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<blockquote data-quote="Mistwell" data-source="post: 7966226" data-attributes="member: 2525">I love familiars. I am playing a wizard right now who uses an owl (named Who).But they're not optimal for scouting. For these reasons:1. They die often. One swat and they're toast. One area effect and they're toast. So many things kill them.And then you need time to re-summon them as a ritual. Which takes 1 hour and 10 minutes. In the dungeon we're in right now (White Plume Mountain) that's 11 wandering monster checks. And because you're casting a spell that whole time, you don't even get all the benefits of a short rest for it.2. They're not nearly as good at stealth as the rogue. +3 and tiny size isn't bad, but it's no rogue. So they can get caught. And then...see #1.3. They cannot open doors, or even lift things like rugs to look under it. That 3 strength and Tiny size and lack of a hand/fingers just doesn't cut it to do much. When a simple door stops you from scouting further, that can be an issue.4. They have a range of 100 feet. Which is good, but sometimes it's nice to be able to go further than that.5. You're deaf and blind while seeing through your familiar. Which means you're basically auto-surprised if foes come on your resting spot while you're telepathically looking through the eyes of your familiar.I'd take a rogue over an owl to scout any day. Familiars are fantastic. But they're a poor-mans rogue for scouting. The real deal is better.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Mistwell, post: 7966226, member: 2525"] I love familiars. I am playing a wizard right now who uses an owl (named Who). But they're not optimal for scouting. For these reasons: 1. They die often. One swat and they're toast. One area effect and they're toast. So many things kill them. And then you need time to re-summon them as a ritual. Which takes 1 hour and 10 minutes. In the dungeon we're in right now (White Plume Mountain) that's 11 wandering monster checks. And because you're casting a spell that whole time, you don't even get all the benefits of a short rest for it. 2. They're not nearly as good at stealth as the rogue. +3 and tiny size isn't bad, but it's no rogue. So they can get caught. And then...see #1. 3. They cannot open doors, or even lift things like rugs to look under it. That 3 strength and Tiny size and lack of a hand/fingers just doesn't cut it to do much. When a simple door stops you from scouting further, that can be an issue. 4. They have a range of 100 feet. Which is good, but sometimes it's nice to be able to go further than that. 5. You're deaf and blind while seeing through your familiar. Which means you're basically auto-surprised if foes come on your resting spot while you're telepathically looking through the eyes of your familiar. I'd take a rogue over an owl to scout any day. Familiars are fantastic. But they're a poor-mans rogue for scouting. The real deal is better. [/QUOTE]

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