Familiars in your pocket

[silentspace]

If a character has a familiar in their pocket/bag/pack, and the character is attacked in melee, is there a chance that the familiar is hit?

 

[Ferox4]

That's a good question. I cannot recall seeing any guidelines for that. I'll dig around.......

 

[dcollins]

No, there are no rules for that. Similar to there being no allowance for breaking potion bottles in your backpack after getting hit by a mace.

I tend to think that a more troubling issue is whether a familiar-in-pocket is supposed to be affected by area-effect spells (I hear most people saying "no").

 

[pawsplay]

For area effect spells, a failed saving throw on a "1" can result in them being affected just like any other carried item.

 

[Philip]

If a character has a familiar in their pocket/bag/pack, and the character is attacked in melee, is there a chance that the familiar is hit?

Technically, the familiar has total cover (there is no line of effect to the familiar), so there is no chance of hitting him.

You could rule that it would make sense the familiar can be hit, but I think you should work with hit locations if you desire to do something like that. Logically, any attack could hit someone's belt, amulet, pouch, backpack, whatever. For simplicity's sake just assume the familiar never gets hit.

And also remember, the way hit points are defined not each hit translates directly to physical damage.

 

[Philip]

No, there are no rules for that. Similar to there being no allowance for breaking potion bottles in your backpack after getting hit by a mace.

I tend to think that a more troubling issue is whether a familiar-in-pocket is supposed to be affected by area-effect spells (I hear most people saying "no").

It is the same for area of effect spells. The familiar has total cover and thus is not affected by such spells.

 

[0-hr]

It is the same for area of effect spells. The familiar has total cover and thus is not affected by such spells.

I don't think that a layer of cloth would provide cover against a sword or fireball. Rather, I would grant the familiar total concealment. At best, I'd grant them the pocket's hardness as damage reduction.

As for a familiar being affected on a natural "1" saving throw, that is incorrect. "Familiar" is nowhere in the list of possible items affected (it will never be rolled).


If you make familiars completely protectd, then what do you do when the halfling in the party realizes that she can act just like an oversized familiar? If she can fit in your backpack, she's also completely immune to weapon damage and spells!Who needs evasion?


Honeslty, I wish someone would take the time to clarify these problem areas and release a new version of the game.

 

[Tewligan]

When I'm out in public, I always keep my familiar in my pocket for the sake of common decency, IYKWIMAITYD.

 

[Ferox4]

When I'm out in public, I always keep my familiar in my pocket for the sake of common decency, IYKWIMAITYD.

Well if I had a toad I'd........

 

[diaglo]

plus they get evasion and such...