Advancing familiars

[klofft]

If I am a wizard and I take a prestige class, does that mean that advancement on my familiar stops? Many consider a familiar a mediocre class ability anyway, but I'm trying to really make it work for me - but I was going to become a master specialist, and if even a full caster progression PrC does nothing for the familiar, that's a pretty decent hit to my development.

Thanks.

 

[Runestar]

If I am a wizard and I take a prestige class, does that mean that advancement on my familiar stops?

Yes, unfortunately. The entry on spellcasting advancement should have some sort of clause which states that wizard lv dependent features, such as familiar benefits, do not scale.

Many consider a familiar a mediocre class ability anyway

Which is why it is generally swapped out the first chance they get.

No harm in letting it stack though.

 

[StreamOfTheSky]

No harm in letting it stack though.

Yes, there is. Spellcasting prestige classes are already too good for what you give up, no need to boost them further. If familiar progression is so important to you, don't go into the prestige class, or ask your DM to swap some of the PrC benefits for familiar progression.

 

[Runestar]

If that is the case, then you may want to consider burning a feat on the obtain familiar feat from complete arcane (which does let you count lvs in all classes). Just be sure to swap out your original summon familiar ability, like for the abrupt jaunt feature from PHB2, to prevent needless duplication of abilities.