Point buy is an interesting concept, but I play with plenty of folks who would see that and just not take a familiar because it looks too complicated.
5e (and 2024) first and foremost are about onboarding new players. Just picking yourself a little critter is fun, and they wanted it to be accessible.
But yeah, owl is the best on paper. Although it's not like it's breaking the game. Anything using the help action to flap in the face of deadly enemies should not live very long unless the DM is being very nice - even with flyby it is not hard to kill an owl. It's honestly more fun to pick something that fits your character and find ways for it to be useful.
Isn't he adorable? He'd also comfortably fit on my thumb nail.
Adorbs. There's also Lucas the Spider. Lucas would be a fantastic familiar. I don't know why 5e removed Fine, Diminutive, and Colossal sizes. My only guess is that it is related to flattening the curve on D&D math in general, similar to how they removed +4 and +5 weapons and armor.
Tiny is cat sized and smaller so the spider is tiny.
Isn't he adorable? He'd also comfortably fit on my thumb nail.
Adorbs. There's also Lucas the Spider. Lucas would be a fantastic familiar. I don't know why 5e removed Fine, Diminutive, and Colossal sizes. My only guess is that it is related to flattening the curve on D&D math in general, similar to how they removed +4 and +5 weapons and armor.
Tiny is cat sized and smaller so the spider is tiny.
Yeah, but this is one place the math really shouldn't be flattened. The relative size difference between the cat and that spider is greater than between the cat and a huge dragon.
Isn't he adorable? He'd also comfortably fit on my thumb nail.
Adorbs. There's also Lucas the Spider. Lucas would be a fantastic familiar. I don't know why 5e removed Fine, Diminutive, and Colossal sizes. My only guess is that it is related to flattening the curve on D&D math in general, similar to how they removed +4 and +5 weapons and armor.
Tiny is cat sized and smaller so the spider is tiny.
Yeah, but this is one place the math really shouldn't be flattened. The relative size difference between the cat and that spider is greater than between the cat and a huge dragon.
The mechanics tend to assume the point of view of a Medium or Small creature with a 65% chance of success. They took away many of the differences between the two. If we were to bring back in Fine and Diminutive creatures, their AC and Stealth bonus would probably be abnormally high and HP abnormally low for a given challenge. It may turn combat encounters into multiple whiffs followed by a one-hit KO. I can see why they would want to avoid that.
Isn't he adorable? He'd also comfortably fit on my thumb nail.
Adorbs. There's also Lucas the Spider. Lucas would be a fantastic familiar. I don't know why 5e removed Fine, Diminutive, and Colossal sizes. My only guess is that it is related to flattening the curve on D&D math in general, similar to how they removed +4 and +5 weapons and armor.
Tiny is cat sized and smaller so the spider is tiny.
Yeah, but this is one place the math really shouldn't be flattened. The relative size difference between the cat and that spider is greater than between the cat and a huge dragon.
The mechanics tend to assume the point of view of a Medium or Small creature with a 65% chance of success. They took away many of the differences between the two. If we were to bring back in Fine and Diminutive creatures, their AC and Stealth bonus would probably be abnormally high and HP abnormally low for a given challenge. It may turn combat encounters into multiple whiffs followed by a one-hit KO. I can see why they would want to avoid that.
A really tiny creature should have incredibly high stealth and be hard to hit. This is a 'the 5e rules aren't doing what I need them to do' thing.
Current rules, you shrink yourself to the size of a door mouse, and you're no better at hiding/sneaking than you were as a medium creature. That's mindbogglingly stupid.
Meanwhile, there's almost no justification for keeping the small/medium distinction - they might as well have reduced all PC races to one size class and been done with it.
Meanwhile, there's almost no justification for keeping the small/medium distinction - they might as well have reduced all PC races to one size class and been done with it.
There are ... small distinctions. The mount you can ride is one. Who you can push and grapple is another. That would be a better discussion for another thread though. The familiar size generally doesn't matter unless your DM allows you to pull shenanigans with technicalities using unique stat blocks.
Haungharassk is a unique creature but is a CR 0 Beast so technically fits the bill. It has some magical effects that make it fairly potent. The biggest part of is amazing if you need it., but useless if you don't. Also, it's Huge and will likely have more hit points than its master for several levels.
Onyx is another unique creature that has mechanics based on assuming that you have been shrunk down to the point that this otherwise Tiny cat is Huge. It would be particularly busted as a Warlock familiar. However, the cat itself is Tiny and this stat block represents you being kitty treat sized. Still... the zoomies to be had.
A Giant Fly is Large and has a fly speed of 60. I don't think it's intended to be used as a familiar, but it technically fits the bill.
Apart from that:
the Space Guppy is pretty cool. Fly-by attack and an air envelope to breathe in any environment.
Also from Spelljammer, the Space Mollymawk is an excellent stand-in for a pelican.
Kingsport is a unique creature but I think the stat block is supposed to represent a generic penguin rather an exceptional specimen or situation like Haungharassk and Onyx. Using it for a penguin familiar should be fine but check with your DM first.
The mascot familiars from Strixhaven are also cool (requires a feat but these can attack if you give up your attack action; the fractal mascot can vary its size between Tiny and Huge).
Mordekanen also has the Gaze if you are level 3+. I assume the full array of Rays are available as a familiar.
A few of the options have Pact Tactics but that is wasted on a normal familiar. A Warlock familiar can attack and benefit from the trait.
Deers, Goats, Hyenas, and Pigs also fit the requirements for a familiar and being Medium sized, should be eligible to be treated as an independent mount. Peacocks and Vultures are Medium but I have trouble seeing them as a suitable mount.
Point buy is an interesting concept, but I play with plenty of folks who would see that and just not take a familiar because it looks too complicated.
5e (and 2024) first and foremost are about onboarding new players. Just picking yourself a little critter is fun, and they wanted it to be accessible.
But yeah, owl is the best on paper. Although it's not like it's breaking the game. Anything using the help action to flap in the face of deadly enemies should not live very long unless the DM is being very nice - even with flyby it is not hard to kill an owl. It's honestly more fun to pick something that fits your character and find ways for it to be useful.
My homebrew subclasses (full list here)
(Artificer) Swordmage | Glasswright | (Barbarian) Path of the Savage Embrace
(Bard) College of Dance | (Fighter) Warlord | Cannoneer
(Monk) Way of the Elements | (Ranger) Blade Dancer
(Rogue) DaggerMaster | Inquisitor | (Sorcerer) Riftwalker | Spellfist
(Warlock) The Swarm
I don't want some Lovecraftian Australian abomination. I want this adorable little guy:
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/5/5e/Attulus_distinguendus.jpg
Isn't he adorable? He'd also comfortably fit on my thumb nail.
Adorbs. There's also Lucas the Spider. Lucas would be a fantastic familiar. I don't know why 5e removed Fine, Diminutive, and Colossal sizes. My only guess is that it is related to flattening the curve on D&D math in general, similar to how they removed +4 and +5 weapons and armor.
Tiny is cat sized and smaller so the spider is tiny.
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.
Yeah, but this is one place the math really shouldn't be flattened. The relative size difference between the cat and that spider is greater than between the cat and a huge dragon.
The mechanics tend to assume the point of view of a Medium or Small creature with a 65% chance of success. They took away many of the differences between the two. If we were to bring back in Fine and Diminutive creatures, their AC and Stealth bonus would probably be abnormally high and HP abnormally low for a given challenge. It may turn combat encounters into multiple whiffs followed by a one-hit KO. I can see why they would want to avoid that.
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.
A really tiny creature should have incredibly high stealth and be hard to hit. This is a 'the 5e rules aren't doing what I need them to do' thing.
Current rules, you shrink yourself to the size of a door mouse, and you're no better at hiding/sneaking than you were as a medium creature. That's mindbogglingly stupid.
Meanwhile, there's almost no justification for keeping the small/medium distinction - they might as well have reduced all PC races to one size class and been done with it.
There are ... small distinctions. The mount you can ride is one. Who you can push and grapple is another. That would be a better discussion for another thread though. The familiar size generally doesn't matter unless your DM allows you to pull shenanigans with technicalities using unique stat blocks.
Apart from that:
How to add Tooltips.
My houserulings.