Wild Empathy or Familiar?

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Neither. I just can't help comparing a familiar to an animal companion, and finding the familiar lacking. Not because the familiar doesn't kick tail the way a dire tiger animal companion could, but because the animal companion is a pet and the familiar is an NPC.

Pets don't talk. Familiars do - at least sort of - and I don't want to increase "RP-processing" in the wrong direction. I think a situation where a druid can't take his animal companion into a big city could be fun, a lot more fun than having a conversation with a rat.

Wild empathy is almost useless, but so is the familiar. In fact, even if the familiar was useful, I still wouldn't want it. I don't want to add more characters to the party.

 

[Ogrork the Mighty]

A Druid who really wants the benefits of Wild Empathy is probably better off getting ranks in Diplomacy and casting Speak with Animals. Wild

Maybe. Maybe not. A lot of DMs would rule that you can't "reason" with an Animal of 1-2 Int and, therefore, can't use Diplomacy. Handle Animal might be a better skill to use in such a scenario. Otherwise, Wild Empathy.

Personally, I wouldn't let some diplomat with a +25 Diplomacy modifier turn a rabid chipmunk to friendly just by casting speak with animals. But hey, that's just me.