Uncommon familiars
- Thread starter Quickbeam
- Start date
Neo
Explorer
quote:
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Originally posted by Neo
Insect Swarm (again one for improved Familiar feat) grants +1 INT (+2 to Scry and Spot reflects hive link, and many eyes)
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<<Ooh... flees! Great for that hippie sorceror. Or maybe that should be Animal Companions for the druid. >>
We have a Dwarven Barbarian in our Campaign with dreadfully low intelligence (intentional), who insists on smearing himself with pig fat...
I am very tempted to give him a cloud of Flies as a familiar if he ever picks up an arcane caster level... after all they have been with him for quite some time
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Originally posted by Neo
Insect Swarm (again one for improved Familiar feat) grants +1 INT (+2 to Scry and Spot reflects hive link, and many eyes)
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<<Ooh... flees! Great for that hippie sorceror. Or maybe that should be Animal Companions for the druid. >>
We have a Dwarven Barbarian in our Campaign with dreadfully low intelligence (intentional), who insists on smearing himself with pig fat...I am very tempted to give him a cloud of Flies as a familiar if he ever picks up an arcane caster level... after all they have been with him for quite some time
Jeremy
Explorer
My highest level character to date attempted a metamagick'd (in name, not in mechanics) summon familiar spell late in her career as she'd never had one and had need of something.
She ended up summoning a dread raven (she's somewhat of a dark character). The dread raven had been ousted as the alpha of his murder of ravens and wanted my character to instruct it.
I had little time for this and mainly just had him spy for me.
Towards the end of the game we were tempted by a deck of many things. After surviving my single draw I was content to encourage everyone else to leave when my familiar announced it was taking 4 cards!!!
The thing got 4 wishes, TWO keeps, 100,000 XP, and a bag of gems.
That's how I ended up with a were-dread raven (what he wished he was so he could take on a form people would give more respect) elf, with two keeps, more equipment and almost as high a level as me for a familiar.
Interestingly enough, the other dark-inclined member of the party bargained a favor from the then dread raven for him to wish one of his wishes over to him. Later he found it more expedient to assassinate him away from us than deliver the favor. Sneaky bastard got away with it too.
((See what happens when the DM remembers that familiars are intelligent creatures too and not inventory?))
She ended up summoning a dread raven (she's somewhat of a dark character). The dread raven had been ousted as the alpha of his murder of ravens and wanted my character to instruct it.
I had little time for this and mainly just had him spy for me.
Towards the end of the game we were tempted by a deck of many things. After surviving my single draw I was content to encourage everyone else to leave when my familiar announced it was taking 4 cards!!!
The thing got 4 wishes, TWO keeps, 100,000 XP, and a bag of gems.
That's how I ended up with a were-dread raven (what he wished he was so he could take on a form people would give more respect) elf, with two keeps, more equipment and almost as high a level as me for a familiar.
Interestingly enough, the other dark-inclined member of the party bargained a favor from the then dread raven for him to wish one of his wishes over to him. Later he found it more expedient to assassinate him away from us than deliver the favor. Sneaky bastard got away with it too.
((See what happens when the DM remembers that familiars are intelligent creatures too and not inventory?))
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As long as you're willing to stat up a completely new creature, tiny versions of common monsters are very popular.
Obviously tiny dragons are as common as dirt, and the Imp and Quasit cover the tiny Fiend category. The Realms has tiny beholders and griffons available as well.
Consider tiny golems, tiny were-creatures (a sprite sized were-housecat), tiny efreeti / genies, tiny bulettes, tiny celestial / archons, even a tiny little creature that has stats like an armored spell-resistant badger, but looks identical to a miniature tarrasque could be fun!
Or there are ridiculously cute monsters, like sprite-sized vampires or mind flayers or driders or naga or gargoyles...
Shadows in the form of smaller animals (with commensurate reduction in power) such as ravens, cats or bats, or magical beasts reduced to a smaller animal category, such as Displacer housecats or a version of Hell Hound that is actually a rat, also work nicely.
Lots of 'giant' insects that aren't much bigger than a cat or dog work as well.
A living spell effect, like a single semi-intelligent magic missile, or pack of dancing lights, could also be an option. In GURPS, I had a fairly large list of them, like a living 'lightning' elemental that could curl around a metal weapon making it 'shocking' or throw itself like a tiny (1d) lightning bolt in close range.
Obviously tiny dragons are as common as dirt, and the Imp and Quasit cover the tiny Fiend category. The Realms has tiny beholders and griffons available as well.
Consider tiny golems, tiny were-creatures (a sprite sized were-housecat), tiny efreeti / genies, tiny bulettes, tiny celestial / archons, even a tiny little creature that has stats like an armored spell-resistant badger, but looks identical to a miniature tarrasque could be fun!
Or there are ridiculously cute monsters, like sprite-sized vampires or mind flayers or driders or naga or gargoyles...
Shadows in the form of smaller animals (with commensurate reduction in power) such as ravens, cats or bats, or magical beasts reduced to a smaller animal category, such as Displacer housecats or a version of Hell Hound that is actually a rat, also work nicely.
Lots of 'giant' insects that aren't much bigger than a cat or dog work as well.
A living spell effect, like a single semi-intelligent magic missile, or pack of dancing lights, could also be an option. In GURPS, I had a fairly large list of them, like a living 'lightning' elemental that could curl around a metal weapon making it 'shocking' or throw itself like a tiny (1d) lightning bolt in close range.
Quickbeam
Explorer
This thread keeps getting better and better, I love it !!
Richards:
Thanks for explaining what an osquip is without any undue ridicule or scorn. I was fully expecting a "henway" type response .
Cedric:
The book is in the running for our campaign options, thanks.
Savage Wombat:
Sounds very...um...interesting. I love unique creatures which defy explanation and convention. Heck, I'm still waiting for Bagpuss to reply
.
Jeremy:
Sounds wicked cool!
Soltares:
I love the mini golem idea. Consider that one definitively yoinked.
!!Richards:
Thanks for explaining what an osquip is without any undue ridicule or scorn. I was fully expecting a "henway" type response
.Cedric:
The book is in the running for our campaign options, thanks.
Savage Wombat:
Sounds very...um...interesting. I love unique creatures which defy explanation and convention. Heck, I'm still waiting for Bagpuss to reply
.Jeremy:
Sounds wicked cool!
Soltares:
I love the mini golem idea. Consider that one definitively yoinked.
