Just starting a new campaign with a an Oath of Devotion Paladin. (Fairly new to online DnD so kept the subclass simple.) Call me crazy, but I'm in love with the notion of having a familiar, even though I'm not playing a class who usually has them... I saw that I could take a Feat, 'Magic Initiate', at 4th level and use the Wizard spell 'Find Familiar' and I'd be going about with a regal owl on my shoulder in no time. (Owl because they don't provoke opportunity attacks when moving out of harm's way).
So I know the familiar can expend the action 'Help' on its turn and give me an advantage on my attack roll (not sure if just to 'hit' or 'damage' advantage also). Also, it can perform my Touch spells at long range for me. And it can use a medical kit to tend to the injured while I'm fighting. Oh, and it makes a great scout as I can see through it's eyes while it's flying.
That's enough for me to get one instead of an ability score improvement but I am wondering if I am missing some other good ways for a Paladin to utilize a familiar, particularly in combat.
Does anyone have any imaginative ideas on how to get the most out of your familiar when playing a Paladin?
I think you’ve about covered it. Just fyi, there is no such thing as damage advantage, the help advantage only applies to your to hit. That would really be the biggest benefit is granting you advantage, so you can hit and smite more reliably, and crit more often. Also, I don’t think it can use a healer’s kit. It doesn’t have the anatomy necessary, nor the knowledge. But if your DM oks it, then sure.
Also keep in mind that while you are seeing through its eyes, you can’t see through your own.
The perched on the shoulder thing can get sticky. When you’re walking around, yes. But in combat, a creature can’t end its move in an occupied square. The exception is mounted combat, but in that scenario, you would be the mount. Basically, it can’t just sit on your shoulder granting you permanent-advantage; it has to move around.
And remember they’re pretty fragile. They may not draw OAs, but if someone attacks it, or it’s caught in an AoE, it dies fast.
Yeaaah, I now see what I'd be missing out on as a Paladin if I took the Magic Initiate feat. Makes me a weaker Paladin. My DM suggested I get one level in Wizard instead, an overall stronger character. However, I'm pretty new at this and the idea of multi-classing is a bit overwhelming... If what I mentioned before is the sum of what I can do with a familiar, maybe it's not a smart idea to get one right now. (If it dies, I can just recast the spell, but that doesn't help me in the midst of battle...) Decisions, decisions... Looks like I have to hit the books again! Thanks for the input :)
Oh, if you're new, try to stay away from multi-classing. It can really lead you toward an ineffective character.
As far as the magic initiate feat making you a weaker pally. I don't know if weaker is the right word. You won't be as good at the traditional paladin jobs. Typically, pallys want a high str and con, and a good solid cha. So often, they need to use their feats to help boost those stats, or just take the asi to boost them. But that doesn't mean you'll necessarily be ineffective. You'll just have a different skill set, including some abilities most pallys don't have. IN exchange, you'll hit about 5% less often. Or your boost to ally saves will be one less than it would otherwise have been. You'll still be effective. And if you think you'll have more fun with an owl familiar, then go for it.
Another option is to talk to your DM about just having a pet owl. Make a deal that you won't ever actually use it mechanically, or try to gain some advantage from it. You just, for the sake of flavor, want an owl on your shoulder. They may be willing to work something out.
You're right about multi-classing. Right now I'm playing a Paladin, Druid and a Sorcerer for the first time in 3 different campaigns. I just need to learn how to play a Paladin well, without complicating it. (DnD doesn't take much time to actually play, 3 campaigns are 9hrs/week, but the prep and learning beforehand takes time!) Thinking a Polearm Master feat at 4th would be better for the character than a familiar. Or maybe Great Weapon Master. Don't think I'd be effective enough without one of them. I did so want that owl though... perhaps my sorcerer can get one. Or maybe I can get one at a higher level. The pet idea is something I will think about. Thanks for hashing it out with me!
Another way to look at this. Ask your DM about an owl instead of a horse when you get to casting the Paladin Find Steed spell. You have to wait til level 5, but this way you get to keep your stat bump or a more relevant feat.
While you can't see through its eyes, it should be able to Help as well, and you can telepathically communicate with each other, which is practically just as good.
"you have an instinctive bond with it that allows you to fight as a seamless unit." - I wonder what actions the DM would allow it to perform, perhaps more than the 'help' allowed a familiar...
Definitely going to do this at 5th level. Thanks! :)
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Hey there,
Just starting a new campaign with a an Oath of Devotion Paladin. (Fairly new to online DnD so kept the subclass simple.) Call me crazy, but I'm in love with the notion of having a familiar, even though I'm not playing a class who usually has them... I saw that I could take a Feat, 'Magic Initiate', at 4th level and use the Wizard spell 'Find Familiar' and I'd be going about with a regal owl on my shoulder in no time. (Owl because they don't provoke opportunity attacks when moving out of harm's way).
So I know the familiar can expend the action 'Help' on its turn and give me an advantage on my attack roll (not sure if just to 'hit' or 'damage' advantage also). Also, it can perform my Touch spells at long range for me. And it can use a medical kit to tend to the injured while I'm fighting. Oh, and it makes a great scout as I can see through it's eyes while it's flying.
That's enough for me to get one instead of an ability score improvement but I am wondering if I am missing some other good ways for a Paladin to utilize a familiar, particularly in combat.
Does anyone have any imaginative ideas on how to get the most out of your familiar when playing a Paladin?
I think you’ve about covered it. Just fyi, there is no such thing as damage advantage, the help advantage only applies to your to hit. That would really be the biggest benefit is granting you advantage, so you can hit and smite more reliably, and crit more often.
Also, I don’t think it can use a healer’s kit. It doesn’t have the anatomy necessary, nor the knowledge. But if your DM oks it, then sure.
Also keep in mind that while you are seeing through its eyes, you can’t see through your own.
The perched on the shoulder thing can get sticky. When you’re walking around, yes. But in combat, a creature can’t end its move in an occupied square. The exception is mounted combat, but in that scenario, you would be the mount. Basically, it can’t just sit on your shoulder granting you permanent-advantage; it has to move around.
And remember they’re pretty fragile. They may not draw OAs, but if someone attacks it, or it’s caught in an AoE, it dies fast.
Yeaaah, I now see what I'd be missing out on as a Paladin if I took the Magic Initiate feat. Makes me a weaker Paladin. My DM suggested I get one level in Wizard instead, an overall stronger character. However, I'm pretty new at this and the idea of multi-classing is a bit overwhelming... If what I mentioned before is the sum of what I can do with a familiar, maybe it's not a smart idea to get one right now. (If it dies, I can just recast the spell, but that doesn't help me in the midst of battle...) Decisions, decisions... Looks like I have to hit the books again! Thanks for the input :)
Oh, if you're new, try to stay away from multi-classing. It can really lead you toward an ineffective character.
As far as the magic initiate feat making you a weaker pally. I don't know if weaker is the right word. You won't be as good at the traditional paladin jobs. Typically, pallys want a high str and con, and a good solid cha. So often, they need to use their feats to help boost those stats, or just take the asi to boost them. But that doesn't mean you'll necessarily be ineffective. You'll just have a different skill set, including some abilities most pallys don't have. IN exchange, you'll hit about 5% less often. Or your boost to ally saves will be one less than it would otherwise have been. You'll still be effective. And if you think you'll have more fun with an owl familiar, then go for it.
Another option is to talk to your DM about just having a pet owl. Make a deal that you won't ever actually use it mechanically, or try to gain some advantage from it. You just, for the sake of flavor, want an owl on your shoulder. They may be willing to work something out.
You're right about multi-classing. Right now I'm playing a Paladin, Druid and a Sorcerer for the first time in 3 different campaigns. I just need to learn how to play a Paladin well, without complicating it. (DnD doesn't take much time to actually play, 3 campaigns are 9hrs/week, but the prep and learning beforehand takes time!) Thinking a Polearm Master feat at 4th would be better for the character than a familiar. Or maybe Great Weapon Master. Don't think I'd be effective enough without one of them. I did so want that owl though... perhaps my sorcerer can get one. Or maybe I can get one at a higher level. The pet idea is something I will think about. Thanks for hashing it out with me!
Another way to look at this. Ask your DM about an owl instead of a horse when you get to casting the Paladin Find Steed spell. You have to wait til level 5, but this way you get to keep your stat bump or a more relevant feat.
While you can't see through its eyes, it should be able to Help as well, and you can telepathically communicate with each other, which is practically just as good.
What a great find!
"you have an instinctive bond with it that allows you to fight as a seamless unit." - I wonder what actions the DM would allow it to perform, perhaps more than the 'help' allowed a familiar...
Definitely going to do this at 5th level. Thanks! :)