Familiars: Does EVERYONE take the toad?

[Felon]

How does this add up?
Well, scouting seems a bit implausible,
Hopping large ravines is right out,
And transferring touch spells is rather difficult (unless you toss your toad)
Which in my mind adds up to +2 Con bonus.

Feh. Scouting is a non-issue to a power-gamer. Let the classes that are optimized for scouting scout.

Transferring touch spells? Considering how vulnerable familiars are, and how detrimental it is to have one die on you, I can see why many mages don't avail themselves of this particular aspect of a familiar.

I used to be quite irked that one of my fellow players tucked his toad into his pocket and just assumed that it was nigh-invulnerable at that point (just like an object that's on the player's person). But as time wore on, I grew unimpressed with wizards and sorcerers in general, NOT because of defiiciences with their spells (which is what so many folks are whinging about now with the upcoming 3.5e revision), but with the fact that arcane spellcasters get jack for abilities besides spells. Wors HP, worst BAB, low skill points, screwed on armor, and little to no other class features besides spellcasting--pound for pound in oh-so-many ways they stack up inadequately to a druid or clerics list of features. I figure, let'em have the stupid toad. Hell, I've considered letting wizards and sorcerers in my campaign have d6 hit dice anyway.

 

[Gez]

They are simply too rare and valuable to part with for mere gold.

The game wasn't designed this way - it makes spellcasters slightly weaker, and other classes a lot weaker. Sure, a DM can do it, but it means more work for them to keep things balanced.

Gni ?

 

[Shadowdancer]

No, I took the weasel.

 

[Sejs]

No, I took the weasel.

Ladies and Gentlemen... your daily dose of unintended sexual inuendo has arrived.

^_^

 

[Saeviomagy]

Of course if you're going to do the smart thing, and polymorph your familiar into something useful as soon as you hit 7th anyway, you may as well take the toad...

That or the raven (so he can activate magical items with his speech).

 

[Shard O'Glase]

I almost never take a familiar the only time I did it was a monkey dressed up in a ninja costume with a toy sword stapped to its back.

 

[Conaill]

I almost never take a familiar the only time I did it was a monkey dressed up in a ninja costume with a toy sword stapped to its back.

A kindred spirit! Mine wears a pirate hat and a tiny cutlass.

 

[Will]

Re: familiars and polymorph...

Yeah, I thought of this, too. one big problem with polymorph is you can only increase size by a level.

I was contemplating getting a toad familiar and polymorphing it into a Grig. Then I thought... 'toad's going to be annoyed he's partially what he likes to eat...' (cricket legs?)

There's another area where you want something like a raven. Could turn it into a gnome. Or something.

Personally, I prefer having a cohort to polymorph to a familiar. In the games I've been in, familiars have been marginal advantages. Some scouting is handy, I'll grant you. And there's the advantage of something that sticks around, unlike Summon Monster.

But, eh. I just don't like the way they are set up. Thankfully, I have, in one game, my wife, the cohort fighter. Who I polymorph into a bear. And wears full plate.

Yes, I paid 2x cost for bear plate mail.

An armored fighter bear is just too cool. Ok, actually, it sucks, due to magic item problems, but it looks cool.

 

[Pseudonym]

I've played two wizards in 3E. My first one acquired a pseudodragon at 7th level via the Improved Familiar feat. The other wizard never took a familiar, partly due that DM's penchant for targeting familiars, special mounts and animal companions for "special attention".

In the game I DM, there are two wizard PCs, one without a familiar, the other has an ice mephit.

I've never gamed with anyone who has taken a toad.

 

[TalonComics]

My wizard has a raccoon for a familiar which gives him a +2 to pick pocket.... Woooooo!

I pick familiars based on the personality of the wizard. I have yet to play a wizard who would have a toad.

~D