But why...

[Beholder Bob]

For my new campaign, I am trying to nail down the rules of the universe, methods to the madness, and all other sorts of silliness. Here is a question for you -

Why do wizards and sorcerer's have familiars? I know the obvious answer - because they do! Some others I've considered are listed below. I'm just looking for neat concepts...

1) Like draws like, animals with a touch of magic bond with their arcane fellows.

2) Your soul's shape interacts with the familiars - making the two of you part of a larger whole. Like a molecular bond.

3) The magic of the wizard is too 'big' to house in just his body - so some of it overflows into the pet. You get along so well because part of it is just excess you. You do not need to have a familiar, but if not, the excess you is 'wasted potential'

4) It is just an ancient spell that everyone uses - why not do so. No special nature or bond prior to using this rite.

5) Astrological 'soul mates' - familars are not chosen, they are born. Higher powers are at work - perhaps fate has a hand...

X) Magic and its manipulation is not simply muttering words and waving your arms - your 'soul' is involved with the casting, you manipulate a force in another dimension, the words & gestures are just part of a larger effort unseen.

 

[DaveStebbins]

I had considered this question years ago. Any answer has to take into account that not all arcane casters have familiars.

I decided that there would be three ways to access the natural forces that fuel magical spells. One way is through having a link with a familiar. A second way was through some sort of special item (wizard's amulet or staff, etc.). The third way was through one's true name. Each method worked to open the caster's being to the flow of the magical energies and allowed him to shape those energies into spells. In game terms there was no real effect, except every caster would have to choose how they were effecting their spells.

I never bothered to flesh out the particulars, but I envisioned specific potential drawbacks associated with casting spells in each manner (i.e. if separated from one's familiar or when not in physical contact with one's item, or against someone who knows one's truename). Also there would be rules for replacing one's familiar or crafting a new bonded item.

It never got beyond the nebulous stage described above, but I'm hoping that maybe even that unformed idea will help.

-Dave

 

[GuardianLurker]

Quite simple: By using the ancient and traditional rite, an Arcane spellcaster gains additional abilities or enhancements he otherwise wouldn't possess.

Divine casters don't have familiars because the maigical bond (which is soul-based) intrudes on their connection to their deity.

 

[Stalker0]

Well for wizards its simple... nasty old spellbooks get nasty old rats!!

 

[Beholder Bob]

I'm leaning towards #2 & 3, with the addition that the initial draw of the familiar occurs at puberty. Once a familiar dies, the owner undergoes another year of puberty - mentally, not physically, as the owner must re-develop the portion of himself he just lost. This typically results in a permanent mild change in personality, though in some cases it is much more severe. The new familiar matches the new personality.

Why replace what is lost, if just 'overflow'? Well, a caster w/out a familiar sheds his excess or overflow, losing the least essential and functions fine. A caster w/ a familiar, though, is not filling the additional vessel (familiar) with his least essential traits, rather a random mix of himself. This essence does not include his mind or memory - just portions of his soul and self identity. So you lose XP and undergo a period of re-adjustment, you need to re-find yourself. The self you find will not always be the 'self' your friends knew...

A caster who dismisses his familiar can re-adjust himself in preparation, temporarily (it takes effort, only lasts a short while) sorting himself so that only the least essential is lost when the familiar is dismissed. He still loses the XP, but does not lose nor alter personality traits.

As to option 4) too boring.
as to option 5) possible - but couldn't any arcane caster then acquire a familiar?
As to option 1) too vague - though I could try to give it more definition.

As to note X) in this 'plane' of existence, the trail from master to wizard is obvious.

DaveStebbins: the old dm guide picture of the fellow holding the wizards familiar 'make a move & the familiar gets it' holds true to your model - Yikes! I like the concept.