Familiars, Extended table version.
| Familiars, Extended Table Version |
by Jens-Arthur Leirbakk
E-mail: leirbakk@pvv.org
Of course, I retain author's rights for this text in its entirety. This is
primarily to prevent T$R from just grabbing this text, though I doubt they
find the quality good enough to do such a thing. Oh well, it all boils down
into the big company vs. the little man thing, I suppose. The table is
not copyrighted, and all is free to use and modify this piece of this text
with abandon.
Sorry for the sometimes strange spacing, but the text processor I used didn't like to do
much formatting.
This is a small table produced for the first level spell Find Familiar in
the AD&D fantasy roleplaying system. Though many of the familiars in this
table are relatively powerful, I find that a wizard truly relishes the
opportunity to have an especially rare familiar, and will go to great
lengths to protect his or hers familiar. Nevertheless, I suggest that
this table is only used when the wizard calling a familiar is relatively
powerful, i.e. about 7th level.
The familiars are all taken from the 2nd Edition Monstrous Manual, and the
page numbers refer to this work. For all of those that does not have this
work of art, I can highly recommend it. Though the art in the book is of
varying quality, most of it is of such an exceptional quality that I truly
enjoy just browsing through the book.
Also, some of the familiars given here have specific alignment requirements.
If a wizard tries to call a familiar with an incompatible alignment
requirement, the spell fails, and the wizard must wait a year (or, if the
DM is merciful, a level, whatever comes first) before trying again.
Some of these familiars are regarded as monsters (they are!), and even
though the wizard (and maybe the party) can come to terms with cuddling with
an auromvorax (for instance), towns the party arrives to may not be as
understanding - and in some towns, the inhabitants may be downright hostile.
|
When a wizard receives a truly exceptional familiar, the DM is encouraged to
give the party some roleplaying problems in order to impress that the
familiar is rare. Also, always remember that the DM has the final say-so
on a familiar's availability or not. If the DM rules that there is no
familiar of the indicated sort in the vicinity, the spell fails, with the
normal effects. |
This table is primarily intended for the DM to use, i.e. that the player of
the wizard is not allowed to look at the table when casting the Find
Familiar spell, even though it is common that the player is allowed to roll
the dice. I suggest that it should be possible for the player to either add or
subtract the wizard's level to the roll, or whole levels thereof, in
order to simulate a very powerful wizard's control of the spell. I also
suggest that no wizards except Conjurers and Summoners are allowed to look
at the table when deciding what familiar the spell calls, in order to
simulate these specialists' greater control over this kind of spell.
Nevertheless, the DM is free to exercise the right of ruling the spell to
be a failure. Note that a roll of 00 (100), or a modified roll of 00
(100) lets the player choose the kind of familiar called. If the player
chooses munchkinwise, however, the DM is free to rule the spell to be a
failure. Also, with intelligent familiars there are great possibilities of
roleplaying between the familiar and the wizard. In addition to this, it is
common that in order for an intelligent monster to become the familiar of a
wizard, some sort of bargain must be negotiated between the familiar and the
wizard. I suggest that such a bargain will function as a Geas spell, and the
contract should be written down. Note that it is possible to subtly modify
the Find Familiar spell with such a contract, like specifying a length of
servitude.
Enough patter, let's get down to the business at hand. To roll on this
table, there is a rather unusual dice rolling method suggested, as the
number of entries on the table makes it difficult to just roll so-and-so
many dice. Roll 1d100 (1d10 twice, with first tens and then ones, with
00 as 100), and then roll 1d6. 1-3: 1d100 roll as normal. 4-6: add 100 to
the roll. If the roll is more than the number of entries on the table,
reroll. Also, remember the level modifications.
Feel free to add your own creatures, and remove those that you find overly
powerful. Unfortunately, this table has not undergone any playtesting, but
I intend to use it first chance. Please mail me with any suggestions for
additions.
| Here are some examples of how the table was intended to work: |
Example #1: A 5th level mage tries to call a familiar. The player rolls 120
(20, and 5 on 1d6), and chooses not to modify the roll. He gets to choose
any snake as his familiar (lucky roll).
Example #2: A 10th level mage tries to call a familiar. The player rolls 90,
and modifies with his level so that he gets 100. He gets to choose any
familiar he wants (lucky thaumaturge).
Example #3: A 20th level mage tries to call a familiar. The player rolls 04,
and modifies with 3 downwards so that the mage calls an aurumvorax. Regard:
A happy 20th level mage.
Roll Familiar Page Alignment Requirements Special |
01 Aurumvorax 10 None Needs gold in diet
02 Bat, Common 15 None None
03 Bat, Large 15 None None
04 Bat, Huge 15 Any Evil None
05 Bat, Azmyth 15 Any Neutral or Good None
06 Bat, Night Hunter 15 Any Evil None
07 Bat, Sinister 15 Lawful Evil None
08 Bat, Choose Any 15 As creature chosen None
09 Giant Beetle, Bombardier18 None None
10 Giant Beetle, Boring 18 None None
11 Giant Beetle, Fire 18 None None
12 Giant Beetle, Rhino 18 None None
13 Giant Beetle, Stag 18 None None
14 Giant Beetle, Water 18 None None
15 Giant Beetle, Choose Any18 None None
16 Bird, Blood Hawk 27 None None
17 Bird, Boobrie 27 None None
18 Bird, Condor 27 None None
19 Bird, Crow 27 None None
20 Bird, Giant Eagle 27 None None
21 Bird, Eagle 27 None None
22 Bird, Eblis 27 Any Evil 10% chance for spellcaster
23 Bird, Emre 27 None None
24 Bird, Falcon 27 None None
25 Bird, Flightless 27 None Can not fly
26 Bird, Large Hawk 27 None None
27 Bird, Kingfisher 27 None None
28 Bird, Owl 27 None Nocturnal
29 Bird, Giant Owl 27 Any Neutral or Good Nocturnal
30 Bird, Talking Owl 27 Any Good Needs bargain
31 Bird, Raven 27 None None
32 Bird, Huge Raven 27 None None
33 Bird, Giant Raven 27 Any Neutral or Evil None
34 Bird, Skyfisher 27 None None
35 Bird, Swan 27 None None
36 Bird, Vulture 27 Any Neutral or Evil Scavenger
37 Bird, Giant Vulture 27 Any Neutral or Evil Scavenger
38 Bird, Choose Any 27 As creature chosen As creature chosen
39 Brain Mole 29 Any Psionivores (eats Psionics)
40 Great Cat, Cheetah 36 None None
41 Great Cat, Jaguar 36 None None
42 Great Cat, Leopard 36 None None
43 Great Cat, Common Lion 36 None None
44 Great Cat, Mountain Lion36 None None
45 Great Cat, Spotted Lion 36 None None
46 Great Cat, Giant Lynx 36 None Needs bargain
47 Great Cat, Choose Any 36 None As creature chosen
48 Small Cat, Domestic 38 None None
49 Small Cat, Wild 38 None None
50 Small Cat, Elven 38 Any Neutral or Good Needs bargain
51 Small Cat, Choose Any 38 As creature chosen As creature chosen
52 Centipede, Giant 42 None None
53 Centipede, Huge 42 None None
54 Centipede, Megalo- 42 None Needs bargain
55 Centipede, Choose Any 42 None As creature chosen
56 Cockatrice 45 None None
57 Pyrolisk 45 None None
58 Displacer Beast 56 Lawful Evil Needs bargain
59 Dog, Wild 57 None None
60 Dog, War 57 None None
61 Dog, Blink 57 Lawful Good Needs bargain
62 Dog, Death 57 Neutral Evil Needs bargain
63 Dog, Choose Any 57 As creature chosen As creature chosen
64 Dragonet, Faerie Dragon 89 Any Good Needs bargain
65 Dragonet, Fire Drake 90 None None
66 Dragonet, Pseudodragon 91 Any Neutral or Good Needs bargain
67 Dragonet, Choose Any 89-91 As creature chosen As creature chosen
68 Frog, Giant 119 None None
69 Frog, Killer 119 None None
70 Frog, Poisonous 119 None None
71 Frog, Choose Any 119 None None
72 Gloomwing, Moth 157 None None
73 Gremlin, Gremlin 174 Any Evil Needs bargain
74 Gremlin, Fremlin 174 Any Neutral or Good Will not fight; needs bargain
75 Gremlin, Galltrit 174 Any Evil Needs bargain
76 Gremlin, Mite 174 Any Evil Needs bargain
77 Gremlin, Snyad 174 Any Neutral Needs bargain
78 Gremlin, Choose Any 174 As creature chosen As creature chosen
79 Imp 201 Lawful Evil Needs bargain
80 Quasit 201 Chaotic Evil Needs bargain
81 Insect, Choose Any 204 None None, though diet may be a problem
82 Insect Swarm, Ants 206 None None, though limited lifespan
83 Insect Swarm, Hoppers 206 None None, though limited lifespan
84 Mammal, Wild Baboon 241 None None
85 Mammal, Badger 241 None None
86 Mammal, Banderlog 241 None None
87 Mammal, Bhaergala 241 None Needs bargain
88 Mammal, Wild Boar 241 Any Chaotic Needs bargain
89 Mammal, Chattur 241 None None
90 Mammal, Cooshee 241 Any Neutral or Good Needs bargain; caller should be elf
91 Mammal, Dakon 241 None Needs bargain
92 Mammal, Debbi 241 None None
93 Mammal, Goat 241 None None
94 Mammal, Gorilla 241 None None
95 Mammal, Hyena 241 None None
96 Mammal, Jackal 241 None None
97 Mammal, Monkey Spider 241 None Needs bargain
98 Mammal, Skunk 241 None None
99 Mammal, Sleek 241 None None
100 Player's Choice Any As creature chosen As creature chosen
101 Mammal, Tyrg 241 Any Neutral or Evil None
102 Mammal, Warthog 241 None None
103 Mammal, Weasel 241 None Needs bargain
104 Mammal, Wolverine 241 None None
105 Mammal, Choose Any 241 As creature chosen As creature chosen
106 Small Mammal, Choose Any244 None None
107 Rat, Normal 300 None None
108 Rat, Giant 300 None None
109 Scorpion, Large 309 None None
110 Snake, Amphisbaena 320 None None
111 Snake, Boalisk 320 None None
112 Snake, Constrictor 320 None None
113 Snake, Giant Constrictor320 None None
114 Snake, Heway 320 Any Evil None
115 Snake, Poison 320 Any Neutral or Evil None
116 Snake, Giant Poison 320 Any Neutral or Evil None
117 Snake, Spitting 320 Any Neutral or Evil None
118 Snake, Jaculi 320 As species None
119 Snake, Winged 322 None None
120 Snake, Choose Any 320/322 As creature chosen As creature chosen
121 Spider, Hairy 326 Any Evil None
122 Spider, Large 326 Any Neutral or Evil None
123 Spider, Choose Any 326 As creature chosen None
124 Stirge 332 Any Neutral or Evil None
125 Giant Toad, Ordinary 345 None None
126 Giant Toad, Fire 345 None Needs bargain
127 Giant Toad, Ice 345 Any Neutral Needs bargain
128 Giant Toad, Poisonous 345 Any Neutral or Evil None
129 Giant Toad, Choose Any 345 As creature chosen As creature chosen
130 Wolf, Common 362 None None
131 Wolf, Worg 362 Any Neutral or Evil None
132 Wolf, Dire 362 None Needs bargain
133 Wolf, Winter 362 Any Evil Needs bargain
134 Wolf, Choose Any 362 As creature chosen As creature chosen