Familiars: Does EVERYONE take the toad?

[Zogg]

I'm just wondering. Every person that puts out there character and is like: look at this! usually takes a level of sorc/wiz so they can get the toad familar (+2 CON). I mean that is just lame.

And realistically, toads wouldn't be very good familiars. They need to be wet most of the time, they make a lot of noise and are terrible scouts unless you happen to be near a swamp. I think that taking a toad familiar should also give you -2 CHA due to the warts you would get. THAT will teach those munchkins.

 

[Grishnak]

I've played as a wizard and I didn't take the toad. My choice was a weasel as it made a brilliant scout. Currently I'm playing with a group with a wizard and sorcerer and both have taken a toad and a players previous char also had a toad but he used his as a good roleplaying thing as his character was unhinged

 

[Crothian]

I've to see anyone take the toad. I've seen weasel, owl and rat as the most common.

 

[diaglo]

i've seen bat, cat, rat, owl, hawk, fox, and toad.

edit: forgot Pop the weasel.

an old DM also gave one wizard a tressym. but that was a munchkins paradise campaign.

 

[sithramir]

toad

Every campaign wizard I've DM'ed has actually chosen toad. So yeah I see a lot of this. (actually i lied a thief/wizard mix took a hawk or something) but anyways, I always say "where are you keeping the toad?" and then take them into the desert or something and make sure to hit them with fireballs etc so they learn that saying you ahve a toad in your pocket all day doesn't work just to get a munchkin 2con.

 

[BigFreekinGoblinoid]

Haven't seen a Toad yet. Not even an NPC...

I can see why you would think so though, that +2 CON is pretty appealing to get that extra HP. Maybe you just play with a bunch of power-gamers...

 

[EricNoah]

I always take the toad. Every time I've played a wizard!

Granted, I've only played one wizard, but still....

PS you probably won't be thrilled to hear that I also took Energy Substitution (Sonic) for this toad-wielding half-orc evocation specialist wizard.

 

[Garmorn]

First toad don't like being wet, thats frogs.

Now for something OT. My favorite familiar was a humming bird. It small size and speed made it excellent for delivering touch spells to friend and foe alike.

Other familiars are better then the toad. +2 to con is not all that great when compared to benifits availiable from other familiars.

 

[Tsyr]

Never. And wizards/sorcs are my favorite classes of the standard lot.

I much prefer a bird of some sort... Depending on how much the DM is willing to allow, Ravens, Crows, Owls, and Hawks have all been great familiars for me. I even had a chickadee one time (For a gnome).

 

[jaerdaph]

I usually take the cat, preferably black.

I've never taken the toad, and I've never licked one either.