buzz said:
I think we can assume that the familiar is not going to be in a situation that risks its life unless the Sor/Wiz is actually on an adventure and earning XP, ergo, they will be affected by the XP loss. (Unless the DM just declares that it gets run over by a cart, in which case you've got bigger problems than worrying about familiars being balanced.) If the intent was as you state, I'd think it'd be an option the Sor/Wiz gained at 2nd level, not first.
XP is generaly awarded at the end of sesions / when party is back somewhere safe, not while the foes bodies are still cooling. The XP whack happens at the moment of ther familiar's death, long before the XP award would happen and thus the XP hit could happen while the caster is still at 0 xp.
A party can scores 400 GP a while before the hit level 2, thus the wizard has 100 gp to spend a while before second level. If the player, party and game is conducive to having a familiar, there is no need to delay the familiar any longer.
Familiars just seem like one of those iconic aspects of the two classes to me, ergo, I don't see the purpose of the nominal cost. Druids (and somewhat similarly, rangers and paladins) don't have to pay gold for their signature animals; why should the Sor/Wiz?
I believe it is expected druids and rangers use those animals for front line and meat shields. I too find it odd the classes that are expected to revere nature can treat their pets worse than arcanists who are usually viewed as the most morally dubious classes other than evil clerics. But look what D&D does to the Wizard’s Staff; a fancy battery other than a couple artifacts. The Dragon magazine article from last November was the first time I had ever seen staves get the respect they deserved. Though being that the xp loss was 5 times worse than familiar death, it still has some issues.
If it's really optional, give me another option, and make both options more appealing.
The core familiar has plenty of appeal, what better way can a player say to the DM,
”I am willing to bet 100 xp a level, save for half, that your adventure is so easy, a tiny animal could survive it.”
Joking aside, I would more or less agree if wotc publishes a ‘free” upgrade to the familiar, that would make the other ”drop your familiar” options balanced in comparison. Maybe slide the XP hit over to the druid’s animal companion.
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