Familiar help

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Having looked at the new familiars (3.5e) and realised they're pathetic, can anyone give me details of the following please:
1. Find Familiar spell
2. Pseudo-Dragon familiar
3. Fairy Dragon Familiar

Many thanks

 

Yeah, most of them aren't too good... However, I think there was the provision in the DM guide to get better familiars but only if you are higher level.
Me, I go with the raven. I don't think it's that crappy, but it could be improved. I sure wish there'd be a familiar like the NWN panther

 

There is the 'Improved Familiar' feat. Altough I don't know were. You can choose small outsider with it, aomong others.

The raven is a good choice, because it can speak. Very useful for scouting. Even better with an invisibility spell.

 

There is a bit of info about faerie dragons in the Draconomicon. I haven't looked to thoroughly through my books, but there might be something in the Complete Arcane.

From the PHB listing, I'd take the raven for its speaking ability.

[ November 18, 2005, 22:14: Message edited by: kuemper ]

 

No such thing as find familiar spell in 3.5e. You just start out with one.

 

Ravens are the best of hte basic options, since they can speak and thus, theoretically, activate command-word magic items. For real fun, learn the feat "Still Spell", and argue that your familiar with an 10 intelligence should be able to cast stilled cantrips on its own, since it can speak.

However, there is the improved familiar feat in the DMG (and the SRD; see here: http://d20srd.org/srd/feats.htm#improvedFamiliar). It does not improve your existing familiar, but it allows you to choose a better familiar. Your familiar can also choose feats as you level up, and should, in theory, be getting skill points, as well (though one could argue that it does not, but instead partakes of your skill points).

Pseudodragons make great familiars, as do tressym (winged cats from Forgotten Realms). The problem with Faerie Dragons is that it is often that you are their improved familiar, not the other way around.

 

If a moderator is lurking could they close this topic please, I've found what I wanted.

/big hugs to kuemper for her help

 

I dislike the fact that familiars are part of the starting package for Sorcerers and Wizards. I never bother getting one when it was just an option. If I were to play either of these classes, I'd ask my DM to let me modify the class and ditch the whole familiar feature and get another benefit instead (maybe an extra feat at first level.)

The improved familiar feat in the DMG doesn't do much for me either.

[ November 24, 2005, 20:27: Message edited by: LKD ]

 

LKD, if you want to exchange your familiar for other benefits, you should take a look at Unearthed Arcana (the book). There's various specialist abilities that are allowed instead of a familiar.

Not all DMs appreciate the book though, (because it's essentially a 'variant rules' book) so your mileage may vary. Personally I think the specialist abilities provide extra flavour.

 

I'll have to take a peek at that supplement. I should mention, though, that the players guide and the DMG both have some general guidelines for "tweaking" classes.