Obtain Familiar question

[shadyizok]

Is it possible as a sorcerer of wizard to get a second familiar through the obtain familiar feat?

The feat states:
You can obtain a familiar in the same manner as a sorcerer or a wizard.
The familiar ability states:
A character with more then one class that grants a familiar may have only one familiar at the time.

If I'm a full wizard I have just one class that grants it so would I be able to get two familiars?

 

[Noir le Lotus]

No !!

Obtain Familiar gives you the familiar ability, as taking a level in the wizard class.

But I saw once in a Dragon Mag a feat to have several familiars (and a PrC too).

 

[Sacrificial Lamb]

Yes, it is possible. Read the language carefully. I don't know what the intent was, but it's doable.

 

[shadyizok]

Hmm. Thats... not extremely helpfull having two contradicting responses... Anyone else?

 

[Herzog]

mmm.

I'd say: no, but if you take the Obtain Familiar feat, all arcane casting classes (including those that normally don't give you a familiar) now count when determining familiar abilities.

 

[Runestar]

I will say no as well - it simply lets you duplicate the wizard's ability to acquire a familiar.

However, it is useful if you want to swap out your familiar for an alternate class featue; you can still take said feat to get a familiar back.

 

[Herzog]

Even that is debatable: IIRC, some ACF's state that you can never obtain a familiar.

 

[Jhaelen]

Yes, it is possible. Read the language carefully. I don't know what the intent was, but it's doable.

I have no idea what 'the language' says. But I'm pretty sure about intent:

No character is intended to get a second familiar in ways that don't explicitly state you are supposed to get a second familiar.

I.e. nope you don't get a second one via this feat.

 

[shadyizok]

my wizards got the elven alternative class thing general magic. The third doubles the bonus your familiar gives you. I've got a rat right now, I wouldn't mind a weasel along with it to up my reflex aswell. Ohwell.

Btw does anyone know if the bonusses the familiar gets (improved evasion/speak with master/etc) stay if you cast a spell from the polymorph subschool on it?

I was thinking using trollshape on my familiar next spell level.

 

[Jhaelen]

my wizards got the elven alternative class thing general magic. The third doubles the bonus your familiar gives you. I've got a rat right now, I wouldn't mind a weasel along with it to up my reflex aswell. Ohwell.

Well, for the psionic version of familiars (psicrystals) there's a feat that will grant you a second familiar bonus.

So, if you're mostly interested in getting that second bonus rather than a second familiar, that would definitely not be overpowered for a feat.