Need help with casters' Familiar rules

[Brain]

Back to that question, which caught my interest as well. Is a familiar generaly hard-coded to 1/2 its master's Hitpoints? The Polymorph spell does by its description not alter the HP of its subject, but does so with the CON stat, i.e. a normal character would potentially receive bonus Hitpoints from a tough polymorph form. However, it's not so clear what happens to a familiar. Does anyone know?
And to follow this thought, if the master ever increases his HP by any means (Amulet of Health, False Life, Bear's Endurance), does the familiars HP increase instantly as well, on top of a potential spell sharing?

From the 3.5 SRD section on familiars:

Hit Points: The familiar has one-half the master’s total hit points (not including temporary hit points), rounded down, regardless of its actual Hit Dice.

It seems that the familiar's hit points are "hard-coded" as it were and not effected by its own CON score. Polymorph on the familiar would not change its hit points.

Spells cast on the master would change the familiar's hit points dynamically. A change in the master's CON through polymorph or amulet of health would immediately also change the familiar's hit points. As for false life, well that would not change the familiar's hit points because it grants temporary hit points.

 

[Mekabar]

It seems that the familiar's hit points are "hard-coded" as it were and not effected by its own CON score. Polymorph on the familiar would not change its hit points.

Spells cast on the master would change the familiar's hit points dynamically. A change in the master's CON through polymorph or amulet of health would immediately also change the familiar's hit points. As for false life, well that would not change the familiar's hit points because it grants temporary hit points.

That was my impression too. But I suppose temporary Hitpoints can be given directly to a familiar after all?

Nevertheless, that idea of polymorphing your familiar if needed seems nice, and might be even more appealing to a hexblade, who has way better Hitpoints and BAB to grant to the familiar than a Wiz/Sorc.

Finally I think I have found the perfect polymorph form: The Twelve Headed Hydra. It has 12 strong melee reach attacks, which it can even use when moving, charging or making attacks of opportunity. That should hurt a lot.

 

[drunkmoogle]

Finally I think I have found the perfect polymorph form: The Twelve Headed Hydra. It has 12 strong melee reach attacks, which it can even use when moving, charging or making attacks of opportunity. That should hurt a lot.

You're one off.

Pyro/Cryohydras come free, for situational purposes. Mmm... free Fire/Cold template...

Oh, and watch out. There is an interpretation of polymorph that says that the assumed form must be no larger than one size category of the original creature. It's best to start a new thread if you wish to investigate further; my details are a little fuzzy.

 

[bolie]

A related question... has anything official been said on advancing familiars or having intelligent familiars gain class levels?

Bolie IV

 

[kenobi65]

A related question... has anything official been said on advancing familiars or having intelligent familiars gain class levels?

AFAIK, they don't advance like monsters, or get levels. They're not independent, "normal" creatures anymore; in a lot of ways, they're an extension of the spellcaster. Thus, they "advance" as their master advances, in the manner described in the PHB.