D&D 5E Trickster Rogue with Familiar doing sneak attack damage

[Zinnger]

A Trickster Rogue can select find familiar as their one non illusion/enchantment spell and do good things like - always deal sneak attack damage when their familiar is within 5' of their target. But if the Rogue wants another useful spell in the free choice slot like magic missile, can that Rogue cast find familiar from a scroll and still acquire the tool to provide forever sneak attack damage?

 

[PnPgamer]

As long as you have a party member that prefers melee combat, you are good to go.

Areyou going solo or with a party?

 

[Zinnger]

Going with party of another rogue and a sorcerer with criminal background. Basically sneaking around and attacking with surprise. Can a Rogue use a scroll to acquire the familiar? It would be nice to have a free scout as well.

 

[PnPgamer]

Dungeon master guide page 139 says that anyone able to read a language can try to use a scroll. It may cause a mishap however, and page 140 specifies mishap table. I am not sure how you get to the scroll mishap...

 

[Shiroiken]

Yes. The Trickster uses the Wizard Spell List, which has the Find Familiar spell. If you read the scroll at lower level than you can cast (don't remember if Find Familiar is level 1 or 2), then there is a chance of mishap. Otherwise, you are good to go!

 

[Coredump]

Dungeon master guide page 139 says that anyone able to read a language can try to use a scroll. It may cause a mishap however, and page 140 specifies mishap table. I am not sure how you get to the scroll mishap...

The rules for spell scrolls is much more restrictive. But in this case it should be all good.

 

[Theovis]

Familiars pretty much all go poof after one hit, so putting them in melee and throwing sneak-attack spells is a bit risky.

 

[Jefe Bergenstein]

Yeah, you can get a familiar with a scroll. However the problem is you'd need another scroll if it died, where if you knew the spell you could just resummon.

 

[EvanNave55]

Familiars pretty much all go poof after one hit, so putting them in melee and throwing sneak-attack spells is a bit risky.

That's why you get one with flyby

 

[Fanaelialae]

That's why you get one with flyby

Still a bit risky. I generally ignore familiars as a DM unless they're being used to deliver touch attacks (why waste an attack on what is essentially a non-combatant when their are higher priority targets). However, if the familiar is granting sneak attack, you can bet that it will be considered a priority target, particularly by ranged attackers (if using flyby).

For this reason, I wouldn't bother casting it from a scroll, unless the DM allows you to easily purchase scrolls. If you wait until 8th level you can pick a spell from any school, which can be Find Familiar. At that point you can resummon the familiar with a ritual. Admittedly only useful until 13th level, when Versatile Trickster becomes a much better option.