Chicken Familiar?!

[Grundle]

Alright, kind of silly I know, but one of the players in my new game wants a chicken as a familiar - and no I don't mean a scaredy cat!

As a DM, I'm open to anything that doesn't overpower the game. So what granted powers, abilities, and stats would you give a Sorceror's chicken familiar?

 

[Drawmack]

hide, move silently

 

[der_kluge]

I'd be inclined to lower his Int by 4.

Special Powers: tastes good deep fried w/country gravy.

I don't know so much about hide and move silently. Chickens aren't known for their grace and cunning.

They're known for being incredibly stupid, but not much else.

I'd ask the player what kinds of powers they think they should get for having a chicken. As a DM, if a player asked me for one, first off, I'd try to talk them out of it, and then secondly, I'd want to know why. And then lastly, what kind of powers they'd expect to receive.

 

[MerakSpielman]

He can remain conscious and act normally up to -10 hp. (Chicken with its head cut off), though he still bleeds every turn.

 

[cptg1481]

Ahhhh, Chickens....

I hate chickens personally, fried or otherwise, however, I think that there are a few old addages that have promise.

"Running around like a chicken with one's head off" brings to mind a thought.

On the up-side, How about the ability to cast more than one spell of the same level once per day as a standard action, however, the two spells are selected are randomly fired from those the caster has memorized.

It higlights the quickness implied in the statement and the randomness associated with loosing one's head.

I'll think of a few more later....there are viable abilities here I just need to think (not my strong suit).

 

[MerakSpielman]

Or a supernatural ability:

Percieved as Insignificant (Su): If you have yet to do anything hostile in combat, opponents must make a will save DC 12+level or dismiss you as insignificant, ignoring you completely.

 

[Gez]

Alright, kind of silly I know, but one of the players in my new game wants a chicken as a familiar - and no I don't mean a scaredy cat!

As a DM, I'm open to anything that doesn't overpower the game. So what granted powers, abilities, and stats would you give a Sorceror's chicken familiar?

Chicken have a reputation of stupidity; although they're not as stupid as they are said to.

That said, they still aren't much bright. I would give them a -1 Int penalty compared to what they should have given their level (so, if you're of a level that makes your familiar's Int be 10, it'll only have 9). As a granted power to its master, I would give feather fall for free once per day (the first time that day the master make a fall of 15 ft. or more).

 

[MerakSpielman]

is a chicken really any dumber than a toad? Let's not penalize his intelligence here. I don't think any familiars give penalties.

 

[Nifft]

IMC, I use the PsiCrystal Personality table and let any Familiar have any personality -- and therefore give the appropriate bonus. Familiars can be any Tiny or smaller animal, and Small animals with DM approval (like dogs or eagles).

Here are the available Personalities:

Artiste: Owner gains +2 bonus on Craft checks.
Bully: Owner gains +2 bonus on Intimidate checks.
Coward: Owner gains +2 bonus on Hide checks.
Friendly: Owner gains +2 bonus on Diplomacy checks.
Hero: Owner gains +2 bonus on Fortitude saves.
Liar: Owner gains +2 bonus on Bluff checks.
Meticulous: Owner gains +2 bonus on Search checks.
Observant: Owner gains +2 bonus on Spot checks.
Poised: Owner gains +2 bonus on Balance checks.
Resolve: Owner gains +2 bonus on Will checks.
Sage: Owner gains +2 bonus on any one Knowledge skill he already knows; once chosen, this does not vary.
Singleminded: Owner gains +1 bonus on Concentration checks.
Sneak: Owner gains +2 bonus on Move Silently checks.
Sympathetic: Owner gains +2 bonus on Sense Motive checks.

-- Nifft

 

[Albert_Fish]

I agree with Gez. The moment i saw this i thoguht "feather fall" Throw a chicken off the roof of the hen-house to see this spell in action.
Mobility might be good...ever try to catch a chicken? They turn on a dime.
Maybe "leap of the clouds" their wings allow them to "jump" pretty far ( thoughi imagine the wizard might look stupid as he flaps his arms).
If the familiar is a rooster how aboutthe ability to turn undead that are effected by Sunlight ( a common line from fairy tales is that the third crow of the and the vampire/monster dies).