The Planar Vagabond's Guide to the Multiverse

Familiar

A familiar is a powerful, otherworldly being in the form of a tiny creature, usually bound to serve a spellcaster.

• Immune to damage from non-magical weapons.
• Gets 1 attack per round (via bite, claw, or similar) with a bonus equal to 1/2 summoner’s total levels / HD (round up).
  • Counts as a magical attack.
• Intelligent and capable of speaking.
  • Knows at least one language known by summoner, plus 1d4 others.
• Disappears instantly if ever attacked by summoner, who must Save vs Spells or roll on the Breach of Covenant table.

Summoning

A familiar is summoned via the Find Familiar spell.

• Only spellcasters can summon familiars.

Example Forms

Mundane

• al-mir-aj
• cat
• dog
• gecko
• hawk
• owl
• rabbit
• raven
• vampire bat

Exotic

• ball of energy
• cherub (small angel)
• dancing sword
• djinn (tiny)
• floating eyeball
• flaming skull
• imp (small demon)
• spectral spirit (small)
• sprite
• wyrmette

Bound Familiars

Once a spellcaster has summoned and struck a bargain with a familiar, that familiar becomes bound to them.

• They can be re-summoned with a successful CHA check, instantly appearing within 30’ of the summoner (1d4-1 x 10’).
  • On a fail, roll to determine how long before Familiar arrives (as above).
• They can be (temporarily) dismissed at will, moving out of sight and vanishing.
• They can perceive magic items around them (as if able to cast Detect Magic at will).
• While within 30’ of their summoner, they can serve as the originating point of spells the summoner casts.
• They can perform 1 service per day in exchange for a favor:
  • Teach summoner a spell.
    • Each familiar can do it a maximum of 1d4+1 times to a summoner.
    • First one doesn’t require a favor.
    • Spell is determined randomly.
    • Takes 1 hour per level of spell being learned, can be done either all at once or over time.
  • Grant summoner one extra spell slot of their highest level until end of day.
  • Save summoner from a violent death, but each familiar can only do this once ever.
  • Other: scouting, combat, etc
• Only 1 familiar can be bound to a given spellcaster at a time.
• Once the bond is made, it can only be broken by mutual agreement or death.

Favors

Favors are small, often strange requests that a familiar may make in exchange for a service, such as:

• Asking summoner to collect specific treasure (including apparently worthless items),
• Asking summoner not to use a specific spell or ability, or
• Asking summoner to undertake a nearby side quest or perform a service of their own.