Exchange Summon Familiar for a magic-related feat

[JoeBlank]

Seems fair to me, but wanted to see if others agreed: Why not allow Wizards and Sorcerers to exchange Summon Familiar for a magic-related feat?

I have heard some say that simply having a familiar is balanced, in that it costs 100 gp and includes a high risk factor, but I don't agree. It is still an advantage to have a familiar over not having one. In fact, the same can be said of item creation feats. The feat just allows the caster to spend money and XP to create an item, which can them be lost or destroyed.

But familiars simply don't fit some characters, and it would be nice if those characters could instead pick a metamagic feat, or spell focus, etc.

Bonus question, I am tempted to give Sorcerers bonus feats at 5th, 10th and 15th, just like Wizards. Thoughts on this?

 

[totoro]

Seems fair to me, but wanted to see if others agreed: Why not allow Wizards and Sorcerers to exchange Summon Familiar for a magic-related feat?

I have heard some say that simply having a familiar is balanced, in that it costs 100 gp and includes a high risk factor, but I don't agree. It is still an advantage to have a familiar over not having one. In fact, the same can be said of item creation feats. The feat just allows the caster to spend money and XP to create an item, which can them be lost or destroyed.

But familiars simply don't fit some characters, and it would be nice if those characters could instead pick a metamagic feat, or spell focus, etc.

Bonus question, I am tempted to give Sorcerers bonus feats at 5th, 10th and 15th, just like Wizards. Thoughts on this?

My group allows wizards to swap out the familiar for a meta-magic feat. It works just fine.

We also got rid of the familiars for sorcerers and just treat them as +1 level for the purposes of spell slots/spells known (now wizards and sorcerers of the same level have access to the same level of spells). And sorcerers can pick the familiar up as a feat. However, we don't give bonus feats.

The players of my group (including myself) think a familiar is more valuable than a feat and that taking a meta-magic feat instead is a roleplaying choice, not a powergaming choice. It would be better to get a familiar, IMO.

 

[Cloudgatherer]

I ended up trading in the Familiar ability for two feats with my most recent character, one at 1st, the other at 11th. Seems to be working out alright.

 

[Technik4]

Trading Familiar for a feat is a good trade, good as in not-overpowered, but in some games, about equal.

As far as giving the Sor metamagic feats every 5 levels you are opening a whole bag of worms.

Part of the balance between the wizard and the sorceror is done on a wealth basis (I admit, a poor way to balance classes). To make an effective wizard, it is usually important to have a stocked spell-book or 2. The rules make it very pricey to write into spell-books. Sorcerors do not have this limitation. Hence, a sorceror of any level should have more gold to spend on items than a wizard.

By giving sorcerors the feats, you are tipping the balance towards sorcerors, which can be a fine thing if, for instance, you've never seen anyone try and play one. Just be aware that many people consider the classes balanced with regards to each other right now, the biggest problem with the sorceror is her lack of flavor and options (other than picking spells).

Technik

 

[Merlion]

The familiar/magic feat swapping sounds like a good idea. As you said it has good RP value.
I dont see a problem with bonus feats for sorcerers. I personaly feel wizards have the advantage over sorcerers as things stand in the PH.
I plan on using the Monte Cook sorcerer in the campaign I am going to run. Bonus feats for that one might be a bit much but its hard to say.

 

[Greybar]

Ditto. Gave the wizard another wizard-feat instead for my group. Encourages getting away from the "everyone has a pet" feel that it seems like sometimes - mount, companion, familiar, bleh.

John