My next project (#4)!

[Knight Otu]

do you have an example of how to list this?

I believe the fire bat in the MM2 has something to that effect, but I lent it to someone else. A quick and dirty suggestion:

A OWL can be selected as an Improved Familiar, as per the feat. Doing so requires the master to have a caster level of 3 or higher. (Unlike other Improved Familiars, a OWL does grant an ability to its master, a +3 bonus to Spot checks.) The OWL uses its own Spell Resistance, or that granted by its familiarhood, whichever is better.

 

[BOZ]

i'll have a look at that, thank you.

how does the fear ability on this one look?

 

[Knight Otu]

how does the fear ability on this one look?

DC should be 12, or have a racial bonus.

 

[demiurge1138]

Well, Knight Otu got pretty much everything. Except that Weapon Finesse should be a bonus feat (and drop the claws parenthetical).

Demiurge out.

 

[BOZ]

OK, here is what MM2 says:

FIRE BAT FAMILIARS
If your campaign uses the Improved Familiar feat from Tome and Blood: A Giude to Wizards and Sorcerers, a fire bat is an appropriate improved familiar for a 15th-level or higher arcane spellcaster of the fire subtype. Like other improved familiars, a fire bat familiar provides no special benefits beyond the standard familiar benefits (see Familiars in Chapter 3 of the Player's Handbook).

Where is Improved Familiar now, the DMG? (I don't have it with me at the moment - it's in the car, and Mrs. Boz has the car)


How about, then:
OWL FAMILIARS
If your campaign uses the Improved Familiar feat (see DMG p. xxx), a OWL is an appropriate improved familiar for a 3rd-level or higher arcane spellcaster. Like other improved familiars, a OWL familiar provides no special benefits beyond the standard familiar benefits (see Familiars in Chapter 3 of the Player's Handbook). (An OWL uses its own Spell Resistance or that granted by its master, whichever is higher.)


I think that if other improved familiars don't give skill bonuses and such, then neither should this owl. As for that last sentence, it is only relevant if an improved familiar gets spell resistance from its master.

 

[demiurge1138]

Improved familiars do indeed get all familiar benefits (except type change and speak with kind), so they could get SR from high level casters.

Demiurge out.

 

[BOZ]

so then, the only question i have remaining is would this OWL grant the +3 bonus to Spot checks? normal familiars either grant skill bonuses or extra hit points, but i can't tell if improved familiars do that.

 

[demiurge1138]

Improved familiars never grant skill bonuses, so that's out the window for the OWL.

Demiurge out.

 

[BOZ]

sacrifices must be made.

OK, here are the sections i am using.

Cause Fear (Sp): As a free action three times per day, a OWL can let out a shrill cry. Any living creature within 30 feet must succeed on a DC 11 Will save or be affected as though by a cause fear spell. This is a sonic, mind-affecting, fear effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.
OWL FAMILIARS
If your campaign uses the Improved Familiar feat (see DMG p. 200), a OWL is an appropriate improved familiar for a 3rd-level or higher arcane spellcaster. Like other improved familiars, a OWL familiar provides no special benefits beyond the standard familiar benefits (see Familiars in Chapter 3 of the Player's Handbook). A OWL uses its own Spell Resistance or that granted by its master, whichever is higher.

 

[demiurge1138]

If the cause fear is (Sp), Otu's assessment of DC 12 is accurate (10+1 for 1st level spell, +1 for Cha). But other than that, it looks good.

Demiurge out.