New use for familiar?

[TracerBullet42]

A player in my Savage Tide campaign (not even the wizard character in the group) asked me an interesting question:

"Could a talking parrot familiar be taught to cast a prepared spell with a verbal trigger? It would probably have to be a stored prepared spell, such as in a wand or scroll, but still?"

My gut reaction is, "No, probably not."

But maybe...what say ye, oh sages of EnWorld?

 

[Folly]

The familiar does not have the spell casting ability so he can not do scrolls and wands, but a talking familiar such as a parrot or raven can activate command word misc items.

Another trick that a friend of mine is found of is taking improved familiar with an imp. Then going into Loremaster. Loremaster gives you Use Magic Device as a class skill. Since your familiar uses your ranks in skills, it can UMD all sorts of devices.

 

[moritheil]

A player in my Savage Tide campaign (not even the wizard character in the group) asked me an interesting question:

"Could a talking parrot familiar be taught to cast a prepared spell with a verbal trigger? It would probably have to be a stored prepared spell, such as in a wand or scroll, but still?"

My gut reaction is, "No, probably not."

But maybe...what say ye, oh sages of EnWorld?

Yes, in a fashion, but it's hardly new (and not advisable to do it in the exact way you suggest.)

Having a familiar use UMD or wondrous items is a pretty old trick.

There are also spells that imbue your familiar with some your spells, so you can save actions in combat.