I am running a LN Paladin of Conquest and will be picking up Magic Initiate (wizard) to get Find Familiar. I know an owl is the most advantageous for combat reasons, but I was searching for something with more "out of combat" versatility. I have been looking at the weasel (stealth, perception, keen smell and hearing), spider (climb, darkvision), or a homebrew hummingbird (stats below). These are all great sentries and provide good versatility in urban and forest environments.
Has anyone seen a broad play-test of various familiars and noticed more "out of combat" versatility over others?
Hummingbird (Bird, Tiny) (Celestial), Armor Class: 13, Hit Points 1 (1d4-1), Speed: 5 ft. fly 50 ft., STR 1 (-6), DEX 15 (+3), CON 7 (-2), INT 2 (-4), WIS 12 (+1), CHA 6 (-2), Skills: Perception +3, Stealth +5, Senses: passive Perception 13, Special: Hummingbirds can hover, fly sideways, and backwards. Alert: Always on the lookout for danger, they gain the following benefits: +5 bonus to initiative, can’t be surprised while conscious, and other creatures don’t gain advantage on attack rolls against them as a result of being hidden.
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IMHO, Earthdawn is still the best fantasy realm, Shadowrun is the best Sci-Fi realm, and Dark Sun is the best D&D realm.
The most versatile familiar is the one where the wizard changes its form as needed throughout the campaign. Taking advantage of that ability is important for really effective familiar use, even if you're limited to one change a day by Magic Initiate.
Certain critters are more or less noticeable in certain places; taking advantage of the ubiquity of rats or spiders in urban environments makes as much sense as making use of a weasel or hawk's improved stats in wilderness areas.
Personally, when I'm not Chainlocking like a boss, I'm a fan of the crow/raven as a 'base' form. It's unremarkable in most places so can scout without standing out, its perception is assbutts but it's also got normal senses rather than "Literally Just Short-Range Blindsight" like some of the critters on the list, and the Mimicry ability can allow for some interesting distraction or 'Haunting' plays.
I was contemplating a crow because my paladin is against battlefields and large scale warfare. The crows after a battle. picking at the dead is a powerful visual to always carry on your shoulder, reminding him of what he is working for.
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IMHO, Earthdawn is still the best fantasy realm, Shadowrun is the best Sci-Fi realm, and Dark Sun is the best D&D realm.
For non-combat versatility, the owl is still good because of its senses. A bat is also good because of its blindsight, and a raven because of its mimicry.
Yurei1453, you make a very good point. I keep thinking of the familiar as being a symbol, or static creation representing some component of my character. It is not, it is just a spell which can be as versatile as it needs to be. As long as my GM allows me to keep a few bundles of materials and I carry around a bronze bowl large enough to place on the campfire, I can adjust my spell to fit the scenario. I still like the idea of a Paladin of Conquest with a hummingbird as his symbol. Very true symbology to the knights of old who used flowers and things of beauty as battlefield adornments.
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IMHO, Earthdawn is still the best fantasy realm, Shadowrun is the best Sci-Fi realm, and Dark Sun is the best D&D realm.
If a particular familiar form appeals to you as a symbol of your character, then absolutely. One doesn't need to change it around, they can have this icon of their character that helps them roleplay. If you're concerned with mechanical versatility however, and getting the greatest amount of toothpaste from that tube, then one could state that 'The Familiar' is a spirit bound to the caster which can take on whichever forms the caster needs at the time.
Frumpkin, from Critical Role's Wildemount campaign, is a good example. Frumpkin prefers to be a cat (and Caleb prefers fro Frumpkin to be a cat), but he's content to be an octopus, or a sparrow, or a monkey, or an owl, or a whatever-else-Caleb-needs. His form is mutable but his basic persona is not - he's Frumpkin the wizard cat, regardless of what he happens to look like at the time. That could be a tack to take for your paladin as well - whichever form the familiar is using, it's still Crittername, your loyal crowmingbird.
I am using a mink (essentially a weasel) as my familiar when I am a Bard. My DM let me buy a scroll to get a familiar and then I heard that by RAW I couldn't do this. My mink, his nickname is W&L, can appear to be my pet and part of my act, but he is also able to snoop around into places I can't go. He is an awesome sentry if I have to crash and there are not enough party members to pull a proper overnight watch.
I fear a spider could get squashed or eaten too easily by a bird.
Having a familiar is really great!
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Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
I am using a mink (essentially a weasel) as my familiar when I am a Bard. My DM let me buy a scroll to get a familiar and then I heard that by RAW I couldn't do this. My mink, his nickname is W&L, can appear to be my pet and part of my act, but he is also able to snoop around into places I can't go. He is an awesome sentry if I have to crash and there are not enough party members to pull a proper overnight watch.
I fear a spider could get squashed or eaten too easily by a bird.
Having a familiar is really great!
Can't you just take find familiar as one of your magical secrets?
The pygmy seahorse is one of 9 known species of pygmy seahorse. Due to their amazing camouflage ability and tiny size, many pygmy seahorse species have only been discovered over the past 10 years, and more may be discovered. In addition, many species have different color morphs, making identification even more difficult.
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"Semper in faecibus sumus, solum profundum variat" playing since 1986
The pygmy seahorse is one of 9 known species of pygmy seahorse. Due to their amazing camouflage ability and tiny size, many pygmy seahorse species have only been discovered over the past 10 years, and more may be discovered. In addition, many species have different color morphs, making identification even more difficult.
Ok, cool, but is it relevant?
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'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
Well there are 15 possible familiars listed on the spell and those are how I ranked them. The pact of the chain familiars are easily the best. Any possible familiars added by campaigns vary but would be better than anything not in top 10 at least.
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I am running a LN Paladin of Conquest and will be picking up Magic Initiate (wizard) to get Find Familiar. I know an owl is the most advantageous for combat reasons, but I was searching for something with more "out of combat" versatility. I have been looking at the weasel (stealth, perception, keen smell and hearing), spider (climb, darkvision), or a homebrew hummingbird (stats below). These are all great sentries and provide good versatility in urban and forest environments.
Has anyone seen a broad play-test of various familiars and noticed more "out of combat" versatility over others?
Hummingbird (Bird, Tiny) (Celestial), Armor Class: 13, Hit Points 1 (1d4-1), Speed: 5 ft. fly 50 ft., STR 1 (-6), DEX 15 (+3), CON 7 (-2), INT 2 (-4), WIS 12 (+1), CHA 6 (-2), Skills: Perception +3, Stealth +5, Senses: passive Perception 13, Special: Hummingbirds can hover, fly sideways, and backwards. Alert: Always on the lookout for danger, they gain the following benefits: +5 bonus to initiative, can’t be surprised while conscious, and other creatures don’t gain advantage on attack rolls against them as a result of being hidden.
IMHO, Earthdawn is still the best fantasy realm, Shadowrun is the best Sci-Fi realm, and Dark Sun is the best D&D realm.
The most versatile familiar is the one where the wizard changes its form as needed throughout the campaign. Taking advantage of that ability is important for really effective familiar use, even if you're limited to one change a day by Magic Initiate.
Certain critters are more or less noticeable in certain places; taking advantage of the ubiquity of rats or spiders in urban environments makes as much sense as making use of a weasel or hawk's improved stats in wilderness areas.
Personally, when I'm not Chainlocking like a boss, I'm a fan of the crow/raven as a 'base' form. It's unremarkable in most places so can scout without standing out, its perception is assbutts but it's also got normal senses rather than "Literally Just Short-Range Blindsight" like some of the critters on the list, and the Mimicry ability can allow for some interesting distraction or 'Haunting' plays.
Please do not contact or message me.
I was contemplating a crow because my paladin is against battlefields and large scale warfare. The crows after a battle. picking at the dead is a powerful visual to always carry on your shoulder, reminding him of what he is working for.
IMHO, Earthdawn is still the best fantasy realm, Shadowrun is the best Sci-Fi realm, and Dark Sun is the best D&D realm.
For non-combat versatility, the owl is still good because of its senses. A bat is also good because of its blindsight, and a raven because of its mimicry.
Yurei1453, you make a very good point. I keep thinking of the familiar as being a symbol, or static creation representing some component of my character. It is not, it is just a spell which can be as versatile as it needs to be. As long as my GM allows me to keep a few bundles of materials and I carry around a bronze bowl large enough to place on the campfire, I can adjust my spell to fit the scenario. I still like the idea of a Paladin of Conquest with a hummingbird as his symbol. Very true symbology to the knights of old who used flowers and things of beauty as battlefield adornments.
IMHO, Earthdawn is still the best fantasy realm, Shadowrun is the best Sci-Fi realm, and Dark Sun is the best D&D realm.
If a particular familiar form appeals to you as a symbol of your character, then absolutely. One doesn't need to change it around, they can have this icon of their character that helps them roleplay. If you're concerned with mechanical versatility however, and getting the greatest amount of toothpaste from that tube, then one could state that 'The Familiar' is a spirit bound to the caster which can take on whichever forms the caster needs at the time.
Frumpkin, from Critical Role's Wildemount campaign, is a good example. Frumpkin prefers to be a cat (and Caleb prefers fro Frumpkin to be a cat), but he's content to be an octopus, or a sparrow, or a monkey, or an owl, or a whatever-else-Caleb-needs. His form is mutable but his basic persona is not - he's Frumpkin the wizard cat, regardless of what he happens to look like at the time. That could be a tack to take for your paladin as well - whichever form the familiar is using, it's still Crittername, your loyal crowmingbird.
Please do not contact or message me.
I am using a mink (essentially a weasel) as my familiar when I am a Bard. My DM let me buy a scroll to get a familiar and then I heard that by RAW I couldn't do this. My mink, his nickname is W&L, can appear to be my pet and part of my act, but he is also able to snoop around into places I can't go. He is an awesome sentry if I have to crash and there are not enough party members to pull a proper overnight watch.
I fear a spider could get squashed or eaten too easily by a bird.
Having a familiar is really great!
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
Can't you just take find familiar as one of your magical secrets?
Familiars can't attack so it doesn't matter about their attack. Choose what you want!!
'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
I'll worldbuild for your DnD games!
Just a D&D enjoyer, check out my fiverr page if you need any worldbuilding done for ya!
In order from most to least useful familiars:
"Not all those who wander are lost"
The pygmy seahorse is one of 9 known species of pygmy seahorse. Due to their amazing camouflage ability and tiny size, many pygmy seahorse species have only been discovered over the past 10 years, and more may be discovered. In addition, many species have different color morphs, making identification even more difficult.
playing since 1986
Ok, cool, but is it relevant?
'The Cleverness of mushrooms always surprises me!' - Ivern Bramblefoot.
I'll worldbuild for your DnD games!
Just a D&D enjoyer, check out my fiverr page if you need any worldbuilding done for ya!
But they're on the top 10 list so they cant be that bad...
You're right let me fix that. Better.
Its still on the list. ;)
https://youtu.be/zMRrNY0pxfM
(So you're telling me there's a chance? YEAH!!)
Well there are 15 possible familiars listed on the spell and those are how I ranked them. The pact of the chain familiars are easily the best. Any possible familiars added by campaigns vary but would be better than anything not in top 10 at least.