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<blockquote data-quote="trav_laney" data-source="post: 3314315" data-attributes="member: 46508">I like it...I was wanting some school-specific abilities to be linked to these new familiars, since that is really the only thing they have going for them.&nbsp; <img src="https://cdn.jsdelivr.net/joypixels/assets/8.0/png/unicode/64/1f642.png" class="smilie smilie--emoji" loading="lazy" width="64" height="64" alt=":)" title="Smile&nbsp; &nbsp; :)"&nbsp; data-smilie="1"data-shortname=":)" />&nbsp; Butterflies are a metaphor for change, and that suits Transmutation perfectly.One of my players pointed out something to me...something that any DM worth his dice should have already known.&nbsp; A wizard doesn't choose the familiar in order to gain power, he chooses a familiar that suits his persona and mannerisms.&nbsp; (Indeed, in some campaigns the familiar chooses the wizard.)&nbsp; This familiar has a symbiotic relationship with the master, and each one begins to take on qualities of the other.&nbsp; That is why wizards with cat familiars get a bonus to their Move Silently checks...they are slowly becoming more cat-like.&nbsp; And this is why familiars gain new abilities...as the wizard gains power, his familiar also becomes more powerful.The roleplaying aspects of the game should always trump the urge to min/max a character.&nbsp; So I sheepishly admit that skill bonuses, while sucky from my munchkin-esque point of view, are probably the most appropriate bonuses a familiar should grant its master.&nbsp; So with these things in mind, I've updated the bug list.&nbsp; And added a few more bugs.[CODE]Familiar&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Special----------------------------------------------------------------------Beetle, scarab&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Cast Abjuration spells at +1 caster levelBeetle, fire&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Light 20'Bumblebee&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; +2 to Reflex savesButterfly&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; +2 to saves vs. Transmutation spellsCentipede&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; +3 to Hide checksCockroach&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; +2 to Fortitude savesCricket&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; +2 to saves vs. Enchantment spellsDragonfly&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; +3 to Spot checksFirefly&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; Cast Divination spells at +1 caster level, Light 20'Locust&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; +3 to Jump checksMantis&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; +2 to saves vs. Illusion spellsMoth&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; Immunity to sleep effectsScorpion&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; +3 to Climb checksSpider, hunter&nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp; +3 to Jump checksSpider, web-spinner&nbsp; &nbsp; +3 to Move Silently checks[/CODE]That is another problem altogether, I think.&nbsp; These bugs aren't balanced with each other...some are absolutely harmless, while some are poisonous.&nbsp; I think I might have to make some changes to some of these bugs to make them at least as useful as the SRD familiars.&nbsp; Any ideas?&nbsp; Butterflies with hypnotic wing colors?&nbsp; Stinkbugs with noxious vapor attacks?&nbsp; Madegasgar cockroaches with a frightening hiss?</blockquote>

[QUOTE="trav_laney, post: 3314315, member: 46508"] I like it...I was wanting some school-specific abilities to be linked to these new familiars, since that is really the only thing they have going for them. :) Butterflies are a metaphor for change, and that suits Transmutation perfectly. One of my players pointed out something to me...something that any DM worth his dice should have already known. A wizard doesn't choose the familiar in order to gain power, he chooses a familiar that suits his persona and mannerisms. (Indeed, in some campaigns the familiar chooses the wizard.) This familiar has a symbiotic relationship with the master, and each one begins to take on qualities of the other. That is why wizards with cat familiars get a bonus to their Move Silently checks...they are slowly becoming more cat-like. And this is why familiars gain new abilities...as the wizard gains power, his familiar also becomes more powerful. The roleplaying aspects of the game should always trump the urge to min/max a character. So I sheepishly admit that skill bonuses, while sucky from my munchkin-esque point of view, are probably the most appropriate bonuses a familiar should grant its master. So with these things in mind, I've updated the bug list. And added a few more bugs. [CODE]Familiar Special ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Beetle, scarab Cast Abjuration spells at +1 caster level Beetle, fire Light 20' Bumblebee +2 to Reflex saves Butterfly +2 to saves vs. Transmutation spells Centipede +3 to Hide checks Cockroach +2 to Fortitude saves Cricket +2 to saves vs. Enchantment spells Dragonfly +3 to Spot checks Firefly Cast Divination spells at +1 caster level, Light 20' Locust +3 to Jump checks Mantis +2 to saves vs. Illusion spells Moth Immunity to sleep effects Scorpion +3 to Climb checks Spider, hunter +3 to Jump checks Spider, web-spinner +3 to Move Silently checks[/CODE] That is another problem altogether, I think. These bugs aren't balanced with each other...some are absolutely harmless, while some are poisonous. I think I might have to make some changes to some of these bugs to make them at least as useful as the SRD familiars. Any ideas? Butterflies with hypnotic wing colors? Stinkbugs with noxious vapor attacks? Madegasgar cockroaches with a frightening hiss? [/QUOTE]

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