The PHB suggests a handful of creatures that can act as a familiar. However, there are more exotic choices available in other sources, at the GM's discretion, such as the Cranium Rat, the Tressym, or even a Gazer.
Has anyone used any of the offbeat choices? Or something else entirely? It seems like taking any tiny, CR 0 creature as a familiar wouldn't be out of bounds.
It all depends on what the DM will allow. Any player wanting a small or tiny creature that will act as their familiar should discuss it with the DM. Many DMs will find some way to make it work usually. I have seen a couple of gazers, a pixie, and a faerie dragon over the last year act as familiars in some of the games I've been in. The CR limit doesn't have to be 0, but should be low, the overall idea is for it to be a familiar not a beast companion that attacks.
By the rules of the Find Familiar spell, it can't attack at all, regardless of the base creature. That's why I'm curious how people have handled Gazers, for example; they don't come to you by the spell, so their eye stalk attacks are legal, but that's all in the realm of "GM discretion."
There are two types of familiar - the one granted by the spell and the dodgy little terrors in the MM who turn up and pretend to be familiars with none of the rules of the spell, they just lounge around the caster. If they die they are dead, and more importantly they will leave, or sabotage you and leave if your styles diverge.
Dont trust them, get a real spellbound familiar and relax safe in the knowledge it isnt changing out your healing potions for poison when you sleep.
It all depends on what the DM will allow. Any player wanting a small or tiny creature that will act as their familiar should discuss it with the DM. Many DMs will find some way to make it work usually. I have seen a couple of gazers, a pixie, and a faerie dragon over the last year act as familiars in some of the games I've been in. The CR limit doesn't have to be 0, but should be low, the overall idea is for it to be a familiar not a beast companion that attacks.
By the rules of the Find Familiar spell, it can't attack at all, regardless of the base creature. That's why I'm curious how people have handled Gazers, for example; they don't come to you by the spell, so their eye stalk attacks are legal, but that's all in the realm of "GM discretion."
I use a Tressym as a familiar. In that case, it was per Storm King's Thunder, another option of the Find Familiar, so by the terms of that spell, it can't attack. But we actually used a bat in the beginning that was reskinned. Very close in the effect I wanted (see invisible things).
Now in the case of RP agreement of say a Pseudodragon because that is a unique individual I would do the following as a DM:
You must still use Find Familiar to bind to each other so you can't have another familiar, and to allow the communication and see through eyes.
It can attack using its normal attacks
It is not under the player control (The DM runs it like a hireling)
And if it dies...it dies. Recasting Find Familiar will not bring it back. You could use revivify
There isn't a RAW on this, so it is DM's prerogative.
Sorry, I know this is several years old now, but this post just reminded me of a campaign I ran where a Triton party member had a quasit familiar named Bubbles. Good times. Bubbles could turn into a crab (walking), an octopus (swimming), or a blue booby (flying) and he was truly a joy to have. I never had any issues with balancing.
Anything that's allowed RAW, I would allow my players to have as a familiar. I'm sure there's something in there that's broken, but I haven't had to deal with it from my players yet.
I've used Inkling, the Strixhaven (like the Harry Potter school sort of) mascot/familiar for the college of Silverquill. Each house has a different mascot but they are tied to a feat you need to take. The feat comes with a couple of advantages (free find familiar as a ritual, the familiars can attack using yoru turn, you can switch places with them etc). Iinking is a great (and stealthy) familiar, my favorite of the 5. Pest (Witherbloom) is my least favorite. The Statue (Lorehold) is probably my second favorite, but for a specific character build. I'm running a Loxodon (custom character creation) Quandrix mage now, and the Fractal mascot is decent, but I'm not spending a feat for it. I already took Fey Touched to get Gift of Alacrity.
I played a Transmutation wizard in an evil campaign. As I am an optimizer I wanted the owl familiar but wanted something that felt a little less cute. My DM allowed a flying snake since the Zhets use them as familiars. 6 more HP is not much when the DM is focusing attacks on them. Most familiar do not get focused over players unless you cast Dragon’s Breath on them.
This article is poorly written as far as knowing these familiars and their abilities well, but it does list the weird ones too like crawling claw, tressym, strixhaven mascots, and warlock pact of the chain familiars: Best Familiars In Dungeons & Dragons (thegamer.com).
I've used Inkling, the Strixhaven (like the Harry Potter school sort of) mascot/familiar for the college of Silverquill. Each house has a different mascot but they are tied to a feat you need to take. The feat comes with a couple of advantages (free find familiar as a ritual, the familiars can attack using yoru turn, you can switch places with them etc). Iinking is a great (and stealthy) familiar, my favorite of the 5. Pest (Witherbloom) is my least favorite. The Statue (Lorehold) is probably my second favorite, but for a specific character build. I'm running a Loxodon (custom character creation) Quandrix mage now, and the Fractal mascot is decent, but I'm not spending a feat for it. I already took Fey Touched to get Gift of Alacrity.
College, not house. Furthermore, there are significant differences between Strixhaven and Hogwarts.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
I reserve the right to /stillme for any reason whatsoever.
I believe a "Familiar" is a "Spirit" that takes the form of an animal.
Back when I played AD&D, before 1982, I rolled and was able to have a Pseudo Dragon. That was considered the absolute best combination you could get.
Recently, my DM allowed my Bard to case Find Familiar by using a scroll. I asked him if I could have a "mink", which is a weasel in a fine fur coat. He said "yes." But then he nurfed the familiar so I could not do most of the shenanigans folks like to use familiars for. Generally I couldn't have him scout ahead. He would "get scared" and run back. I was able to cast a spell that would deliver invisibility using touch on our Rogue if he got into a real problem when he scouted ahead.
So Pseudo Dragons or Minks are at the top of my list.
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt
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The PHB suggests a handful of creatures that can act as a familiar. However, there are more exotic choices available in other sources, at the GM's discretion, such as the Cranium Rat, the Tressym, or even a Gazer.
Has anyone used any of the offbeat choices? Or something else entirely? It seems like taking any tiny, CR 0 creature as a familiar wouldn't be out of bounds.
By the rules of the Find Familiar spell, it can't attack at all, regardless of the base creature. That's why I'm curious how people have handled Gazers, for example; they don't come to you by the spell, so their eye stalk attacks are legal, but that's all in the realm of "GM discretion."
There are two types of familiar - the one granted by the spell and the dodgy little terrors in the MM who turn up and pretend to be familiars with none of the rules of the spell, they just lounge around the caster. If they die they are dead, and more importantly they will leave, or sabotage you and leave if your styles diverge.
Dont trust them, get a real spellbound familiar and relax safe in the knowledge it isnt changing out your healing potions for poison when you sleep.
Lovecraftian familiars. Brain cylinder, Dreamlands cat, Brazen head, or if you’re a power gaming a tiny proto-shaggoth.
I use a Tressym as a familiar. In that case, it was per Storm King's Thunder, another option of the Find Familiar, so by the terms of that spell, it can't attack. But we actually used a bat in the beginning that was reskinned. Very close in the effect I wanted (see invisible things).
Now in the case of RP agreement of say a Pseudodragon because that is a unique individual I would do the following as a DM:
There isn't a RAW on this, so it is DM's prerogative.
Sorry, I know this is several years old now, but this post just reminded me of a campaign I ran where a Triton party member had a quasit familiar named Bubbles. Good times. Bubbles could turn into a crab (walking), an octopus (swimming), or a blue booby (flying) and he was truly a joy to have. I never had any issues with balancing.
Anything that's allowed RAW, I would allow my players to have as a familiar. I'm sure there's something in there that's broken, but I haven't had to deal with it from my players yet.
I've used Inkling, the Strixhaven (like the Harry Potter school sort of) mascot/familiar for the college of Silverquill. Each house has a different mascot but they are tied to a feat you need to take. The feat comes with a couple of advantages (free find familiar as a ritual, the familiars can attack using yoru turn, you can switch places with them etc). Iinking is a great (and stealthy) familiar, my favorite of the 5. Pest (Witherbloom) is my least favorite. The Statue (Lorehold) is probably my second favorite, but for a specific character build. I'm running a Loxodon (custom character creation) Quandrix mage now, and the Fractal mascot is decent, but I'm not spending a feat for it. I already took Fey Touched to get Gift of Alacrity.
Food, Scifi/fantasy, anime, DND 5E and OSR geek.
I played a Transmutation wizard in an evil campaign. As I am an optimizer I wanted the owl familiar but wanted something that felt a little less cute. My DM allowed a flying snake since the Zhets use them as familiars. 6 more HP is not much when the DM is focusing attacks on them. Most familiar do not get focused over players unless you cast Dragon’s Breath on them.
This article is poorly written as far as knowing these familiars and their abilities well, but it does list the weird ones too like crawling claw, tressym, strixhaven mascots, and warlock pact of the chain familiars: Best Familiars In Dungeons & Dragons (thegamer.com).
Food, Scifi/fantasy, anime, DND 5E and OSR geek.
College, not house. Furthermore, there are significant differences between Strixhaven and Hogwarts.
I reserve the right to /stillme for any reason whatsoever.
The fires of Hell scorch you,
My vengeance terrible,
I, ascendant,
Above the flames of
The Inferno,
Of whom the lowest and most torturous
of circles is
Reserved for traitors.
The dead shall
Laugh at
Your eternal fate
Your sins
Shall return
To mock
And torment you.
I said "like" and ""sort of" and yes "college" instead of house.
Food, Scifi/fantasy, anime, DND 5E and OSR geek.
“Each house has a different mascot”. Exact words. Also, please quote the post you’re responding to.
I reserve the right to /stillme for any reason whatsoever.
The fires of Hell scorch you,
My vengeance terrible,
I, ascendant,
Above the flames of
The Inferno,
Of whom the lowest and most torturous
of circles is
Reserved for traitors.
The dead shall
Laugh at
Your eternal fate
Your sins
Shall return
To mock
And torment you.
OK, they are colleges. :) Which is your favorite and least favorite of the mascots. My favorite is Inkling and least favorite by far is pest.
Food, Scifi/fantasy, anime, DND 5E and OSR geek.
Same.
I reserve the right to /stillme for any reason whatsoever.
The fires of Hell scorch you,
My vengeance terrible,
I, ascendant,
Above the flames of
The Inferno,
Of whom the lowest and most torturous
of circles is
Reserved for traitors.
The dead shall
Laugh at
Your eternal fate
Your sins
Shall return
To mock
And torment you.
I believe a "Familiar" is a "Spirit" that takes the form of an animal.
Back when I played AD&D, before 1982, I rolled and was able to have a Pseudo Dragon. That was considered the absolute best combination you could get.
Recently, my DM allowed my Bard to case Find Familiar by using a scroll. I asked him if I could have a "mink", which is a weasel in a fine fur coat. He said "yes." But then he nurfed the familiar so I could not do most of the shenanigans folks like to use familiars for. Generally I couldn't have him scout ahead. He would "get scared" and run back. I was able to cast a spell that would deliver invisibility using touch on our Rogue if he got into a real problem when he scouted ahead.
So Pseudo Dragons or Minks are at the top of my list.
Cum catapultae proscriptae erunt tum soli proscript catapultas habebunt