Beneficial bug with Spugnoir's familiar

Well, I just did the first test for "The Zoo", and I have rather sad news... The first part went pretty well, the NG opening was a perfect start for killing the "Farmwizards". Eventhough one of my "Farmwizards" was LG, her familiar could only choose out of the 5 classes which you see in the first post. So, no Monkcat or Batladin... Either they do not take over their alignment, or they just can't take it because some of their startingstats are just too low.

Also, I guess getting tattoos for one of these familiar npc's is impossible, as they can't initiate a conversation with one of the tattoo "artists".

 

You could console the animals stats to match the requirements for the class you want, if they take a spot in your party that is.

 

Well, they do take a spot in your party... I guess. If the little portrait in the bottom means that. But since I never used the console, I really wouldn't know how to do that. I don't even know if its the stats or the alignment which forms the issue.
Anyhow, I'm not going to begin consoling things in now, just for the sake of curiosity. I still consider the console as a cheatcode :shrug:
In fact, I don't really mind the limited choice of classes - it's nicely old-school :goatee:

If there's people who are way more curious than me, ready to "cheat" a Batladin into their party, I will still be interested into hearing what is and is not possible with them. But I guess that my part in this chapter of ToEE is largely complete. aper:

 

Yes, its the low STR scores that are limiting your class choices.

 

I agree that the console is a definite cheat, not to mention it's a good way to mess up your game.

There are times when the console is the only way to fix a certain issue, but those are few and far between.

I guess you could put a belt of +6 strength around the kitty's waist to raise the score.

 

Debating whether of not I should console Mr. Scruffy into a 30+ STR sneak attack raging murder machine.

I'm very much against cheating in this regard ... but oh, then fun I could have.

 

Ahh, but will he still answer to "Mr. Scruffy" when he is stronger than a Frost Giant?

I think not, he will most likely consider humans as mere toys to bat around.

Of course this theory is based solely on my personal experience with the two cats we have at home.

 

OK, a few more pointers for all you animal lovers out there:

1: Familiars take in an NPC spot. As such, it is impossible to have a well balanced party with 3 or more animals in your retinue. I know, a druidic owl could sortof take the place of a cleric, but the lack of decent healing spells will hurt you in the end. A rogue needs to be human to open locks and disable traps, so that's 1 human you really need, plus an arcane caster - as the animals are not smart or charismatic enough.

2. Familiars their starting hitpoints are derived from the casters hitpoints. The best farmers are Gnome casters (+2 con) with Toughness feat (+3 Hp). Familiars will start then with 6 or 7 Hp.

3. The animal compagnon of a druid can not become an NPC, they just disappear into thin air when the druid dies.

As an encore, Spuggy the Cat now boasts a healthy 73 Hp (not overtly lucky with hit-die rolls) and when enraged he's topping a nice 91 Hp. Only my Dwarven cleric/fighter tops that when he casts Bear's Endurance upon himself. But my human partymembers are lvl 10, while Spuggy is Lvl 9.
And, Spuggy can not benefit at all from any equipment, nothing can be equipped. It can carry stuff -though not a lot- but can't use anything. Not even a belt or amulet. Which is a pity

 

Cool, a cat with 73HP.

Maybe an ion stone would help, it just needs to be in the inventory to take effect.

 

Note: I my "Zoo" workbuild, I took in a snake. I thought, "Cool, a poisoner in my midst!", but his poison is rather weak, it takes too long before it takes effect - if it already does- and it's so sloooooooooooooooow!
Better not take the snake

 

Can you give a class level of druid to your animal friend? if you can, are they able to summon an animal companion?

 

Indeed :grin: And it can cast spells... though its wisdom is 14 or 15, so don't count on a powerfull one... Still, quite nice :thumbsup:
Though they will never be true artisans, I guess :sadblinky

 

You know what? Scratch the above:



This owl is definately smarter as you would think... Despite the absence of opposable thumbs, it knows how to create things !
Besides potions, it can also write scrolls - and use them.:thumbsup:
The option to create wondrous items is there too, but I dont know if it works... the owl needs more xp for that. But I guess that's probably the only thing why it can't make any.

 

Is there anyone willing to do a comparison of all the familiars' starting stats?

 

You'll get to see an owl's start stats pretty soon. Just need 1 lvl more