How vulnerable are familiars?

[0-hr]

I just posting this to make my players nervous...

If you have a familiar, say a lizard or a toad, that usually rides around in you pocket, how vulnerable is it to things like fireball or lightning bolt? Are they gear (which is pretty much immune) or are they like any other creature in the area of effect?

Does it matter if the thing is in a pocket vs in a haversack vs on your shoulder?

 

[Thanee]

Well, I'd say, that if the familiar is inside a pocket (or even haversack, familiar pocket), then it is pretty safe (i.e. like equipment). Otherwise it should make its own saves against fireballs and the like, but that's usually not a big problem, considering their improved evasion.

And every sorcerer/wizard should very well remember the share spells bonus... always let your buffs affect the familiar as well, should make it even more resilient!

Bye
Thanee

 

[kreynolds]

Does it matter if the thing is in a pocket vs in a haversack vs on your shoulder?

I think it would matter. The pants or shirt that has the pocket would no better protect your familiar than it would you, which is to say that it doesn't protect you at all. Whether you are fully clothed or stark naked, the saving throw is the same when you get hit with a fireball. The Haversack, on the other hand, gets its own saves because it's a magic item, so it would arguable better protect a familiar.

 

[Caliban]

I just posting this to make my players nervous...

If you have a familiar, say a lizard or a toad, that usually rides around in you pocket, how vulnerable is it to things like fireball or lightning bolt? Are they gear (which is pretty much immune) or are they like any other creature in the area of effect?

Does it matter if the thing is in a pocket vs in a haversack vs on your shoulder?

If it is inside your clothing/equipment, it has total cover against the fireball, and will only be damaged if you roll a 1 on your save, and the item the familiar is hiding inside takes enough damage to be destroyed.

This is also in the D&D FAQ, I believe.

 

[Umbran]

Re: Re: How vulnerable are familiars?

The Haversack, on the other hand, gets its own saves because it's a magic item, so it would arguable better protect a familiar.

Um, not all haversacks are magical, any more than all swords or armor are magical.

 

[AGGEMAM]

Re: Re: How vulnerable are familiars?

If it is inside your clothing/equipment, it has total cover against the fireball,

I would not consider it being inside a pocket total cover but rather concealed in more or less degree.

The familiar being inside a chest is another matter, then it should be total cover.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Familiars have half of your hit points, but also have Improved Evasion. They take half (or less) of the direct-damage variety than you do. Generally speaking, you should keep them out of sight, so they don't get pincushioned by the opposing ranger. However, they do get reasonable AC scores (eg a little bit lower than a fighter's, IME) and may even have a better touch AC than you.

Since you and the familiar can share spells, keep it nearby and cast Displacement, Mirror Image, etc to protect yourself; as an added side-effect you protect your familiar.

Some familiars, such as birds and bats, are useful in combat (not the viper, save DC of only 11?). The bat is the best, since it has Blindsight, and you have the Darkness spell

 

[kreynolds]

Re: Re: Re: How vulnerable are familiars?

Um, not all haversacks are magical, any more than all swords or armor are magical.

Hmm...let's see now...I mention "The Haversack"...I mention "it's a magic item"...now if you can't do the math...

 

[Umbran]

Re: Re: Re: Re: How vulnerable are familiars?

Hmm...let's see now...I mention "The Haversack"...I mention "it's a magic item"...now if you can't do the math...

I wasn't trying to twig you or anything. Just pointing out that the Ky Rin didn't say "The Haversack", or mention it as magic, and thus you might have caused confusion.

Imagine yourself as a lurker who's reading for information, and hadn't memorized the DMG magic items list. And all of a sudden this guy is talking about magic out of nowhere...

 

[Dingleberry]

According to p. 18 of Tome & Blood, a familiar carried "in a box, pocket, or other container in which the familiar can hide" grants total cover.

In addition, a familiar can share its master's square for 1/2 cover (+4 AC and no AoOs possible against it). The empathic link prevents the familiar and master from getting in each other's way, but there is a risk that an attack aimed at the familiar could strike the master instead.