Imps, could they be the best "improved" familiars?

[Magic Rub]

My mage, the not so infamous Gratis (yes I know what the name means.), just summoned his life mate/familiar, an Imp named Heccubus. Pronounced 'Heck-you-bus', like from the Kids in the hall. (He came pre-named by my DM) But enough of this part of my rant, on to the next...

Imp
Tiny Outsider (Evil, Lawful)
hp: 3d8
Init: +3 (dex)
Speed: 20ft, fly 50ft (perfect)
AC: 18 (+2 size, +3 dex, +3 natural)
Attacks: Poison Sting + 8 melee
Damage: Sting 1d4 & poison (1d4 dex / 2d4 dex, Save fort DC: 13)

Special Qualities:
DR 5/silver, SR 5, Poison immunity, fire res 20, regeneration 2 normal damage from acid, holy & silver weapons, SEE in darkness, polymorph at will, Invisibility at will, Detect magic at will, Detect good at will, 1/day suggestion, 1/week Commune.

Saves: F+3, R+6, W+4
Abilities: Str: 10, Dex: 17, Con:10, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 10
Skills: Hide +15, Listen +5 , Move Silent +5, Search +5, Spellcraft +5, Spot +5
Feats: Dodge, Weapon finesse (sting)

AND NOW THE QUESTIONS;

All this plus the familiar bonuses! Other then alignment restrictions why would you pick any other type of familiar? They're intelligent, & relatively strong, with amazing abilities. In my opinion this little guy has already paid for the feat I blew to get him 5 times over.

As a DM to all the the other DM's
What's the catch? As a DM I would hate to have one of these things as a PC's familiar, & I know the day will come.

As a PC to all the other PC's
What's your favourite familiar(s) & why?

 

[Caliban]

Since I don't allow evil players, an Imp familiar isn't a problem.

As a player, I like Pseudodragon familiars. The abilitiy to see invisible and the 60' telepathy are hugely useful. The psuedodgragon also has a high natural AC (better than an imp), SR 19, flight, darkvision, as well as a sleep poison (useful for temporarily incapacitating prisoners). Plus dragons are just kewl.

 

[Tom Cashel]

Pseudodragons are kewler

As a DM, here's the catch: a properly-played Imp familiar will always think of itself as the Master and your pitiful Wizard as the servant. And if the Imp is properly played, it's probably true...

As a player...we don't allow evil PCs either.

 

[RogueJK]

They may not be the most powerful, but I like Air Elemental familiars. You don't even have to use a feat to get them. All you need is a scroll of Elemental Familiar, which is a new spell from the WotC website.
http://www.wizards.com/dnd/article.asp?x=dnd/sb/sb20020413x

They are quite fast (100 ft. flying speed), and have the Flyby Attack feat. This makes them pretty good at delivering touch attacks. They fly 50 feet to an enemy, deliver the touch attack spell for you, and are another 50 feet away from the bad guy before the end of their action.

They also have Darkvision and a Whirlwind special attack. Plus, as elementals, they are immune to poison, sleep, paralysis, and stunning, and not subject to critical hits or flanking.

They grant their master +2 to initiative.

All of this for a mere 500 XP and 375 gp.

 

[Thanee]

Well, the catch is, that you have to be evil! That's a pretty big price to pay!

Did noone tell you, that the evil guys always lose in the end?

My favorite familiars are the Owl and the Raven. I don't think I want to blow a feat for an improved familiar or wait til 7th level to get one, since I can make my regular one pretty useful with my own magic and it's especially useful on lower levels.

I can see the usefulness of the imp's special abilities, but most of this I can do with my own magic as easily and I like to spend my valuable feats to expand my capabilities.

Currently I enjoy the pleasure of a familiar, that is able to speak (Raven). That is really cool and useful, even on lower levels.

Bye
Thanee

 

[Magic Rub]

Re: Pseudodragons are kewler

As a DM, here's the catch: a properly-played Imp familiar will always think of itself as the Master and your pitiful Wizard as the servant. And if the Imp is properly played, it's probably true...

As a player...we don't allow evil PCs either.

What's with all you people not allowing evil PCs? Odd.

I dissagree with your idea of an imp familiar thinking of it's self as the master. Re-read the familiar description in the PHB.

 

[Crothian]

While I didn't create this chacacter idea I think it fits with the topic at hand:

Create an Imp Wizard that has an Imp Familiar. Then have the two of them argue who is the familiar and who is the wizard.

For the most part i don't allow evil characters either. Few people can play them with out distrupting everyone's fun.

The Imp is a good improved Familiar, but because of the alignment and what it is it should cause you problems.

 

[gamecat]

You all miss one point: Imps are LE. An LN wizard or sorcerer could dial up an imp as they are in the "one-step" radius.

 

[Caliban]

Re: Re: Pseudodragons are kewler

What's with all you people not allowing evil PCs? Odd.
]

It's not odd. Very few people have the maturity to play evil characters without it devolving into juvenile backstabbing or S&M fantasy's.

As a DM, it's not worth my time to cater to whatever sick little fantasy a player wants to act out because "my pc is evil so it's ok for him".

As a player I see enough crap in the world that I can't do anything about. When I play D&D I like to make characters that have the power to correct some of the things that are wrong, or at least protect themselves from it. Very few "evil" character concepts fit this mold, most of them are the ones behind what is wrong in the game world.

If you can find a group that can handle it maturely, more power to you. But all it takes is one player to ruin it to the point where I will refuse to run or play in the campaign.

I dissagree with your idea of an imp familiar thinking of it's self as the master. Re-read the familiar description in the PHB.

That's for a normal familiar. Imp familiars are not normal, they are devils, and they server far darker masters than your PC. The imp is just on loan to you. He may have some loyalty to you, but his ultimate loyalties lie with the arch-devils.

 

[Magic Rub]

It's not odd. Very few people have the maturity to play evil characters without it devolving into juvenile backstabbing or S&M fantasy's.....
....If you can find a group that can handle it maturely, more power to you. But all it takes is one player to ruin it to the point where I will refuse to run or play in the campaign

I've been fortunate enough to have found a mature group.

As a player I see enough crap in the world that I can't do anything about. When I play D&D I like to make characters that have the power to correct some of the things that are wrong, or at least protect themselves from it.

I like your thinking on this point, it is most often how I see/play the game as well.

That's for a normal familiar. Imp familiars are not normal, they are devils, and they server far darker masters than your PC. The imp is just on loan to you. He may have some loyalty to you, but his ultimate loyalties lie with the arch-devils.

I have to disagree with you, here's why...

1. The feat, "Improved familiar"

2 . "Familiars are magically linked to their masters. In some sense, the familiar and the master are practically one being."

3. "A wizard can call a familiar: a small, magical animal (see #1) companion that serves her. For some wizards, their familiars are their only
true friends."

If I had more books with me I'd quote more. Would a goodly Improved familiar be "not normal"? Do regular animal familiars & other "Improved familiars" have Higher master's, or hidden agenda's?