Familiar Improvements

[trebaut]

Sorry if this has been posted before, but I presently can't search the site. I recall at some point seeing a list of options to improve ones familiar through XP sacrifice, but I can't seem to recall where I saw it. I was hoping someone here might be able to point me in the right direction? I know they weren't feats because they did have specific XP costs attached. It had things such as wings, breath weapon etc. I hope to hear back!

~Trebaut

 

[nijineko]

there are various spells for improvements, as well as various things in dragon. grafting might be an option too.

 

[trebaut]

I have no idea for the life of me where I saw the last and I have so many books I can't look through them all. I may just have to look into some graft options. Such is life I suppose. ^_^;

 

[nijineko]

here is one useful source, updated and rehosted from the wotc boards.

http://dictummortuum.blogspot.com/2011/08/familiars-handbook.html

 

[Empirate]

For a grafted familiar, look into the Fleshwarper PrC (which isn't half bad in other regards, although a little...twisted). Grafting your familiar with some massively beneficial options is one of the scaling class features of that one. Be sure to pick up Improved Familiar first, though.

 

[JohnSmith]

Old Spells for Familiar Improvements from Dragon Magazine

I had converted these for 3.5 from an old Dragon Mag

Familiar Enhancer I to VIII
Transmutation,Enchantment
Level: Sor/Wiz 2to 9
Components: V, S,M
Casting Time: 72 hours
Range: 10 ft.
Target,Effect or Area: caster’s familiar
Duration: permanent
Saving throw: none
Spell Resistance: no
This series of related enhancements are not true spells. Instead they are
special processes developed by the wizard and keyed to a type of familiar
(cat,toad, weasel,etc).
The wizard must research the process to enhance his type of familiar;
each enhancement from I to VIII,is researched as a spell of the next higher
level(familiar enhancer I is researched as a 2nd level spell,etc) according
to the DMG rules for spell research. No enhancer level can be skipped; a
familiar cannot receive familiar enhancer III until it has received familiar
enhancer II,and so on. Special familiars (imp,quasit,etc) cannot be
enhanced. For the purpose of their special powers,the spellcasting ability
of the familiar is equal to the wizard.
As the enhancement of the familiar continues,the familiar should develop a personality that seems almost human,displaying specific traits,
likes,dislikes,opinions habits and foibles (DMG 3.5table 4-24 or 2e table
70may prove useful). Its animal qualities also develop as its personality
matures.
A black cat might develop discriminating and expensive tastes in food and
creature comfort; a crow might become a collector of gaudy gemstones
and jewelry; and an otter might develop a frolicsome personality combining a short attention span for serious matters with a love for playful
pranks. The familiar takes on some of the alignment view and attitudes of
its wizard,though leaning toward the neutral alignment,a holdover from
its simple animal origin, will always remain.
The familiar may tend to become more of an independent NPC as it is
enhanced. The DM should carefully consider if relaxing the dependency on
the wizard will improve the campaign play.

Familiar enhancer I
Level: Sor/Wiz 2
The familiar’s intellect improves when this spell is cast, rising into the
low intelligence range of 4+1d3. The familiar can now think in the wizard’s
native tongue and can communicate in words and simple sentences with its
wizard though the empathic link they share. The familiar gains one special
power from Table I (below). Unless otherwise noted (or obvious), the
familiar spell abilities affect only the familiar.

Familiar enhancer II
Level: Sor/Wiz 3
The casting of this enhancer causes the familiar’s intelligence to rise into
the average range of 7+1d3. the familiar can now learn to communicate in
other languages with patient tutoring by the wizard, up to the maximum
number of languages permitted by the familiar’s intelligence. the wizard’s
native tongue, however, remains the language in which the familiar communicates with those of its own species. The acquisition of certain special
powers may enable a familiar to learn languages from someone other
than its wizard. The familiar gains one more special power with the
casting of this spell, as determined by a dice roll.
1d100Special power
01-80 One from Table I (below)
87-00 One from Table II (below)

Familiar enhancer III
Level: Sor/Wiz 4
The familiar’s intellect improves yet again into the very intelligent
range of intelligence of 10+1d2. The familiar can now he tutored lo read
languages as well as communicate them through the empathic link with its
wizard. The Familiar also acquires another special power as decided by
dice roll.
1d100 Special power
01-60 One from Table I
61-00 One from Table II

Familiar enhancer IV
Level: Sor/Wiz 5
(From familiar enhancer IV through enhancer VIII, an intelligence gain is
no longer automatic. However, one or more special powers are obtained
with each enhancer version cast, as noted.)
1d100 Special power
01-30 One from Table I
31-80 One from Table II
81-00 One from Table III

Familiar enhancer V
Level: Sor/Wiz 6
(From familiar enhancer IV through enhancer VIII, an intelligence gain is
no longer automatic. However, one or more special powers are obtained
with each enhancer version cast, as noted.)
1d100 Special power
01-20 Two from Table I
21-40 Two from Table II
41-80 One from Table III
81-00 One from Table IV

Familiar enhancer VI
Level: Sor/Wiz 7
(From familiar enhancer IV through enhancer VIII, an intelligence gain is
no longer automatic. However, one or more special powers are obtained
with each enhancer version cast, as noted.)
1d100 Special power
01-20 Two from Table II
21-50 One from Table III
51-80 One from Table IV
81-00 One from Table V

Familiar enhancer VII
Level: Sor/Wiz 8
(From familiar enhancer IV through enhancer VIII, an intelligence gain is
no longer automatic. However, one or more special powers are obtained
with each enhancer version cast, as noted.)
1d100 Special power
01-30 One from Table III
31-70 One from Table IV
71-00 One from Table V

Familiar enhancer VIII
Level: Sor/Wiz 9
(From familiar enhancer IV through enhancer VIII, an intelligence gain is
no longer automatic. However, one or more special powers are obtained
with each enhancer version cast, as noted.)
1d100 Special power
01-20 Two from Table III
21-50 One from Table IV
51-00 One from Table V

Tables Description

Tables I-V describe the special powers that the familiar enhancer spells
can bestow upon familiars. Spell-like powers are assumed to have the same
characteristics as the wizard spells of the same name. Where the power
mimics the effects of a spell, the familiar is treated as being equal in
experience level to its wizard when determining the range, area of effect,
duration, or other aspects of the power, unless otherwise noted. These
powers, unlike spells, are used by the familiar only; they cannot be placed
or cast upon others. Most familiar powers are limited in the number of
times per day or week they can be used, while a few are permanent
benefits usable all the time. A familiar should develop new capabilities
gradually, not in dramatic leaps in power level A familiar should not jump
suddenly from intelligence 12 to intelligence 18, but should see its intelligence rise in modest steps.
A black cat familiar should be able to speak with other felines before
learning to speak with all mammals and ultimately with all animals. Similar
powers gained in succession should not be stacked atop one another but
should supplant lesser powers.
The black cat’s ability to speak with other felines is replaced by the ability to speak with mammals, which is in turn replaced by the power to speak
with all animals. This keeps a familiar from retaining lesser redundant
powers as its abilities progress upward. Specialist wizards can cause
problems where familiars are concerned.
Since abjurers cannot learn Transmutation spells and invokers and
necromancers can never acquire enchantment spells, one or more of
these specialists may be prevented from using spells of the familiar
enhancer series.
Diviners and invokers, prohibited from using conjuration/summoning
spells, cannot even learn find familiar: to encourage greater involvement
of familiars in play, the DM might bend the rules and exempt these spells
from the usual prohibitions, permitting any specialist the chance to boast
of having a kindly-or cruel-animal companion.
The DM can still forbid a familiar from gaining powers that too closely
resemble those from a school of magic its wizard is barred from learning.
A gnome illusionist’s ferret familiar, for instance, would never receive
any abjuration powers, in which case this ferret lacking such useful
protective powers deserves special care when the DM assigns it powers if
the animal is to survive the campaign’s many perils. Magical items, too,
can help familiars play a more active role and can protect familiars from
a hostile world, so the DM might consider adding a leg band of protection
+2, a falcon hood of regeneration, or a collar bell of opening to an adventure’s treasure hoard. The DM should review what special steps can be
taken to better involve familiars at all levels of play. An animal companion
that can hold its own in a grueling campaign will make for more
memorable adventures, well worth the DM’s extra work.

[Further information on familiars can be found in the following articles:
“A Cast of Strange Familiars,” in DRAGON issue #84 (minor correction
appears in issue #85, page 4); “Familiars with a Special Use,” in issue #86;
“Dragons are Wizards ’Best Friends,” in issue #146; and “Getting Familiar,”
in issue #l47.]

Tables to follow

 

[JohnSmith]

Old Spells for Familiar Improvements from Dragon Magazine

Table I
1D100 Special Power
01-05 The familiar can call into existence and control one glowing sphere of
light, as described under the spell, dancing lights. This power can be used twice
per day, each use having a duration of two rounds per level of the familiar’s
wizard.
06-20 The familiar can detect magic twice per day. While the familiar can
judge the intensity of magic detected, it cannot discern the type of magic noted,
as familiars are generally unschooled in the many varieties of magic.
21-25 The familiar can use feather fall twice each day.
26-30 The familiar can jump (per Jump spell) up to three times per day. Each jump has
a duration of only one round.
31-40 The familiar can pass without trace once per day with a duration of five
rounds per level of the familiar’s wizard.
41-60 The familiar can use protection from evil on itself if the familiar’s wizard is
not evil in alignment or protection from good if its wizard is evil. This power can be used
once per day with a duration of two rounds per level of the familiar’s wizard.
61-75 The familiar can speak with animals (as per the priest spell) twice per day,
provided that the animal spoken with is of the same general family as the familiar. A black
cat could speak with any feline, an owl or hawk could speak with any bird of prey, a toad
could chat with any other toad-like amphibian, and so on. (I know this stretches true
taxonomic classification, but let’s not nit-pick.) The familiar can question and gain answers
from an animal spoken with, but it cannot obtain a favor or exact some service, because
this power confers no magical influence over the animal.
76-80 The familiar can spider climb once per day.
81-95 The familiar can call upon the aid of an unseen servant. An unseen servant can
be summoned no more than once each day and will serve the familiar for up to three
turns plus one turn per level of the familiar’s wizard.
96-00 The familiar can detect one type of metal, mineral, vegetable, or other
substance, such as gold, iron, coal, diamond, catnip, wild berries, or eucalyptus (as the DM
chooses). The familiar detects the substance if it is within a 30’radius of the familiar. This
power can be used three times per day, with each use lasting one turn. At the DM’s option,
the familiar may develop an obsessive interest in the given substance. The familiar may
desire to collect the substance to the exclusion of other materials or forms of wealth,
and may search for the substance it covets at inopportune times.

Table II
1D100 Special Power
01-10 The familiar can use blur on itself once per day.
11-20 The familiar can affect its appearance in a way similar to the
spell disguise self. The familiar can change its appearance with regard to
its fur, feather, or skin color, can mold body features in subtle ways, or
can alter its size by up to 25%, but it must retain its own essential animal
form. A black cat familiar might make itself look like a smaller Siamese cat
or a larger wild cat. A screech owl might conceal its species by changing
the color of its feathers or the shape of its head. A weasel might give itself
snow white fur to blend in with a winter environment or dark fur to be
less conspicuous at night. This power can be used once per day.
21-25 The familiar can use comprehend languages once per day. This
power does not permit the familiar to read a written message unless the
familiar has at least an intelligence of 10.
26-35 The familiar can detect evil once per day.
36-45 The familiar can detect invisibility once each day.
46-50 The familiar can grease a surface once per day.
51-60 The familiar can use the power of protection from cantrips on
itself once per day, with a maximum duration of 24 hours. This confers
immunity to 0 level spells.
61-75 The familiar can speak with animals of the same biological class
as the familiar twice per day. A cat or weasel familiar could speak with
any mammal, a toad with any amphibian, a hawk or owl with any bird, or a
snake with any reptile. This power, again, confers no magical influence
over the behavior of the animal spoken with.
76-80 The familiar gains the power to detect all concealed or secret
doors within a 10-yard radius about the familiar for a period of one
round, similar in function to the wand of secret door and trap location
except that traps cannot be located. The familiar can use this power twice
per day.
81-85 The familiar becomes endowed with a keen sense of direction,
enabling it to identify true north with a 90% chance of accuracy. This
power can be used any number of times. If the familiar incorrectly identifies south, east, or west as north, roll1d6 to find the wrongly identified
direction: 1-2 is south, 3-4 is east, 5-6 is west, on a failed 1d100 roll even
once, the familiar will continue to identify the wrong direction as north
for the rest of the day.
86-00 The familiar becomes able to blend in with its surroundings
with a 90% chance of success as if the familiar were wearing a ring of
chameleon power. The familiar, however, is unable to mimic the
appearance of another living creature as detailed under the ring’s second
function. This ability can be used once per day with a duration of two
rounds per level of the familiar’s wizard. This confers +10 enhancement
bonus to hide checks.

 

[JohnSmith]

Old Spells for Familiar Improvements from Dragon Magazine

Table III
1D100 Special Power
01-10 Once per day, the familiar can change its appearance in a
manner similar to the effect of the spell alter self. The familiar can
assume the form of only those animals the DM permits to become familiars in the campaign. A crow familiar might choose to appear as a cat,
owl, or toad, but not as a minimal, hyena, or imp if the DM forbids these
creatures from becoming familiars.
11-20 The familiar can charm animals, as described under the druid
spell, charm animal, once per week, provided the animal to be swayed is of
the same general family as the familiar. A black cat familiar could charm a
fellow feline but not a canine or rodent. Up to 1 HD of animals for every
two levels of the familiar’s wizard can be charmed, so a hawk familiar to
a 10th-levelwizard could affect up to 5 HD of birds of prey. The charmed
animals will be under the familiar’s influence for one turn per level of the
familiar’s wizard.
21-25 Once per day, the familiar can fly by sprouting a pair of wings
from its back, gaining all the flight capabilities bestowed by the spell. If the
familiar could already fly, its speed is increased by half again as much;
thus, 50 ft becomes 75 ft, and so on.
26-40 The familiar can either use the power of invisibility on itself,
50%, or use knock, 50%, once per day.
41-50 The familiar can create mirror images of itself once per day.
51-65 The familiar can speak with animals of any non-magical species
up to three times each day.
66-70 The familiar can use the power of water breathing on itself
once per week.
71-80 The familiar can locate the presence of any hostile creature
within a 90-feet radius, similar to the function of a wand of enemy detection. This sense can be employed once per day with a duration of one turn.
81-85 Twice per day for a duration of one round per use, the
familiar can detect any traps-but not secret or concealed doors- within a
30-feet radius sphere, comparable to the 2nd level Find traps cleric spell.
86-95 The familiar’s intellect is permanently raised into the highly
intelligent range of intelligence of 12 plus 1d2.
96-00 The familiar permanently acquires the ability to speak in a
normal human voice and can converse in any language that the familiar
knows.

Table IV
1D100 Special Power
01-10 The familiar can blink once per day.
11-20 The familiar can charm animals of the same biological class as
the familiar, as described under the charm power in Table III. A toad
familiar to a 14th level mage could charm up to 7 HD of fellow amphibian
creatures, while a weasel familiar could charm mammals. This power can
be used once per week with a duration of two turns per level of the
familiar’s wizard.
21-25 The familiar can delude others regarding its alignment once
per day. The new alignment assumed by the familiar can even come from a
creature of animal intelligence, so the familiar could assume the neutral
alignment of a common animal and conceal its status as a familiar.
26-35 Once per day, the familiar can use hold animal against creatures of the same general family as the familiar itself, as detailed under
the priest spell. A cat familiar could hold a pair of lions with this power
and a snake familiar could keep immobile 1d4 boa constrictors or cobras.
36-45 The familiar can use shrink item once per week only
inanimate, nonliving matter can be affected with this power. The familiar
cannot alter an object in the possession of another, nor can another
creature carry an object that was shrunk by the familiar, the spell is dispelled if the object is touched. The sole use for this power is to enable the
familiar to carry an object normally too large for the familiar’s size and
strength.
46-55 The familiar can use protection from arrows on itself once
per week.
56-65 Once per week, the familiar can summon animals of the same
species as the familiar, similar in effect to the spell summon nature’s ally
I. Up to one such animal for every two levels of the familiar’s wizard will
appear.
66-70 The familiar can use the power of tongues once per day, assuming the familiar is capable of human speech; if not, re-roll this ability.
71-80 The familiar can attain wraith form once per week.
81-85 If the familiar is capable of human speech, it can use the gift
of glibness as described under the potion of glibness or the Bard Spell. This
power can be used once per week with a duration of one round for every
level of the familiar’s wizard. If the familiar is not capable of human
speech, re-roll this ability.
86-95
The familiar’s intellect rises into the exceptionally intelligent
range with an intelligence of 14 plus 1d2. The familiar is also treated as if
having a wisdom of 15, so the familiar receives a +2 bonus to Will saving
throws.
96-00 The familiar gains the power to polymorph itself into a human
or demihuman form only one such form can be assumed by the familiar,
and the DM must decide the details of the familiar’s humanlike appearance, like; race, sex, height, weight, hair type, eye color, apparent
age, distinguishing features, when this power is bestowed. The familiar
retains its current hit-point total and innate intelligence when it polymorphs, but is otherwise treated as a normal person with AC 10, a base
land-movement rate normal for that race, and average values in all other
characteristics. After assuming the form of a person, the Familiar loses all
the special abilities and sensory powers of its animal form, such as the
hawk’s power of flight or the toad’s wide-angle vision. Because its enhanced
senses are lost when in the form of a person, the familiar no longer grants
its wizard the familiar Special bonus. The familiar can change into
humanlike form once per day and can maintain this form for two turns per
level of the familiar’s wizard.

Table V
1D100 Special Power
01-10 The familiar can charm any normal, non magical animal of any
biological class. Up to 1 HD of animals can be charmed for every two levels
of the familiar’s wizard. This power can be used once per week and
remains in effect for two turns per level of the familiar’s wizard.
11-20 The familiar can use the power to dimension door once per
week. Up to 200 lbs. of living or nonliving matter in the familiar’s grip,
claws, mouth, etc., can be transported along with it.
21-35 Once per day, the familiar can use hold animal against creatures of the same biological class as the familiar, as per the priest spell,
hold animal.
36-45 The familiar can attain a state of greater invisibility once per
day.
46-55 The familiar can use stoneskin once per month.
56-70 Once per week, the familiar can summon animals of the same
general family as the familiar in a fashion similar to the Summon Nature’s
Ally spell. No more than 1d6 animals will arrive to serve the familiar, and
each animal can possess no more than 3 HD. A black cat familiar could
summon cheetahs, for example, but not tigers.
71-75 Once per day, the familiar can use a limited form of telekinesis. The familiar can move a weight of up to 25 lbs. at a rate of 20 feet
per round for the duration of this power ,as per the spell,. The familiar
can telekinetically manipulate an object such as a rope, lever, or key, as
well. The familiar, however, can never expend all the power’s energy in a
single round as wizards can.
76-80 The familiar if capable of speech, gains vocal powers similar to
those conferred by the philter of persuasiveness. The familiar receives a
+5 bonus to reaction rolls ,assume the familiar has a charisma of 11 for
such rolls,. The familiar can also make one suggestion when this power is in
effect. This power can be called upon once per day with a duration of one
round per level of the familiar’s wizard. If the familiar is not capable of
speech, re-roll this ability.
81-90 The familiar attains a genius-level intellect of intelligence 16
plus 1d2. The familiar is also handled as if possessing a wisdom of 16, so
the familiar receives a +3 bonus to Will saving throws.
91-00 The familiar can polymorph itself into an animal of the same
general family as the familiar. The familiar gains the natural armor class
of the new form, along with the form’s physical movement rate and attack
routine. The size of the animal form assumed cannot exceed roughly 10
times the weight of the familiar’s normal form. A 15-lbs. black cat could
assume the form of, say, a 750-lb. leopard, but not that of a 600-lb. tiger.
The familiar retains its own hit points, attack rolls, saving throws, and
mental abilities in its new form, but cannot use any familiar special power
that is not a permanent endowment usable all the time only the form of a
natural animal can be assumed, not that of an unnatural monster. No
more than one animal form can he assumed for each use of this power.
This power can be employed once per week with a duration of one turn
per level of the familiar’s wizard.