Brilliant Gameologists Forum

The Thinktank => Min/Max It! => : bogsnes February 14, 2009, 09:47:36 AM

: Best item familiars?
: bogsnes February 14, 2009, 09:47:36 AM
I am going to make a character (5400gp in wealth) that is going to have a item familiar, and I wondered what was the best Item Familiar to have (he is a caster). A ring seems nice, but when I gain higher levels, I feel like it is getting worse since it does not get anything new, unlike weapons which I can enchant.

Any suggestions?
: Re: Best item familiars?
: BowenSilverclaw February 14, 2009, 09:57:25 AM
Something the enemy can't get to easily, since if you lose it you're fucked...

: Re: Best item familiars?
: bogsnes February 14, 2009, 09:59:55 AM
That is not going to happen anyways because of the DM (which BTW is me!)
Like I won't target the Wizards spellbook, etc.
It does just make the game boring...
: Re: Best item familiars?
: BowenSilverclaw February 14, 2009, 10:03:43 AM
I agree on that philosophy, unfortunately not all my past DM's did, that's why I mentioned it ;)

But seriously, the main reason to have an Item Familiar (at least in my experience) is to boost your skills and get bonus XP for stuff like crafting or maybe some spells with XP components at later levels...

If you're sure that noone will steal or destroy it though, than I guess a weapon of sorts would let you use all of the options the Item Familiar feat grants, including enchanting it further :)
Even for a Wizard or something it can provide some nice options like those Initiative increasing enhancement for example or maybe Spellblade or something :D

: Re: Best item familiars?
: bogsnes February 14, 2009, 10:07:44 AM
Is there a way to improve Rings BTW?

And also, we don't have all sorts of enhancements, only the core ones, so no Eager for example.
: Re: Best item familiars?
: BowenSilverclaw February 14, 2009, 10:10:17 AM
Ah, too bad.
And no, I don't believe there are any enhancements for rings like there are for weapons...
: Re: Best item familiars?
: bogsnes February 14, 2009, 10:11:51 AM
I have heard about custom rings with spells at will before. Does anyone know where they are from?
: Re: Best item familiars?
: BowenSilverclaw February 14, 2009, 10:21:47 AM
Probably just use the custom magic item rules in the back of the DMG.
: Re: Best item familiars?
: bogsnes February 14, 2009, 11:56:52 AM
well, as earlier said, I am a caster, and I wonder what would be the best item familiar (core only) to use?

Since it is core only, I can't get Eager for example...

I do only have 5400gp in wealth, so I can't afford anything really expensive, but I want the item to be useful through the whole game...
: Re: Best item familiars?
: woodenbandman February 14, 2009, 11:57:11 AM
They cost a fuckton, though. It costs you Spell Level x Caster Level x 1800 gp. So to be useful at all, you'd sink all your resources into it (but if you got, say, shapechange or gate, you'd be pretty win forever and ever). It's really a binary I win/I don't buy it situation. It's either gamebreaking or worthless because it costs too much.

Sometimes, I think it'd be easier if the DM just priced it however they wanted. Then I remember that that sucks too. So it's all pretty weak.
: Re: Best item familiars?
: bogsnes February 14, 2009, 12:08:58 PM
where is it from?

anyways, one 1st level spell on a familiar could be nice (and giving new abilities for 50% more)...
: Re: Best item familiars?
: BowenSilverclaw February 14, 2009, 01:11:38 PM
You can still have it upgraded as a normal magic item later on when you get the cash, right?

Just use the magic item stacking rules in the back of the DMG, since you're going with core only.

: Re: Best item familiars?
: rparavicini February 14, 2009, 01:13:07 PM
How about a Headband of Intellect +2 (4kgp) which you upgrade up to +6 over time?
: Re: Best item familiars?
: bogsnes February 14, 2009, 01:26:16 PM
How about a Headband of Intellect +2 (4kgp) which you upgrade up to +6 over time?

I am probably going to have a ring or weapon because a intelligent headband is just idiotic flavor-wise

Or maybe ja rod, but that is too expensive...
: Re: Best item familiars?
: BowenSilverclaw February 14, 2009, 01:27:40 PM
Yeah, an intelligent ring totally makes sense :P

: Re: Best item familiars?
: bogsnes February 14, 2009, 01:33:26 PM
More than a headband :P
: Re: Best item familiars?
: BowenSilverclaw February 14, 2009, 01:34:21 PM
More than a headband of INTELLECT? :P

: Re: Best item familiars?
: rparavicini February 14, 2009, 01:38:42 PM
Talking to your ring is ok, but to your headband not? Ok ....

Maybe a cheap construct? Don't know if there is one in your price range.
: Re: Best item familiars?
: Agita February 14, 2009, 01:39:31 PM
Could you put a headband of intellect on your intelligent headband to make it more intelligent?
: Re: Best item familiars?
: BowenSilverclaw February 14, 2009, 01:40:28 PM
Now to add Wizard levels...


EDIT: Have it haunt-shifted by a caster of sorts or something :P

: Re: Best item familiars?
: bogsnes February 14, 2009, 01:41:36 PM
More than a headband of INTELLECT? :P

Yup :P

Talking to your ring is ok, but to your headband not? Ok ....
Yup, it is weird talking to something on your head.

Maybe a cheap construct? Don't know if there is one in your price range.

Anything like animal companion/undead minions etc. are banned.

Could you put a headband of intellect on your intelligent headband to make it more intelligent?

Strange idea...

Now to ad Wizard levels...

this is the 4th time I have tried to post this, but every time there was a new person to post before me :P
: Re: Best item familiars?
: BowenSilverclaw February 14, 2009, 01:42:17 PM
I ninja-edited ;)


:P
: Re: Best item familiars?
: bogsnes February 14, 2009, 01:43:33 PM
EDIT: Have it haunt-shifted by a caster of sorts or something :P

What the :censored is that?
: Re: Best item familiars?
: Lycanthromancer February 14, 2009, 01:48:25 PM
If you choose a ring (say, a ring of feather falling), you can always add other enhancements over time. When you can afford it, turn it into a ring of counterspells/feather falling, and then a ring of wizardry I/counterspells/feather falling, and so on.

Or you could try a hand of the mage (making it a creepy intelligent undead claw). Perfect for a necromancer-type. Especially good if you can give it some way to move on its own.
: Re: Best item familiars?
: Agita February 14, 2009, 01:49:47 PM
If you choose a ring (say, a ring of feather falling), you can always add other enhancements over time. When you can afford it, turn it into a ring of counterspells/feather falling, and then a ring of wizardry I/counterspells/feather falling, and so on.

Or you could try a hand of the mage (making it a creepy intelligent undead claw). Perfect for a necromancer-type. Especially good if you can give it some way to move on its own.
Animate Object?
: Re: Best item familiars?
: bogsnes February 14, 2009, 01:49:55 PM
If you choose a ring (say, a ring of feather falling), you can always add other enhancements over time. When you can afford it, turn it into a ring of counterspells/feather falling, and then a ring of wizardry I/counterspells/feather falling, and so on.

Or you could try a hand of the mage (making it a creepy intelligent undead claw). Perfect for a necromancer-type. Especially good if you can give it some way to move on its own.

I am probably going to be a Conjurer...

Or maybe a Transmuter since we are going to have a ScM...
: Re: Best item familiars?
: BowenSilverclaw February 14, 2009, 01:50:47 PM
ScM?

I thought you said Core-only? :P
: Re: Best item familiars?
: bogsnes February 14, 2009, 02:32:28 PM
ScM?
I thought you said Core-only? :P

Magic Items...

Don't want to print too much...

I am personally a Wizard/Anima Mage//Binder/something with DFA or Warlock, and I am aiming for Incantatrix...

I am printing most of the PrCs, etc. we are using, but Magic Item printing seems like a waste...
: Re: Best item familiars?
: Bell February 14, 2009, 03:54:44 PM
Could you put a headband of intellect on your intelligent headband to make it more intelligent?

Yo Dawg, we put a Headband of Intellect on your Headband of Intellect so it can think while you think.


not the greatest yo dawg, but it was the best I could come up with.
: Re: Best item familiars?
: EjoThims February 14, 2009, 07:56:04 PM
not the greatest yo dawg, but it was the best I could come up with.

I think the end made it.
: Re: Best item familiars?
: bogsnes February 15, 2009, 07:51:00 AM
I think I am going with a Ring of Sustenance, and upgrade it later with some spells, but I have not decided it fully yet.
: Re: Best item familiars?
: The_Mad_Linguist February 15, 2009, 08:04:36 AM
Well, in terms of raw optimization power, you can't go wrong with taking the landlord feat and making a burning flying castle be your item familiar.  Sunder THAT.

Oh, and you can upgrade it easily.  Especially since landlord scales with level and there are so many nice wondrous architectures
: Re: Best item familiars?
: Akalsaris February 15, 2009, 04:43:38 PM
Heh, that's pretty sick.  Reminds me of Howl's Moving Castle, actually.

I mght make a villain based on that idea, come to think of it.  Trick the players into his castle, then have the castle-familiar start opening and closing doors and shit on them.  It could fit into my current game pretty easily.
: Re: Best item familiars?
: bogsnes February 16, 2009, 11:05:55 AM
Well, in terms of raw optimization power, you can't go wrong with taking the landlord feat and making a burning flying castle be your item familiar.  Sunder THAT.

Oh, and you can upgrade it easily.  Especially since landlord scales with level and there are so many nice wondrous architectures

I am not trying to break the game. And also, it won't be sundered
: Re: Best item familiars?
: bayar February 16, 2009, 11:30:03 AM
Talking to your ring is ok, but to your headband not? Ok ....

It is ok to talk to your ring. Just ask Smeagol.

BTW, is there anywhere a ring that grants you extended life ? I can imagine one that lets you become etheral...
: Re: Best item familiars?
: bogsnes February 16, 2009, 11:36:32 AM
Talking to your ring is ok, but to your headband not? Ok ....

It is ok to talk to your ring. Just ask Smeagol.

 :lmao :lmao :lmao
: Re: Best item familiars?
: Widow March 05, 2009, 03:48:49 PM
I was always a fan of using a magic tattoo as an Item familar (monk tattoo is an example of a magic tattoo).  Put it on your torso someplace, if you loss your torso you have greater worries than your item familar.  Using core rules for custom item creation, it could just be a slotless item. 

If you are going with a ring, you might as well make it out of adamantine to increase its chances of survival.  Plus why not make a magic ring out of some cool materials.
: Re: Best item familiars?
: Lycanthromancer March 05, 2009, 06:38:39 PM
Well, you could get a crafter wight. It'd be an 'item familiar' in more ways than one.
: Re: Best item familiars?
: PhaedrusXY March 07, 2009, 05:37:11 PM
Well, you could get a crafter wight. It'd be an 'item familiar' in more ways than one.
You mean a dedicated wright. Right? :D Although a dedicated wight might be useful, if you need a spawn army.
: Re: Best item familiars?
: bayar March 07, 2009, 08:46:05 PM
Could you make an item familiar out of any of the following ?

The wizard's spellbook
The barbarian's codpiece
The rogue's alchemical tooth
The paladin's stick
The bard's flute
The clerics holy symbol
The fighters weird looking sword that gives him super strenght
That thing that surpasses the succubus's damage reduction
: Re: Best item familiars?
: Bozwevial March 07, 2009, 08:57:37 PM
It needs to be worth at least 2000 gp and have a permanent magical effect the character knows how to use. Also, the character has to be able to use the item itself. So unless you have a +2 codpiece of sizing, probably not.
: Re: Best item familiars?
: Straw_Man March 07, 2009, 09:40:26 PM

 
Could you make an item familiar out of any of the following ?

That thing that surpasses the succubus's damage reduction

  You mean c#$k?
: Re: Best item familiars?
: Echoes March 07, 2009, 10:41:53 PM

 
Could you make an item familiar out of any of the following ?

That thing that surpasses the succubus's damage reduction

  You mean c#$k?

You need to attack her weak spot for MASSIVE DAMAGE!!!

Erm, anyway ...
: Re: Best item familiars?
: Straw_Man March 07, 2009, 11:08:46 PM

 
Could you make an item familiar out of any of the following ?

That thing that surpasses the succubus's damage reduction

  You mean c#$k?

You need to attack her weak spot for MASSIVE DAMAGE!!!


  For treasure type O anyway  :P
: Re: Best item familiars?
: bayar March 08, 2009, 09:58:05 AM
Was thinking more in the lines of

[spoiler](http://www.headinjurytheater.com/dnd%20dyll%20phallic%20fliers.jpg)[/spoiler]

but if you suffered an unfortunate smelting accident or your robot creation suddently went berzerk and cut out a "major" portion of you, then you could use your c#$k.
: Re: Best item familiars?
: PhaedrusXY March 10, 2009, 04:14:12 AM
Could you make an item familiar out of any of the following ?

The wizard's spellbook
You just gave me an awesome idea... What about making a Legacy Item that's a spellbook? Aren't those things nearly indestructible?

Edit: Not quite, but they can be "reforged" if broken. Hmm... what if all the pages were made of Aurorum?
: Re: Best item familiars?
: Operation Shoestring March 12, 2009, 06:17:28 PM
Could you make an item familiar out of any of the following ?

The wizard's spellbook
You just gave me an awesome idea... What about making a Legacy Item that's a spellbook? Aren't those things nearly indestructible?

Edit: Not quite, but they can be "reforged" if broken. Hmm... what if all the pages were made of Aurorum?

You want to make a spellbook out of celestial steel?  Given that most wizards dump STR, how are you going to carry it?
: Re: Best item familiars?
: PhaedrusXY March 12, 2009, 07:22:41 PM
Could you make an item familiar out of any of the following ?

The wizard's spellbook
You just gave me an awesome idea... What about making a Legacy Item that's a spellbook? Aren't those things nearly indestructible?

Edit: Not quite, but they can be "reforged" if broken. Hmm... what if all the pages were made of Aurorum?

You want to make a spellbook out of celestial steel?  Given that most wizards dump STR, how are you going to carry it?
Bag of Holding, DUH! :D
: Re: Best item familiars?
: Bert March 26, 2009, 04:03:05 PM
A Boccob's Blessed Book.  You will use it forever (although you might get more than one...be careful your first doesn't get jealous!), and there are tons of 'protect your spellbook' options out there.
: Re: Best item familiars?
: PhaedrusXY March 27, 2009, 05:11:33 PM
Could you put a headband of intellect on your intelligent headband to make it more intelligent?
Now to add Wizard levels...


EDIT: Have it haunt-shifted by a caster of sorts or something :P


Maybe I should do this with my character in "Death of an Artist". I could be my own Item Familiar. :D