Templated Characters and Scaling

[Elder-Basilisk]

Under this interpretation, the fiendish familiar would not get DR, or advanced resistances, and would still have an SR of 2 when its master is 20th level as well. That seems to defeat the purpose of taking the improved familiar feat.

It seems to me to be a part of the balancing process for improved familiars. If none of the HD scaling effects of the fiendish or celestial templates apply to them, fiendish and celestial familiars are so dramatically infererior to the other available improved familiars that they're not even worth considering. If the HD scaling effects do apply then there are reasons to consider taking such familiars although it's certainly not an open and shut case.

And I don't. None of the improved familiars were available when the PHB was written, and I think the PHB is only referring to effects that target the familiar, not abilities the familiar might have. (Since none of the familiars in the PHB have any abilities that scale with HD.)

 

[Caliban]

Under this interpretation, the fiendish familiar would not get DR, or advanced resistances, and would still have an SR of 2 when its master is 20th level as well. That seems to defeat the purpose of taking the improved familiar feat.

All familiars get SR at 11th level. All familiars get improved evasion, so advancing the resistances isn't a big deal.

I don't think it's intended for familiars to get DR or large level related benefits. It makes them obviously superior to the other improved familiars who don't get such benefits.

 

[LokiDR]

All familiars get SR at 11th level. All familiars get improved evasion, so advancing the resistances isn't a big deal.

I don't think it's intended for familiars to get DR or large level related benefits. It makes them obviously superior to the other improved familiars who don't get such benefits.

Without the improvement, there is no reason to take a celestial or fiendish version of any animal as a familar.

No, I am pretty sure the improved abilities were intended. Just look at the piles of abilites the other familars get.