Familiars and Spellcasting PrC's

[Dyne]

If I understand the rules correctly, the only levels that contribute to a familiar's abilities are Wizard and Sorcerer levels. Prestige Classes that increase arcane spellcasting don't do anything for familiars: one of the tradeoffs for multiclassing into the PrC.

Since PrC's have become so prevalent, there are few characters that don't pick up one or two (unless the DM bans them from the game). As such, it would seem like most arcane spellcasting characters wouldn't bother with familiars because they don't improve with their levels, and so aren't really worth thinking about.

Is there a single PrC out there that specifies it continues a familiar's advancement? How do you handle familiar advancement in your games? Heck, might as well add another one: how common are familiars in your games?

 

[Machiavelli]

Familiars stay in the casters' pockets/backpacks/bags where they provide Alertness and a small stat bonus. Those are their functions, nothing more.

(In my experience, at least)

 

[Thanael]

They can be scouts. Think about the skills that an Arcane Trickster's familiar gets.

 

[Musrum]

you are best off substituting out the wiz/sor familiar and picking up the Obtain Familiar Feat (CA pg 81) if you really want a pet...

 

[pallandrome]

I use mine as a sort of high-speed messenger and delivery system (shrink item is wonderful for this).

 

[mikebr99]

Familiars stay in the casters' pockets/backpacks/bags where they provide Alertness and a small stat bonus. Those are their functions, nothing more.

(In my experience, at least)

Where's the list of familiars that provide a stat bonus?

Mike

 

[Alpha Polaris]

you are best off substituting out the wiz/sor familiar and picking up the Obtain Familiar Feat (CA pg 81) if you really want a pet...

Especially true, since all arcane caster levels stack for the purpose of Obtain Familiar. It might be a sign that they should stack with the regular familiar, too. On a side note: nothing in the feat forbids you to take it if you already have a familiar.

 

[Pazu]

Is there a single PrC out there that specifies it continues a familiar's advancement?

I believe the Alienist (Complete Arcane) and Fleshwarper (Lords of Madness) both specify that they continue a familiar's advancement (as well as adding new familiar abilities on top of that).

ETA: Also, the Arcane Hierophant (Races of the Wild) kind of qualifies, by adding advancing familiar abilities to your animal companion.

 

[mikebr99]

You could forget about your familiar... and go for an Earth Elemental body guard via the bonded Summoner PrC in mini-handbook.

Mike

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Especially true, since all arcane caster levels stack for the purpose of Obtain Familiar. It might be a sign that they should stack with the regular familiar, too. On a side note: nothing in the feat forbids you to take it if you already have a familiar.

I think it's partially intended to give full advancement to someone who already has a familiar. I am thinking about picking it up. My speaks-Gnomish and flies familiar has been quite useful as a scout and a messenger.