Familiars, a wizard neccessity at lower levels?

anglefish · Post by **anglefish** » Sat Mar 27, 2010 5:15 pm

It seems that familiars come in two nice varieties, either as a minor body guard, or even more importantly, some thing that casts a few spell-like abilities that help the wizard conserve his own spells for a more opportune time.

Either one makes me feel that first level wizards are better served to put Summon Familiar in their spell book as fast as possible.

Thoughts?

Go0gleplex · Post by **Go0gleplex** » Sat Mar 27, 2010 5:41 pm

For all the benefits (?) a familiar brings, they also bring a bit of an achilles heel with them, that being their fragility. And should a low level wizard lose their familiar, it puts them in a bit of a hurt locker that they can ill afford. I'd say, "use with caution."
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Omote · Post by **Omote** » Sat Mar 27, 2010 8:10 pm

There is really no big downside to Summon Familiar. If the familiar perishes, the wizard looses the benefits of the familiar link and 1 level of EPP... whoop-de-doo. The benefits that the familiar bestows on the wizard are far and ahead of any penalty for the familiar dying. Every wizard should have one, period. One of the best Wizard spells in the C&C game IMO.

~O
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Treebore · Post by **Treebore** » Sat Mar 27, 2010 8:21 pm

I would only be caught dead without my familiar.
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Go0gleplex · Post by **Go0gleplex** » Sat Mar 27, 2010 8:49 pm

Hmmm...was misreading the spell in that the caster took damage...not that they actually gained any hp to begin with.

I really hate the whole EP loss mechanic in general, particularly with how long it takes to gain them in the first place. So in my games it'll be a permanent loss of hp equal to the HD of the familiar...unless a restoration or such is used, which of course costs plenty.
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anglefish · Post by **anglefish** » Sun Mar 28, 2010 3:44 am

I actually forgot the HP bonus that nearly doubles the PC HP at 1st level.

Lord Dynel · Post by **Lord Dynel** » Sun Mar 28, 2010 12:42 pm

I can say, as a CK/DM/GM, I usually don't target a wizard's familiar at the really low levels. Usually at those levels, I'd assume that most foes weren't clever (or attentive, or informed) enough to attack the wizard's familiar. But my familiar experience began with AD&D (1st Edition) where a wizard would lose double the hit points that the familiar granted if killed or dismissed, permanently. So, that could lead to a quick demise at low levels, either by taking double the HP away and killing the wizard outright (iirc, there was no rule that stated you didn't die by losing these hit points and that's how I played it, much to one budding wizard's dismay) or putting the wizard in such a position where he was dangerously low all the time. 2nd Edition AD&D made it even worse, by adding in the possibility of death straight out (and at the very least, losing a point of Con...and for a wizard that was very hard)

The penalties for losing a familiar lessened with 3rd Edition but I never changed my play style. I guess I was used to taking it easy on wizards, with familiars being an almost-liability. And players don't forget, either - from the start of 3rd Edition till now, I've GM'd probably 5-6 wizards. Only one had a familiar, and it was held close to the character (a mouse).

I would, as a player, take a familiar...especially in C&C. With death not being an option (losing only the amount of HP that the familiar gave and no other death possibility) I'd feel much more comfortable summoning one. They are a definite advantage to the early level wizards.
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Hrolfgar · Post by **Hrolfgar** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 12:56 am

Having a familiar is not a necessity, but low level wizards need friends.

And as Lord Dynel points out in C&C it won't kill your wizard

serleran · Post by **serleran** » Mon Mar 29, 2010 4:55 am

At low levels, I'd rather have a longer-lasting charm person. At level 5-8, depending on what protective magic I have, I could go with a familiar... again, depending on what it is (ravens are fun, for example) and at high levels, they can be downright scary powerful allies, if you know how to use them. So, a lot truly depends. They're great buddies that can be a weakness, but so could a party member... so I don't think they're "needed" as much as "can make things more interesting."
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Arazmus · Post by **Arazmus** » Tue Mar 30, 2010 4:30 pm

Familiars good. Plus, as CK, I decide most of said familiar's actions. The wizard can sufggest of course but in the end, the familiar is my call so abuse is minimal.
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