemental as his familiar (as per the Improved Familiar feat in ToB), if the familiar's hit dice are the same as the masters it would mean that the elemental would have 9 hitdice putting it in the medium size range as opposed to the small size.
 

Oh ... well, no, these are 'virtual' hit dice for purposes of spell effects etc. It has nothing to do with advancement of the base creature.
 

Christian said:
Oh ... well, no, these are 'virtual' hit dice for purposes of spell effects etc. It has nothing to do with advancement of the base creature.

"Virtual Hit Dice" I like that, I think that I will use it...I can see a big debate/fight/Im the DM and what I say goes (jk) coming my way at tommorrow nights game :)
 


Zarthon said:
Greetings all,

Here is my question: Does a familiars size increase according to how many hitdice it has?

I know that monsters with PC levels do not get a size increase, could this have something to do with it.

Thanks

It's exactly like a PC gaining HD from levels. A familiar or Paladin's mount doesn't actually grow bigger when they gain HD from their bond, they are just harder to kill because of their supernatural link, and because of their increased experience.
 

What your failing to realize is that creature don't really increase in size as they gain HD, becuase creatures don't gain HD. A creature with 5HD can live forever and will never have 6HD. The Advancment line is there for things that are bigger to start with. Some things are just born better, stronger, bigger, that's what advancment is for.

Or at least that was the intend of the designers, (As per Skip Williams) It just didn't come across really well in the MM. So answer is no, becuase nothing gets bigger as they gain HD becuase nothing does.
 

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