Familiars, Extended table version.

==================================

 

by Jens-Arthur Leirbakk

 

Sorry for the sometimes strange spacing, but Word Perfect doesn'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.

 

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 is possible for the player to either add or subtract the wizard's level to the roll, or whole levels thereof, inorder 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

 

Back to the treasure chest

Main page