Design Challenge: A level 1 Wizard spell that provides a familiar. A spell that is strong (as good as invisibility which is also level 1), provides some possibility for risk or complication, and isn’t too similar to the Ranger’s pet. Is it possible?
Design Challenge: A level 1 Wizard spell that provides a familiar.
Design Challenge: A level 1 Wizard spell that provides a familiar.
How about a ‘charm’ type spell that turns a regular animal temporarily into a familiar, with limits on duration and size (of animal), perhaps resisted by the animal’s wisdom or will.
How about a ‘charm’ type spell that turns a regular animal temporarily into a familiar, with limits on duration and size (of animal), perhaps resisted by the animal’s wisdom or will.
I was going to suggest something similar, Cuchulain Coker. A limited time effect, either one task (or set of tasks depending on success) or one scene duration.
I was going to suggest something similar, Cuchulain Coker. A limited time effect, either one task (or set of tasks depending on success) or one scene duration.
Assuming you’re talking about DW, I’ve had people in the past ask about familiars, because it’s the one thing that appears to be “missing” from the Wizard playbook. I usually have them do a Ritual, since a familiar is often a more permanent sort of thing (even in D&D it was a spell you could only cast once). Once you have the actual familiar, you can give it Hireling stats, write a custom move for it, or simply use it as fictional positioning. In all three cases, it doesn’t have to step on the Ranger’s toes. The Ranger pet should be a much more competent animal overall, while the familiar can have a narrow scope.
Assuming you’re talking about DW, I’ve had people in the past ask about familiars, because it’s the one thing that appears to be “missing” from the Wizard playbook. I usually have them do a Ritual, since a familiar is often a more permanent sort of thing (even in D&D it was a spell you could only cast once). Once you have the actual familiar, you can give it Hireling stats, write a custom move for it, or simply use it as fictional positioning. In all three cases, it doesn’t have to step on the Ranger’s toes. The Ranger pet should be a much more competent animal overall, while the familiar can have a narrow scope.
Jason Cordova or you could, after the ritual, treat it like the ranger’s animal companion (though I still like the idea of using hireling stats for intelligent familiars).
ETA: Dang! Should have finished reading your comment before I posted before I posted mine!
Jason Cordova or you could, after the ritual, treat it like the ranger’s animal companion (though I still like the idea of using hireling stats for intelligent familiars).
ETA: Dang! Should have finished reading your comment before I posted before I posted mine!
I occasionally just tell the other players that I have a pet __ or that my mount is named ___ and have yet to be told I couldn’t do that. I would love to see someone just work a familiar into their spell casting description. immediate bonus XP from me.
I occasionally just tell the other players that I have a pet __ or that my mount is named ___ and have yet to be told I couldn’t do that. I would love to see someone just work a familiar into their spell casting description. immediate bonus XP from me.
My earlier post may have seemed a bit dismissive, it was not meant that way.
so….
Name and describe your familiar. give him CON+2 hp and INT hold. when you use your familiar as the source or target (the familiar can be immune to negative effects) of a spell, spend one hold. add “my familiar loses an HP to the 7-9 options of the cast a spell move. your familiar recovers their HP and Hold when you successfully make camp. If the familiar’s HP ever reaches zero then both of you roll last breath and share the same fate.
I like this because it creates some utility from a small animal ant a large risk to the player. i can imagine a cat being sent into a tower to charm person a prince or being used to essential shoot around corners. As a DM I would avoid ever dealing more then 1HP (or maybe 1d4) to a familiar at a time and give the player a chance to roll for it’s escape. but if they are to brazen with it and its fictionally appropriate, letting your familiar die or get hurt should be very risky.
My earlier post may have seemed a bit dismissive, it was not meant that way.
so….
Name and describe your familiar. give him CON+2 hp and INT hold. when you use your familiar as the source or target (the familiar can be immune to negative effects) of a spell, spend one hold. add “my familiar loses an HP to the 7-9 options of the cast a spell move. your familiar recovers their HP and Hold when you successfully make camp. If the familiar’s HP ever reaches zero then both of you roll last breath and share the same fate.
I like this because it creates some utility from a small animal ant a large risk to the player. i can imagine a cat being sent into a tower to charm person a prince or being used to essential shoot around corners. As a DM I would avoid ever dealing more then 1HP (or maybe 1d4) to a familiar at a time and give the player a chance to roll for it’s escape. but if they are to brazen with it and its fictionally appropriate, letting your familiar die or get hurt should be very risky.
Add: “you may freely use your familiar as your eyes, ears and voice” or make that an advanced move
Add: “you may freely use your familiar as your eyes, ears and voice” or make that an advanced move
I think a wizard familiar should be basically an “animate dead” or “animate object” type of spell. Even creating golems of different elements. Think of Mickie Mouse’s brooms in Fantasia as a simple example.
The magic is very specific, tied to the wizard who cast it, and brings sort of an “unlife” to the object or creature.
Daniel Fowler’s example above seems to hit the mark pretty well, though I’d remove the “last breath” roll for the familiar, since it really isn’t alive and therefore has no relationship with Death.
I think a wizard familiar should be basically an “animate dead” or “animate object” type of spell. Even creating golems of different elements. Think of Mickie Mouse’s brooms in Fantasia as a simple example.
The magic is very specific, tied to the wizard who cast it, and brings sort of an “unlife” to the object or creature.
Daniel Fowler’s example above seems to hit the mark pretty well, though I’d remove the “last breath” roll for the familiar, since it really isn’t alive and therefore has no relationship with Death.