Who wants to be a Wayfinder?

[Prof Yeti]

Yeah in my opinion if you are going to spend a lot of time in a PrC don't take Improved Familiar. The levels don't stack as far as the familiar is concerned so they would be stuck.

And the above mentioned 3 are some of the best of the basic choices. And style-wise you can include Raven, Bat, Lizard, and Snake, though their bonus' aren't as focused as the others (IMHO).

But as something different to think about is the Monkey. It isn't on the standard list but looks like it should be. (Plus it is a cool little 1/6 CR critter that I found in Dweomercraft - Familiar).

 

[Verbatim]

Somehow, I can't picture Patruk as a monkey kinda guy...*L*

I was also thinking about the Raven, but dropped that from the list as it tends to favor a "darker" image, and while Patruk is far from a ray of sunshine, I am trying to soften his image somewhat.

 

[Prof Yeti]

Even though the Toad would in effect give him the Toughness feat, it would only be a virtual thing and should the familiar die, it would make him uneligable for it. Also, outside of those he graduated with, none will know that he is a Necro. Another char build I had in mind for him was Necro(3)/Human Paragon(3) and then take the lvl of Blood Magus at 7th. It would allow him to get the Improv Familiar feat at 3rd lvl from the Bonus feat at Paragon (2).

It may delay the taking of the PrC by a bit, but I think it would allow me to give more flavor to the char also.

That being that, perhaps a peregrine vice a hawk? But with the same bonus to spot checks?

That is kind of funny/spooky since I am currently playing a Paragon/Wizard in a game by Bront, and was thinking of trying something similar with my alt for this game. Just remember your choices for familiar is based on caster level, while powers are based on Wizard/Sorcerer lvls.

 

[Bront]

Pick a tropical bird. Works like a raven, but colorful. And you can always get an eye patch to go with it

 

[Verbatim]

I am taking the familiar just for the chance of doing so, so in that regard I am not too worried if it never progresses past the initial stage. I know with that mentality I should not take one, but I figure what the heck. It might be fun..

 

[ShaggySpellsword]

"But adventuring is dangerous and monkeys are all irrational! You must summon this familiar."


-Go with monkey. Pick Monkey!


-paraphrased, but applicable. My suggestion is falcon (hawk) or Raven...maybe owl. Flying familiars are useful, and Ravens are just...neat. An owl would also work if you are trying to go for a more scholarly but less spooky familiar. Once I played a Wiz/Rog in FR that had an owl familiar named Owlaundo. I was much younger and stranger then.

 

[Prof Yeti]

I am taking the familiar just for the chance of doing so, so in that regard I am not too worried if it never progresses past the initial stage. I know with that mentality I should not take one, but I figure what the heck. It might be fun..

If you ask me that is the perfect position to chose from as you are more concerned with how it fits your character and less about what it can give you. (I started to get caught in that trap and have since run away screaming. )

 

[Verbatim]

To be perfectly honest, the familiar I want is a wolf hound. The image I see in my mind is of Patruk reading his books and the dog curled up by the fire resting and keeping an eye on him. However, I am fuzzy on if such a thing is possible according to the rules of the game.

The bird idea was just one of him allowing one last indulgance to his quasi-noble upbringing and taking a hunting bird as an unconscious throwback to his past.

 

[Prof Yeti]

"But adventuring is dangerous and monkeys are all irrational! You must summon this familiar."

-Go with monkey. Pick Monkey!

-paraphrased, but applicable. My suggestion is falcon (hawk) or Raven...maybe owl. Flying familiars are useful, and Ravens are just...neat. An owl would also work if you are trying to go for a more scholarly but less spooky familiar. Once I played a Wiz/Rog in FR that had an owl familiar named Owlaundo. I was much younger and stranger then.

Actually my Wizard in my current RL campaign just summoned a monkey. And they are great! (The noble didn't pay us after we recovered his little daughter, so while he was distracted the monkey left him a surprise. Course the little guy had to run for it since he also stole the guys royal signet ring. )

Monkeys are loads of fun!

 

[Verbatim]

If I was doing a conjurer, I would get a monkey in a heartbeat. Something about the archtype of that field of magic screams to have a monkey with it.

As for the eyepatch, maybe once we get to the ocean, if we go there, I will look into that..