'almost' magically adept feat (familiar only)

[BVB]

I'd like to discuss with my DM the possibility of acquiring a feat (probably at first level) that would give me character access to a familiar but not any spells. The idea being that he's got, like, really diluted sorcerer blood in his veins, or he's just one of those borderline people with something special about him. I'd seeking feedback here first to get a feel for the pros and cons before I take it up with him.

On one hand, a familiar provides the same benefits as a standard enhancement feat -- a skill bonus or save bonus, for example. So that would be a simple, balanced trade.

On the other hand, the familiar gets to walk around, get into stuff and develop a personality -- stuff that a feat can't do. So it makes a familiar more powerful as a feat choice.

But in balance to that point, a familiar is also a potential target for injury, and a responsibility for the character, and something for the DM to mess with. So there's that.

As for the legitimacy of shifting minor magics around? ... I remember a Dragon magazine article feat that allowed gnomes to trade their three racial cantrips for three other cantrips/orisons of their choice. And another article allowing wizards/sorcerers to establish multiple familiars at the cost of a feat.

What say you? Would you see any problem with this, or would you apply some sort of balancing value to the feat?

 

[Technik4]

There are many ways to make a viable Familiar feat available for all. You didn't specify your level or your class, but I think such a feat should be available for all.

Familiar [Feat]
You have acquired a familiar through some esoteric means.
Prerequisites: Knowledge (Arcana) 2+ ranks
Benefit: You may perform a ritual as the spell Summon Familiar. This ritual requires 100 gp in materials to perform. In most respects you have a familiar as a Wiz1, but your familiar only has 1 quarter your hit points. It also cannot advance in powers as a wizard familiar unless you take levels in the wizard or sorceror class. You still suffer the penalty for its death as if you were a wizard with levels equal to your character level.

Technik