The World of Layonara

The Layonara Community => Ask A Gamemaster => Topic started by: gilshem ironstone on May 31, 2010, 04:32:15 PM

Title: Uncommon Familiars
Post by: gilshem ironstone on May 31, 2010, 04:32:15 PM
I had an idea for a sorcerer whose familiar is a snake. (Save your Voldemort jokes). I was wondering if this is possible. I of course understand that it would not be mechanically represented in game, but could it be used as an RP familiar for quests and such?
Title: Re: Uncommon Familiars
Post by: RollinsCat on May 31, 2010, 04:35:03 PM
Is that a snake in your pocket or are you just happy to see me?





















//had to.  just had to.
Title: Re: Uncommon Familiars
Post by: Hellblazer on May 31, 2010, 04:46:33 PM
*tries not to laugh*

Soooo.. wrong...
Title: Re: Uncommon Familiars
Post by: gilshem ironstone on May 31, 2010, 05:06:12 PM
I hate you guys.
Title: Re: Uncommon Familiars
Post by: Ravemore on May 31, 2010, 05:42:00 PM
//lol
Title: Re: Uncommon Familiars
Post by: gilshem ironstone on May 31, 2010, 06:00:46 PM
Thanks for reminding me Ravemore.

//I hate you guys.
Title: Re: Uncommon Familiars
Post by: Masterjack on May 31, 2010, 06:46:02 PM
I'm not sure about a familiar, but as a pet sure. I know Sallaron had a pet White Faced Belarian Monkey named Screech for the longest time. It had no mechanical benefit but sure was fun to RP with. I believe a GM even gave him a certificate of ownership and an icon to carry in his inventory.
Title: Re: Uncommon Familiars
Post by: Lance Stargazer on May 31, 2010, 07:03:35 PM
And that monkey eventually passed to Sall's son Trouble Tempest and was Rped to be with him till the passing of the sweet monkey, I've never seen Trouble invoking any other "familiar" or "companion".

Still a snake is not really quite friendly, I don't know if even animal empathy can be used with them, On a wizard familiar it would be a bit more tricky due the bond beetwen the master and the familiar.
Title: Re: Uncommon Familiars
Post by: Hellblazer on May 31, 2010, 07:25:10 PM
Quote from: Masterjack
I'm not sure about a familiar, but as a pet sure. I know Sallaron had a pet White Faced Belarian Monkey named Screech for the longest time. It had no mechanical benefit but sure was fun to RP with. I believe a GM even gave him a certificate of ownership and an icon to carry in his inventory.


Didn't one of lynn2010 chars have a pet rat at one point? So yeah quite possible as a pet. As a summon.. well why would he have a summon snake, but summon something else mechanically? Needs a rp flesh out to the why.

Quote from: Lance Stargazer
Still a snake is not really quite friendly, I don't know if even animal empathy can be used with them, On a wizard familiar it would be a bit more tricky due the bond beetwen the master and the familiar.


In game? No, because they are not tagged as animals, but as critters or something like that, I forget the right term used.
Title: Re: Uncommon Familiars
Post by: Alatriel on May 31, 2010, 07:28:15 PM
Actually I'm pretty sure Ireth had a pet rat.  Other option would be to take a pseudodragon familiar and name it "Snake" and then just tell people it's a snake *Shrugs*   Use your imagination?  And if it's a ranger character, it wouldn't be all that odd to have a snake I suppose if you can animal empathy a snake.  Who knows?  it's a game, we have imaginations... yeah.  :)
Title: Re: Uncommon Familiars
Post by: Hellblazer on May 31, 2010, 07:30:45 PM
AAh yes. Now it's coming back. it was Ireth.
Title: Re: Uncommon Familiars
Post by: Link092 on May 31, 2010, 08:10:23 PM
yar, vermin they be;
swarthy creatures of land and sea.



I still think it would be awesome if there was some sort of extension pack for familiars, but that's just me. :D
Title: Re: Uncommon Familiars
Post by: gilshem ironstone on May 31, 2010, 08:45:48 PM
That is a brilliant idea. In AD&D there was a pretty big chart'o'familiars. *Goes to call Bioware*
Title: Re: Uncommon Familiars
Post by: Acacea on May 31, 2010, 09:34:08 PM
You can add new familiars. Someone at one point redid the system more to PnP style and put it on the vault, as well. It's just that you can't just add a snake and call it done, heh. You have to add all 40 levels of snake and someone to balance it and all that.

I never really liked most of the familiars, especially when DMs were still trying to tell people it was a "low magic" world. It doesn't really matter as much anymore, even if some are still kind of silly, or would be more fun to only be accessed later.
Title: Re: Uncommon Familiars
Post by: Link092 on May 31, 2010, 10:00:36 PM
Quote from: Acacea
You can add new familiars. Someone at one point redid the system more to PnP style and put it on the vault, as well. It's just that you can't just add a snake and call it done, heh. You have to add all 40 levels of snake and someone to balance it and all that.

I never really liked most of the familiars, especially when DMs were still trying to tell people it was a "low magic" world. It doesn't really matter as much anymore, even if some are still kind of silly, or would be more fun to only be accessed later.


This is true, Acacea. This is true.
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