Familiar - Tough encounter?

[RolandOfGilead]

Regarding uses per day on the SLA:

You are correct sir, I was aware of it, but hadn't decided how to split the spells yet so I listed them as I did. hehe. Hoping someone would help me decide how to split them up. I was thinking of mage armor and false life twice each, but I think I'll go mage armor 1/day ray of enfeeblement 3/day false life 2/day scorching ray 2/day and then one of everything else.

Or perhaps an entirely alternate spell selection:
Chill touch x2, ray of enfeeblement x2
False life x3, Spectral hand x1
Vampire Touch x1, Greater mage armor x1
Enervation x1, animate dead x1
for a real necromancer effect. hehe.

 

[RolandOfGilead]

Eolin,

Stitched flesh familiar (which makes your familiar undead) is found in Libris Mortis, the book of the undead.

Spellstitched template (which can only be applied to undead) is found in Complete Arcane.

 

[Eolin]

I think I'm going to have to use those feats for my favorite necromancer.

 

[fafhrd]

Not sure how to rate it in terms of CR but the concept Rawks.
I love it and want to use it. Even if the DC on fireball is weak sounds like he can do a ground zero blast if he gets mobbed. With improved evasion he's very likely to get out unscathed and do some damage to his foes. Good stuff.

 

[LostSoul]

Do you think its cool though? hehe. a nasty nasty familiar.

I think it's bloody cool. I like the idea of a town run by a raven. He can hang out in the town's bell tower and watch the PCs run around and try and figure out who runs this place. (I guess it could be in the church, but the church wouldn't be consecrated or hallowed or whatever.)

 

[RolandOfGilead]

Any further suggestions to spice up this encounter? I've decided it gets a brooch of shielding and a permanent "rary's telepathic bond" With its master.. but the master does not show up to reinforce the creature. The bond is simply for direct input on how to proceed if a problem arises, or to request reinforcements in the form of undead from the master's lair.

 

[Saeviomagy]

Any further suggestions to spice up this encounter? I've decided it gets a brooch of shielding and a permanent "rary's telepathic bond" With its master.. but the master does not show up to reinforce the creature. The bond is simply for direct input on how to proceed if a problem arises, or to request reinforcements in the form of undead from the master's lair.

I'd expect it to die in a single round against a 10th level party, without doing any appreciable damage.

Having said that, if it stays hidden and uses it's spells effectively, it could potentially be as effective as a well played and built 8th level sorceror.

So - Cr 8.

 

[RolandOfGilead]

Sav,

Coincidentaly, the party is 8th level. Also, the Raven actually has a lieutenant, a Barbarian2/ranger4/blackguard3. so it should pose a tough encounter.. they'll wind up hating the familiar more than the blackguard, I think. hehe. thanks for the input!

Any recommendations on the type/number of undead he should have animated at his lair?
Zombie ogres? Skeletal kobolds? he has 48hd worth of undead at his disposal.

 

[innis]

i wouldn't be surprised if i end up making an ass of myself, but wouldnt the familiar's CR be negilgible due to the fact that he is part of the master's capabilities and thus part of the master's CR?

how to make the situation more challenging. hmmm...what about the spell warped template? i made some spell warped mummy ogres in an old campaign that presented an interesting challenge for the P.C.s. they were protected from fire, of course. an unhallow tied to the battlefield could be good too, depending on the spell tied to it.

 

[blargney the second]

Zombie kobold weresharks? Worked for me...