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Would it be possible (or would you allow) to have a donkey familiar?
- Thread starter Arravis
- Start date
I definitely would not require a feat for this... a donkey's CR is 1/6, which falls into the 'below average' range of challenge ratings for animals that can be used as familiars.
Tome and Blood's improved familiar feat allows use of things like Psuedodragons as familiars. It doesn't quite fit:
"What can I take as a familiar with this feat?"
"Well, you can have a shocker lizard, a homunculus, a psuedodragon... or a donkey."
As for kicking the heck out of goblins, kick isn't listed as an attack for a MM donkey so I would only use the listed bite... perhaps for added realism the DM could just tell the player "Your donkey informs you that it could kick the goblin, but feels that this would be undignified. He suggests you try kicking the goblin instead." Hey, they're supposed to be stubborn!
Besides, anyone who would be willing to send such a nice, big, targetable familiar into battle probably deserves the penalties from losing their familiar, or getting told off by an ass.
For all the abuse the player is going to take for having a strong spiritual bond with his ass, I really wouldn't penalize him. I might even provide a nice bonus for the caster. Carry capacity for a familiar is unusual, but the limited use of a donkey familiar (how many inns will let you bring a donkey inside, how noticable is a donkey running alone through the forest scouting ahead, and so forth) without spell enhancement more than balances this in my mind.
As to the original question, you could play a donkey familiar in my campaigns any day, it's worth it for entertainment value alone.
It would also provide an excuse to whip out the Shrek DVD, so we can do 'research'.
Tome and Blood's improved familiar feat allows use of things like Psuedodragons as familiars. It doesn't quite fit:
"What can I take as a familiar with this feat?"
"Well, you can have a shocker lizard, a homunculus, a psuedodragon... or a donkey."
As for kicking the heck out of goblins, kick isn't listed as an attack for a MM donkey so I would only use the listed bite... perhaps for added realism the DM could just tell the player "Your donkey informs you that it could kick the goblin, but feels that this would be undignified. He suggests you try kicking the goblin instead." Hey, they're supposed to be stubborn!
Besides, anyone who would be willing to send such a nice, big, targetable familiar into battle probably deserves the penalties from losing their familiar, or getting told off by an ass.
For all the abuse the player is going to take for having a strong spiritual bond with his ass, I really wouldn't penalize him. I might even provide a nice bonus for the caster. Carry capacity for a familiar is unusual, but the limited use of a donkey familiar (how many inns will let you bring a donkey inside, how noticable is a donkey running alone through the forest scouting ahead, and so forth) without spell enhancement more than balances this in my mind.
As to the original question, you could play a donkey familiar in my campaigns any day, it's worth it for entertainment value alone.
It would also provide an excuse to whip out the Shrek DVD, so we can do 'research'.
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cptg1481
First Post
Donkeys and Will saves
I worked with some donkeys in the army in a pack animal capacity while on a mission to Honduras in 88, (and plenty of asses since then as well, ....sorry...couldn't resist) and I think that if any animal familiar should give a bonus to thier master's will save this one is it. I mean these things have an indomnible will...they won't budge unless they want to, which isn't all that often.
Anyway, I'd give a +2 to the wizard or sorcerer's will save along with the bevy of other benifits they get for other familiars.
Thanks for the laughs...I like this, guess one of my NPC adepts will have to have a donkey familiar who likes to talk to "other animals of it's type" (a familiar skill at some level I think) a little too often. I see the mighty war horses and destriers of the players getting all riled up by the seditious donkey who champions the cause of equine equality and unfair burdens going on strike....heheheh.
KnowTheToe said:
I worked with some donkeys in the army in a pack animal capacity while on a mission to Honduras in 88, (and plenty of asses since then as well, ....sorry...couldn't resist) and I think that if any animal familiar should give a bonus to thier master's will save this one is it. I mean these things have an indomnible will...they won't budge unless they want to, which isn't all that often.
Anyway, I'd give a +2 to the wizard or sorcerer's will save along with the bevy of other benifits they get for other familiars.
Thanks for the laughs...I like this, guess one of my NPC adepts will have to have a donkey familiar who likes to talk to "other animals of it's type" (a familiar skill at some level I think) a little too often. I see the mighty war horses and destriers of the players getting all riled up by the seditious donkey who champions the cause of equine equality and unfair burdens going on strike....heheheh.
Kaiyosama
First Post
I love this thread! Yeah, I'd allow it, so much roleplaying fun!
Besides, riding a donkey in combat isn't a good idea, and something that big won't be good for touch attacks... the ability to carry stuff compensates for this... It fits nicely with a wizards poor str.
Bonus: A "Hold Your Ground Bonus", like a +2 to resist bull rush.
If this happens, I want to read about it in Story Hour!
Besides, riding a donkey in combat isn't a good idea, and something that big won't be good for touch attacks... the ability to carry stuff compensates for this... It fits nicely with a wizards poor str.
Bonus: A "Hold Your Ground Bonus", like a +2 to resist bull rush.
If this happens, I want to read about it in Story Hour!
WayneLigon
Adventurer
I'd allow it from the humor standpoint, but I doubt that it would work for very long. The donkey simply can't do so many things that the smaller familiars can, but then perhaps I have too many pit traps and water traps 
Sagan Darkside
First Post
I once allowed a cow.. why not a donkey?
SD
SD
WayneLigon said:I'd allow it from the humor standpoint, but I doubt that it would work for very long. The donkey simply can't do so many things that the smaller familiars can, but then perhaps I have too many pit traps and water traps
Then again, big familiars would encourage spellcasters to look at spells that are usually lower on the list of priorities, such as reduce. Imagine, a new generation of spellcasters that don't all have magic missile and shield! A legion of donkey lovers, bringing diversity to the game!
Hmm... on second thought there's got to be a better way to encourage diversity. "Donkey Lover Legion" just doesn't sound too good for the game.
Still, visions of reduced feather falling blinking donkies are dancing through my head...
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