Familiar Stats List

[Gnome on the Strange]

If you choose the wrong cleric domain, you can't cast spells..

I don't mean the "What domains are legal for what god" list, I mean the "What spells a domain gives you" list. For example,I have a Priest of Baravar who likes illusions. He could take Gnome, Illusion or Trickery Domains. But which one will give him the Color Spray he wants to use to show the power of distraction in battle?

"18 year old kid dabbling in magic shouldn't necessarily know what his rat, chicken etc... will be able to do by the time he turns 30."

Saying that for other mechanical factors, you would invalidate making *any* character choices based on future options, for example building a Fighter towards learning Whirlwind Attack. Or taking feats for a Prestige Class you have apped for before you ICly know that the class requires them. "I'm a Smiter of the Undead with my WF:Warammer! What's that Kelemvor, you want me to use a Bastard Sword or I can't get promoted to Champion? B'awww.... :(". Also, ICly, you'd expect the guy with the magic to be influencing the familiar's development by enhancing and experimenting with it.

Familiars can be mechanically and concept-wise an important part of a mage build. I've played at least one mage where the familiar's been as well-known as the character, and even had its own personal rivalry with a PC. I've had a trap-master wizard who would work alongside his Raven to clear an area. For both of these, the abilities of the familiars were what made them interesting and frequently used, rather than an occasional accessory.

Allowing people who don't play many wizards or sorcs to know familiar abilities through a proper list, not word of mouth or observation of other players would help them choose complementary familiars for their PC.

[RIPnogarD]

Sometimes I feel the "FOIG card" is played a bit much around here. I think there is a huge difference between what I know and what my PC would know. (Don't ya hate it when your PC is smarter than you.) Anyway, although spell casters may not technically get to pick the familiar/animal companion that shows up it doesn't mean they don't know what each could do. They may want a pseudo dragon and get a rat but they would know what both could do.

i.e.; I may be a dog person but I own a cat. Doesn't mean I don't love the cat but I do know more about dogs.

[Drakill Tannan]

Knowing what your familiar can do can help you buld up the characters personality. If you want to make an insane wizard that randomly destroys things, you should know what familiar can do that, if the wizard is some sort of spymaster, maybe he wants a familiar that can hide and spy, or one that helps him stealth etc.