Familiar Skills

[Nareau]

PHB, 51:
Familiars
Skills: Use the normal skills for an animal of that type or the master's, whichever are better.

So, does that mean that my weasel familiar is as well-versed in the intricacies of local history as I am? Can he aid me on Alchemy checks? Can he make Spellcraft rolls?

And does it mean that my familiar has 9 ranks in Alchemy? Or does he gets to use my actual skill modifier (his Int is 8, mine is 18. Does he get a +8 or a +13 on his Alchemy checks?)

 

[Lord Pendragon]

The familiar has your ranks in a skill, modified by its own ability score. It is capable of using any skill you possess which it can actually physically perform.

So the mage's toad can make a Spellcraft check no problem, but it cannot take advantage of the mage's ranks in Ride.

If you have Knowledge: Local History, then yes, the familiar has access to all the knowledge you do. It's lower intelligence means it may not understand that knowledge as well as you do, but it does have the knowledge to draw on.

Pretty neat, huh?