Alternate, yet pretty darn mundane familiars???

[bertman4]

why doesn't a pirate mage have a parrot familiar?

They should. Here are some other familiar suggestions that are not in the PHB or T&B. I've added some comments on what they should grant if I had some ideas. It's not by any means complete.

Bat, T-sized. These would be the large tropical bats, no blindsense (no echolocation), but can attack, grants +3 spot in darkness.

Hare, T-sized. No attack, grants +2 Listen/+2 Jump.

Parrot, T-sized. Attacks, speaks 1 language.

Raccoon, T-sized. Attacks, grants +3 appraise.

Squirrel, D-sized. No attack, grants +2 Climb/+2 Balance.

Vole, D-sized. No attack, grants +2 Fort Save.

I would rename Sparrow Hawk from T&B to Falcons.

I think you should be able to gain larger familiars (S-size) or dire versions with the Improved Familiar feat. I think there should be another feat for supernatural familiars called Fantastic Familiars which would include all normal familiars with fiendish, celestial, elemental, anarchic and axiomatic templates added on, along with the mephit, imps, and pseudodragons. There should also be level restrictions before you can gain such familiars.

Bertman

 

[Nifft]

The one problem that I have with the familiar list is that some familiars can attack while others can not. Despite that big difference, the bonuses granted by these familiars are not very equal.

IMC anyone who uses his familiar to attack with regularity will probably face the XP loss associated with its death.

-- Nifft