| One of my favorite spells in the AD&D 2nd Edition rules
is the first-level wizard spell find familiar. and below is the little
known, but important Enhancement to the spell... Why be stuck with a
wimpy little standard cat when you yourself can cast spells to destroy armies with a single
word?...
Familiar Enhancer
Familiar Enhancer I through VIII
(Alteration, Enchantment)
Level: 2-9
Range: 10'
Components: V S, M
Duration: Permanent
Casting Time: 72 hours
Area of Effect: The caster's familiar
Saving Throw: None
This series of related enhancements are not true spells. Instead they are
special processes developed by the wizard and keyed to a type of familiar (cat,
toad, weasel, etc).
The wizard must research the process to enhance his type of familiar; each
enhancement from I to VIII, is researched as a spell of the next higher level (familiar
enhancer I is researched as a 2nd level spell, etc) according to the DMG
rules for spell research. No enhancer level can be skipped; a familiar cannot
receive familiar enhancer III until it has received familiar enhancer
II, and so on. Special familiars (imp, quasit, etc) cannot be
enhanced. For the purpose of their special powers, the spell casting ability of
the familiar is equal to the wizard.
As the enhancement of the familiar continues, the familiar should develop a
personality that seems almost human, displaying specific traits, likes,
dislikes, opinions habits and foibles (DMG table 70 may prove useful). It's
animal qualities also develop as its personality matures. A black cat might
develop discriminating and expensive tastes in food and creature comfort; a crow
might become a collector of gaudy gemstones and jewelry; and an otter might
develop a frolicsome personality combining a short attention span for serious
matters with a love for playful pranks.
The familiar takes on some of the alignment view and attitudes of its wizard,
though leaning toward the neutral alignment, a holdover from its simple animal
origin, will always remain. The familiar may tend to become more of an
independent NPC as it is enhanced. The DM should carefully consider if relaxing
the dependency on the wizard will improve the campaign play.
Familiar enhancer I
Level: 2
The familiar's intellect improves when this spell is cast,
rising into the low intelligence range of 4+1d3. The familiar can now think in
the wizard's native tongue and can communicate in words and simple sentences
with its wizard though the empathic link they share.
The familiar gains one special power from Table I. Unless
otherwise noted (or obvious), the familiar spell abilities affect only the
familiar.
Familiar enhancer II
Level: 3
The casting of this enhancer causes the familiar's intelligence to rise into the
average range of 7+1d3. the familiar can now learn to communicate in other
languages with patient tutoring by the wizard, up to the maximum number of
languages permitted by the familiar's intelligence. the wizard's native tongue,
however, remains the language in which the familiar communicates with those of
its own species. The acquisition of certain special powers may enable a familiar
to learn languages from someone other
than its wizard. The familiar gains one more special power with the casting of
this spell, as determined by a dice roll.
Familiar enhancer III
Level: 4
The familiar's intellect improves yet again into the very intelligent range of
intelligence of 10+1d2. The familiar can now he tutored lo read
languages as well as communicate them through the empathic link with its wizard.
The Familiar also acquires another special power as decided by dice roll.
Familiar enhancer IV
Level: 5
(From familiar enhancer IV through enhancer VIII, an intelligence gain is no
longer automatic. However, one or more special powers are obtained with each
enhancer version cast, as noted.)
Familiar enhancer V
Level: 6
Familiar enhancer VI
Level: 7
Familiar enhancer VII
Level: 8
Familiar enhancer VIII
Level: 9
Tables I-V describe the special powers that the familiar enhancer spells can
bestow upon familiars. Spell-like powers are assumed to have the same
characteristics as the wizard spells of the same name. Where the power mimics
the effects of a spell, the familiar is treated as being equal in experience
level to its wizard when determining the range, area of effect, duration, or
other aspects of the power, unless otherwise noted. These powers, unlike spells,
are used by the familiar only; they cannot be placed or cast upon others. Most
familiar powers are limited in the number of times per day or week they can be
used, while a few are permanent benefits usable all the time.
A familiar should develop new capabilities gradually, not in dramatic leaps in
power level A familiar shouldn't jump suddenly from intelligence 12 to
intelligence 18, but should see its intelligence rise in modest steps. A black
cat familiar should be able to speak with other felines before learning to speak
with all mammals and ultimately with all animals.
Similar powers gained in succession shouldn't be stacked atop one another but
should supplant lesser powers. The black cat's ability to speak with other
felines is replaced by the ability to speak with mammals, which is in turn
replaced by the power to speak with all animals. This keeps a familiar from
retaining lesser redundant powers as its abilities progress upward.
Specialist wizards can cause problems where familiars are concerned. Since
abjurers cannot learn alteration spells and invokers and necromancers can never
acquire enchantment spells, one or more of these specialists may be prevented
from using spells of the familiar enhancer series. Diviners and invokers,
prohibited from using conjuration/summoning spells, cannot even learn find
familiar: to encourage greater involvement of familiars in play, the DM might
bend the rules and exempt these spells from the usual prohibitions, permitting
any specialist the chance to boast of having a kindly-or cruel-animal companion.
The DM can still forbid a familiar from gaining powers that too closely resemble
those from a school of magic its wizard is barred from learning. A gnome
illusionist's ferret familiar, for instance, would never receive any abjuration
powers, in which case this ferret lacking such useful protective powers deserves
special care when the DM assigns it powers if the animal is to survive the
campaign's many perils.
Magical items, too, can help familiars play a more active role and can protect
familiars from a hostile world, so the DM might consider adding a
leg band of protection +2, a falcon hood of regeneration, or a collar bell of
opening to an adventure's treasure hoard. The DM should review what special
steps can be taken to better involve familiars at all levels of play. An animal
companion that can hold its own in a grueling campaign will make for more
memorable adventures, well worth the DM's extra work.
[Further information on familiars can be found in the following articles: "A
Cast of Strange Familiars," in DRAGON issue #84 (minor correction appears in
issue #85, page 4); "Familiars with a Special Use," in issue #86; "Dragons are
Wizards' Best Friends," in issue #146; and "Getting Familiar," in issue #l47.]
|
Table I |
| 1d100 |
Special power |
| 01-05 |
The familiar can call into existence and control one glowing sphere of
light, as described under the spell, dancing lights. This power can be
used twice per day, each use having a duration of two rounds per level of
the familiar's wizard. |
| 06-20 |
The familiar can detect magic twice per day. While the familiar can
judge the intensity of magic detected, it cannot discern the type of magic
noted, as familiars are generally unschooled in the many varieties of
magic. |
| 21-25 |
The familiar can use feather fall twice each day. |
| 26-30 |
The familiar can jump up to three times per day. Each jump has a
duration of only one round. |
| 31-40 |
The familiar can pass without trace once per day with a duration of
five rounds per level of the familiar's wizard. |
| 41-60 |
The familiar can use protection from evil on itself if the familiar's
wizard is not evil in alignment or protection from good if its wizard is
evil. This power can be used once per day with a duration of two rounds
per level of the familiar's wizard. |
| 61-75 |
The familiar can speak with animals (as per the priest spell) twice
per day, provided that the animal spoken with is of the same general
family as the familiar. A black cat could speak with any feline, an owl or
hawk could speak with any bird of prey, a toad could chat with any other
toad-like amphibian, and so on. (I know this stretches true taxonomic
classification, but let's not nit-pick.) The familiar can question and
gain answers from an animal spoken with, but it cannot obtain a favour or
exact some service, because this power confers no magical influence over
the animal.
76-80 The familiar can spider climb once per day. |
| 81-95 |
The familiar can call upon the aid of an unseen servant. An unseen
servant can be summoned no more than once each day and will serve the
familiar for up to three turns plus one turn per level of the familiar's
wizard. |
| 96-00 |
The familiar can detect one type of metal, mineral, vegetable, or
other substance, such as gold, iron, coal, diamond, catnip, wild berries,
or eucalyptus (as the DM chooses). The familiar detects the substance if
it is within a 30' radius of the familiar. This power can be used three
times per day, with each use lasting one turn. At the DM's option, the
familiar may develop an obsessive interest in the given substance. The
familiar may desire to collect the substance to the exclusion of other
materials or forms of wealth, and may search for the substance it covets
at inopportune times. |
|
Table II |
| 1d100 |
Special power |
| 01-10 |
The familiar can use blur on itself once per day. |
| 11-20 |
The familiar can affect its appearance in a way similar to the spell
change self. The familiar can change its appearance with regard to its
fur, feather, or skin color, can mold body features in subtle ways, or can
alter its size by up to 25%, but it must retain its own essential animal
form. A black cat familiar might make itself look like a smaller Siamese
cat or a larger wild cat. A screech owl might conceal its species by
changing the color of its feathers or the shape of its head. A weasel
might give itself snow white fur to blend in with a winter environment or
dark fur to be less conspicuous at night. This power can be used once per
day. |
| 21-25 |
The familiar can use comprehend languages once per day. This power
does not permit the familiar to read a written message unless the familiar
has at least an intelligence of 10. |
| 26-35 |
The familiar can detect evil once per day. |
| 36-45 |
The familiar can detect invisibility once each day. |
| 46-50 |
The familiar can grease a surface once per day. |
| 51-60 |
The familiar can use the power of protection from cantrips on itself
once per day, with a maximum duration of 24 hours. |
| 61-75 |
The familiar can speak with animals of the same biological class as
the familiar twice per day. A cat or weasel familiar could speak with any
mammal, a toad with any amphibian, a hawk or owl with any bird, or a snake
with any reptile. This power, again, confers no magical influence over the
behavior of the animal spoken with. |
| 76-80 |
The familiar gains the power to detect all concealed or secret doors
within a 10-yard radius about the familiar for a period of one round,
similar in function to the wand of secret door and trap location except
that traps cannot be located. The familiar can use this power twice per
day. |
| 81-85 |
The familiar becomes endowed with a keen sense of direction, enabling
it to identify true north with a 90% chance of accuracy. This power can be
used any number of times. If the familiar incorrectly identifies south,
east, or west as "north" (roll 1 d6 to find the wrongly identified
direction: 1-2= south, 3-4= east, 5-6= west) on a failed 1d100 roll even
once, the familiar will continue to identify the wrong direction as
"north" for the rest of the day. |
| 86-00 |
The familiar becomes able to blend in with its surroundings with a 90%
chance of success as if the familiar were wearing a ring of chameleon
power. The familiar, however, is unable to mimic the appearance of another
living creature as detailed under the ring's second function. This ability
can be used once per day with a duration of two rounds per level of the
familiar's wizard. |
| Table III |
| 1d100 |
Special power |
| 01-10 |
Once per day, the familiar can change its appearance in a manner similar
to the effect of the spell alter self. The familiar can assume the form of only
those animals the DM permits to become familiars in the campaign. A crow
familiar might choose to appear as a cat, owl, or toad, but not as a minimal,
hyena, or imp if the DM forbids these creatures from becoming familiars. |
| 11-20 |
The familiar can charm animals (as described under the priest spell, charm
person or mammal) once per week, provided the animal to be swayed is of the same
general family as the familiar. A black cat familiar could charm a fellow feline
but not a canine or rodent. Up to 1 HD of animals for every two levels of the
familiar's wizard can be charmed, so a hawk familiar to a 10th-level wizard
could affect up to 5 HD of birds of prey. The charmed animals will be under the
familiar's influence for one turn per level of the familiar's wizard. |
| 21-25 |
Once per day, the familiar can fly by sprouting a pair of wings from its
back, gaining all the flight capabilities bestowed by the spell. If
the familiar could already fly, its speed is increased by half again as much;
thus, MV 12 becomes MV 18, MV 18 becomes MV 27, MV 24 becomes MV 36, etc. |
| 26-40 |
The familiar can either use the power of invisibility on itself (50%) or
use knock (50%), once per day. |
| 41-50 |
The familiar can create mirror images of itself once per day. |
| 51-65 |
The familiar can speak with animals of any nonmagical species up to three
times each day. |
| 66-70 |
The familiar can use the power of water breathing on itself once per week. |
| 71-80 |
The familiar can locate the presence of any hostile creature within a
30-yard radius, similar to the function of a wand of enemy detection. This sense
can be employed once per day with a duration of one turn. |
| 81-85 |
Twice per day for a duration of one round per use, the familiar can detect
any traps-but not secret or concealed doors- within a 10-yard radius sphere,
comparable to the second function of a wand of secret door and trap location. |
| 86-95 |
The familiar's intellect is permanently raised into the highly intelligent
range of intelligence of 12+(1-2). |
| 96-00 |
The familiar permanently acquires the ability to speak in a normal human
voice and can converse in any language that the familiar knows. |
|
Table IV |
| 1d100 |
Special power |
| 01-10 |
The familiar can blink once per day. |
| 11-20 |
The familiar can charm animals of the same biological class as the
familiar, as described under the charm power in Table III. A toad familiar to a
14th level mage could charm up to 7 HD of fellow amphibian creatures, while a
weasel familiar could charm mammals. This power can be used once per week with a
duration of two turns per level of the familiar's wizard. |
| 21-25 |
The familiar can delude others regarding its alignment once per day. The
new alignment assumed by the familiar can even come from a creature of animal
intelligence, so the familiar could assume the neutral alignment of a common
animal and conceal its status as a familiar. |
| 26-35 |
Once per day, the familiar can use hold animal against creatures of the
same general family as the familiar itself (as detailed under the
priest spell). A cat familiar could hold a pair of lions with this power and a
snake familiar could keep immobile 1-4 boa constrictors or cobras. |
| 36-45 |
The familiar can use item once per week only inanimate, nonliving matter
can be affected with this power. The familiar cannot alter an object in the
possession of another, nor can another creature carry an object that was shrunk
by the familiar (the spell is dispelled if the object is touched). The sole use
for this power is to enable the familiar to carry an object normally too large
for the familiar's size and strength. |
| 46-55 |
The familiar can use protection from normal missiles on itself once per
week. |
| 56-65 |
Once per week, the familiar can summon animals of the same species as the
familiar, similar in effect to the spell monster summoning I. Up to one such
animal for every two levels of the familiar's wizard will appear. |
| 66-70 |
The familiar can use the power of tongues once per day, assuming the
familiar is capable of human speech; if not, re-roll this ability. |
| 71-80 |
The familiar can attain wraith form once per week. |
| 81-85 |
If the familiar is capable of human speech, it can use the gift of
glibness as described under the potion of glibness. This power can be used once
per week with a duration of one round for every level of the familiar's wizard.
If the familiar is not capable of human speech, re-roll this ability. |
| 86-95 |
The familiar's intellect rises into the exceptionally intelligent range
with an intelligence of 14+(1-2). The familiar is also treated as if having a
wisdom of 15, so the familiar receives a +1 bonus to saving throws vs. magical
attacks that affect the familiar's mind. |
| 96-00 |
The familiar gains the power to polymorph itself into a human or demihuman
form only one such form can be assumed by the familiar, and the DM must decide
the details of the familiar's humanlike appearance (eg., race, sex, height,
weight, hair type, eye color, apparent age, distinguishing features) when this
power is bestowed. The familiar retains its current hit-point total and innate
intelligence when it polymorphs, but is otherwise treated as a normal person
with AC 10, a base land-movement rate normal for that race, and average values
in all other characteristics. After assuming the form of a person, the Familiar
loses all the special abilities and sensory powers of its animal form, such as
the hawk's power of flight or the toad's wide-angle vision. Because its enhanced
senses are lost when in the form of a person, the familiar no longer grants its
wizard the +1 bonus to surprise die rolls. The familiar can change into
humanlike form once per day and can maintain this form for two turns per level
of the familiar's wizard. |
|
Table V |
| 1d100 |
Special power |
| 01-10 |
The familiar can charm any normal, nonmagical animal of any biological
class. Up to 1 HD of animals can be charmed for every two levels of the
familiar's wizard. This power can be used once per week and remains in effect
for two turns per level of the familiar's wizard. |
| 11-20 |
The familiar can use the power to dimension door once per week. Up to 200
lbs. of living or nonliving matter in the familiar's grip (claws, mouth, etc.)
can be transported along with it. |
| 21-35 |
Once per day, the familiar can use hold animal against creatures of the
same biological class as the familiar (as per the priest spell, hold animal. |
| 36-45 |
The familiar can attain a state of improved invisibility once per day. |
| 46-55 |
The familiar can use stoneskin once per month. |
| 56-70 |
Once per week, the familiar can summon animals of the same general family
as the familiar in a fashion similar to the monster summoning spells. No more
than 1d6 animals will arrive to serve the familiar, and each animal can possess
no more than 3 HD. A black cat familiar could summon cheetahs, for example, but
not tigers. |
| 71-75 |
Once per day, the familiar can use a limited form of telekinesis. The
familiar can move a weight of up to 25 lbs. at a rate of 70' per round for the
duration of this power (as per the spell). The familiar can telekinetically
manipulate an object such as a rope, lever, or key, as well. The familiar,
however, can never expend all the power's energy in a single round as wizards
can. |
| 76-80 |
The familiar if capable of speech, gains vocal powers similar to those
conferred by the philter of persuasiveness. The familiar receives a +5 bonus to
reaction rolls (assume the familiar has a charisma of 11 for such rolls). The
familiar can also make one suggestion when this power is in effect. This power
can be called upon once per day with a duration of one round per level of the
familiar's wizard. If the familiar is not capable of
speech, re-roll this ability. |
| 81-90 |
The familiar attains a genius-level intellect of intelligence 16+(1-2).
The familiar is also handled as if possessing a wisdom of 16, giving the
familiar a +2 saving throw bonus vs. magical attacks affecting the mind. |
| 91-00 |
The familiar can polymorph itself into an animal of the same general
family as the familiar. The familiar gains the natural armor class of the new
form, along with the form's physical movement rate and attack routine. The size
of the animal form assumed cannot exceed roughly 10 times the weight of the
familiar's normal form. A 15-lbs. black cat could assume the form of, say, a
750-lb. leopard, but not that of a 600-lb. tiger. The familiar retains its own
hit points, attack rolls, saving throws, and mental abilities in its new form,
but cannot use any familiar special power that is not a permanent endowment
usable all the time only the form of a natural animal can be assumed, not that
of an unnatural monster. No more than one animal form can he assumed for each
use of this power. This power can be employed once per week with a duration of
one turn per level of the familiar's wizard. |
|