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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Fralex" data-source="post: 6462039" data-attributes="member: 6785902">Well, I can't give you many suggestions without testing this out in full, but I can comment on the ability to craft homunculi. I actually convinced my D&D Encounters DM to let my wizard make himself a homunculus at 2nd level, given that A) he was a transmuter, B) he had proficiency in alchemist's supplies and had spent 50gp on them, and C) he knew the find familiar ritual and was willing to pay twice the usual component cost. The basic homunculus as described in the MM is really only a little more powerful than, say, an owl familiar. They're both Tiny creatures worth 10 XP. The homunculus has:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Better ability scores, giving the typical homunculus 4 more HP, 2 higher AC, and a 1 better attack bonus (not that the familiar can usually make attacks anyway)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A telepathic bond covering the whole plane rather than a 100-foot radius</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Knowledge of everything you know, which could allow it to share a few of the skill proficiencies you have that are tied to mental ability scores</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The ability to give you direct sensory information without you needing to spend an action to shut off your own senses</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A 1-damage bite attack that might poison the target and, if you're very lucky, knock the target out for several minutes</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Immunity to poison and charms</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A better walking speed (20 feet instead of 5)</li> </ul>On the other hand, an owl familiar has:<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Better Wisdom</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">+3 to Stealth and Perception rather than +2 and 0 respectively, as well as Keen Sight</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A better flying speed (60 feet instead of 40)</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">120-foot darkvision, twice the distance of a homunculus's darkvision</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Flyby to protect it from OAs</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Access to all your touch spells</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">A pocket dimension you can send it to when you don't need it</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">The capability to be turned into a different animal granted by the find familiar spell</li> </ul>I've had the homunculus for a while now, and it hasn't felt overpowered IME. It's been really helpful, though; in one session it saved the lives of three party members by ferrying and administering healing potions to dying allies! It even managed to knock someone out with its poisonous bite once, but it usually just deals 1 damage if it hits at all. Most creatures can pass DC 6 saves.I'm toying with the idea of a more powerful version of the basic homunculus that has a cantrip scroll as a material component. The idea is it gains the power to cast that cantrip at will, but with one of those "recharges on a 6" limitations. This I haven't tested yet. I wrote up the details for a homunculus-crafting spell <a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/5espells/showentry.php?e=23" target="_blank">here</a>.</blockquote>

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