Familiar: Monkey

[Lord Pendragon]

Well, for starters, do you honestly see a Dragon with levels of Wizard flying around with a Toad on his shoulder? Dire Toad, maybe. But if I'm going to do something that wicked to my PC's, he's going to have something sweet, like a Hell Hound/Blink Dog hybrid, or maybe a Rogue/Blackgaurd/Shadowdancer. Ooo, I'm inspired.

No, I don't. But I also don't see why a dragon with 15 levels of wizard should be able to do something that a human with 15 levels of wizard can't. His race doesn't factor into the Call Familiar ability. So either the dragon takes a toad, or he foregos having a familiar.

Pax raises a good point regarding epic spellcasters. Perhaps there could be a whole line of feats. "Greater Improved Familiar," "Epic Familiar," "Improved Epic Familiar," etc. But I still find it hard to believe that there is enough demand for such things to warrant additional rulesets.

*shrug* Perhaps I misjudged the demand.

 

[Pax]

No, I don't. But I also don't see why a dragon with 15 levels of wizard should be able to do something that a human with 15 levels of wizard can't. His race doesn't factor into the Call Familiar ability. So either the dragon takes a toad, or he foregos having a familiar.

One [Monstrous] feat added to the mix (and it's own chain of Improved/Epic/etc), and maybe the base CR of the Wizard or Sorceror in question WOULD become a factor. Say ... "Monstrous Familiar" (Prerequisite: member of a race with a Level Adjustment of +1 or more, and/or 2+ HD not gained from class levels; spellcaster level 1+; class ability to summon a familiar).

 

[jaldaen]

Is this serious? In what kind of game would a CR13 familiar be appropriate?

It is indeed serious, but also expensive in terms of gold, XP, feats, spell slots... and hidden costs... afterall when you have a beholder for a familiar (ever see Big Trouble in Little China?) there is a good chance it might become the focus of your enemies... and with only 1/2 your hit points... the beholder is not going to be able to take much damage from the 17 CR+ foes you will probably be facing once you attain the ability to summon it...

Good Gaming!
Joseph

PS: As for the demand I know of a lot of gamers who have wanted to expand what familiars can do and that is exactly what EA:Familiars does and in spades... but not without its ante and gambles ;-)