larger familiars

[Sanackranib]

I was looking at the ultimate book of feats the other day and saw one that allows a wizard to attract a larger familiar. each time the feat is taken the size catogory goes up by 1. of course you have to have the creature there as it doesn't actually summon it, and you don't get any special abilities other then those granted by all familiars. have any of you used this? I think it would be really cool to to have somthing like an ice lizard, fire drake or even a dog as a familiar.

 

[Dirigible]

Hey... if Medium-sized spellcasters get Tiny-Diminutive familiars, and Small get Diminutive-Fine... would a Colossal sized spellcaster (say, a dragon) be able to get a huge familiar?

Lets say... an elephant

 

[Sanackranib]

yes

 

[jgsugden]

The 3.5 DMG (pg 203) has rules on familiars for casters of size tiny or smaller and of size huge or bigger.

By the core rules, an unusual size is the only way to get a specially sized familiar.

In my experience, familiars of medium size (ie; horses, wolverines, etc ...) are only overpowering at very low level. Beyond 6th level or so, they tend to be more of a burden than a benefit. I would not require a feat for a medium familiar, but I'd probably place a minimum level requirement on it.

Of course, if the familiar has a special ability (basilisk, etc ...), I'd require the use of at least a feat. Basically, this becomes a hybrid familiar/leadership cohort. It would probably best be handled by requiring leadership as a prerequisite. Then, the feat would give some familiar abilities to the PCs cohort.