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<blockquote data-quote="Cruentus" data-source="post: 8578119" data-attributes="member: 7034645">Having played wizards with and without familiars, and DM'd for a 5e chain pact warlock with Imp, I still don't really think the familiar fits in with what 5e (or really all editions of DnD, are about).&nbsp; In the research I've done around familiars in mythology, folklore, etc., there is actually very little to indicate that they were &quot;a thing&quot; aside from the 'witch' and black cats or toads and some such.&nbsp; And even in those, and more modern cases (Harry Potter, Sabrina the Teenage Witch), familiars were never something taken on an adventure (willingly), and were more likely to be something that remained in your laboratory or home.&nbsp; The descriptions I most often see of them is: pet, companion, and/or trusted ally.&nbsp; Why would you bring your pet/companion/trusted ally anywhere to get &quot;discorporated&quot;, cause really, they don't die since they're just spirits, and you can summon another one with minimal hassle.&nbsp; I'm trying to figure out 1) do they even have a &quot;role&quot; for a spellcaster beyond scout extension, sometimes combat helper; or 2) do they need to be in the game at all.I'm trying to brainstorm ideas for Familiars that would actually have them assist the spellcaster in some manner: be the source of learning new magics (in lieu of &quot;automatically learn new spells&quot;), perhaps function as a way to &quot;prepare&quot; additional spells above one's current max, impart ribbons/enhancements depending on the type of familiar - and all of these may or may not be available at level 1.&nbsp; And the most challenging: what do you do with the familiar when adventuring.&nbsp; Is it &quot;in a pocket&quot; until it isn't?&nbsp; Is it always out and about (I'm not talking about magic spirit stuff that you can tuck into pocket dimensions, I'm talking a real animal familiar)?&nbsp; Does it have to remain close?&nbsp; Can you leave it at home or in your tower and still get the benefits?&nbsp; If it is out and about, how does it get damaged?&nbsp; How does it avoid it?&nbsp; Etc.&nbsp; Maybe I'll post a brainstorming thread.&nbsp; I like the &quot;idea&quot; of familiars, but I find their execution lacking.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Cruentus, post: 8578119, member: 7034645"] Having played wizards with and without familiars, and DM'd for a 5e chain pact warlock with Imp, I still don't really think the familiar fits in with what 5e (or really all editions of DnD, are about). In the research I've done around familiars in mythology, folklore, etc., there is actually very little to indicate that they were "a thing" aside from the 'witch' and black cats or toads and some such. And even in those, and more modern cases (Harry Potter, Sabrina the Teenage Witch), familiars were never something taken on an adventure (willingly), and were more likely to be something that remained in your laboratory or home. The descriptions I most often see of them is: pet, companion, and/or trusted ally. Why would you bring your pet/companion/trusted ally anywhere to get "discorporated", cause really, they don't die since they're just spirits, and you can summon another one with minimal hassle. I'm trying to figure out 1) do they even have a "role" for a spellcaster beyond scout extension, sometimes combat helper; or 2) do they need to be in the game at all. I'm trying to brainstorm ideas for Familiars that would actually have them assist the spellcaster in some manner: be the source of learning new magics (in lieu of "automatically learn new spells"), perhaps function as a way to "prepare" additional spells above one's current max, impart ribbons/enhancements depending on the type of familiar - and all of these may or may not be available at level 1. And the most challenging: what do you do with the familiar when adventuring. Is it "in a pocket" until it isn't? Is it always out and about (I'm not talking about magic spirit stuff that you can tuck into pocket dimensions, I'm talking a real animal familiar)? Does it have to remain close? Can you leave it at home or in your tower and still get the benefits? If it is out and about, how does it get damaged? How does it avoid it? Etc. Maybe I'll post a brainstorming thread. I like the "idea" of familiars, but I find their execution lacking. [/QUOTE]

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