Familiars and touch spells

[Shadeus]

I'm starting a new character soon and he'll probably be a wizard. I've never actually had a wizard the summoned a familiar, so I wanted to make sure I got this correct. The 3rd-level familiar ability to touch allows the wizard to cast the spell and the familiar to deliver it, right?

For example, a 3rd-level wizard has a raven as a familar. She casts shocking grasp and sends Nevermore (the cliched raven name) to go zap some orc 40' away.

But ravens are tiny and have a reach of 0. Because of this, don't they draw an AoO from creatures they attack?

If that's the case, how is this ability at all useful? Why would you risk getting your familiar killed (and losing 300 xp in this case) for a lousy touch attack?

Thanks for your help.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Wait until 5th-level.

Cast Invisibility on the familiar. Have the familiar carry a Vampiric Touch spell to the target.

Even that might not work, since they draw an AoO for moving away.

If you wait until 7th-level, you can cast Improved Invisibility on the familiar. There's almost no chance it will miss.

 

[Garmorn]

During low levels have your familar deliver spells to party members. There are a few short ranged or touch spells that are usefull to the party. I don't have my books on hand to give examples, but I belive Cat's Grace and Magic weapon are either touch or very short range. Using your familiar to deliver them during combat extend the range you can stay back.

This ability is very good for Wizard/Cleric types. It is one of the main reason that a Wizard/Cleric is of any use at all as far as I have been able to figure out.

 

[0-hr]

I've placed a "Heal" on my macaw and then waded into melee, knowing that she would be ready to deliver it to whomever needed it when the time arose.

It's important to keep in mind that the familiar is really just "holding the charge" on that touch spell. You can't cast any other spells without that one going away.

 

[Mr.Binx]

For a combat wizard specializing in melee touch spells I'd take the Improved Familiar feat from Tome & Blood at 7th level+ you can choose a small air elemental as your familiar (fly 100ft perfect maneuverability, 5ft.x5ft./5ft. face/reach) and take all the familiar buff spells in T&B (except Familiar Pocket since a small creature won't fit in it) to have a fairly well protected little dude to deliver your touch spells. Otherwise, as long as you're not barred from necromantic spells, you could just take the 2nd level Spectral Hand for touch attacks that you could later on use to create a magic item to do the same.

 

[Shadeus]

Hmm, so unless I use more spells on my familiar, or use a feat, basically its too risky. Maybe that toad with the +2 to Con isn't such a bad choice after all.

Thanks for the input everyone.