Last night I was running my Torchbearer campaign and the party wizard had levelled up upon getting to town. 3rd level: so he has to choose between a spell slot or a familiar.
He says “I’m going to go for a familiar”.
I show him the book which gives a list of owl, raven, cat etc. The standard stuff. But there’s a reference there saying that you can also pick from a bigger list in the Middarmark book.
I have the Middarmark book so he decides to scour the expansion book for a familiar. He tells the table “I’m aiming to powergame if that’s ok” and we gave him our blessing.
We continue play deciding everyone’s accommodations while he looks.
“I’m tempted by the whale” he says.”Imagine us crossing the sea on whaleback!”
The other players talked him out of it. “It’ll be more complicated than you’re thinking”, “It’ll be useless 99% of the time.”
I say that all familiars have the same stats that get bigger over time. It’s the descriptors that are different. So picking something big will be a baby version that will grow up as you level up.
The wizard reconsiders and says “ok, I’m going to go for a bear! Imagine a wizard with a bear backing him up!”
“Ok”, I say, “Soon a bear cub will be drawn to you to be your familiar. What are your accommodations?”
“I’ll stay in the in the inn. But I’m looking for my bear, I think I’d be able to feel it, where’s my bear? Where’s my bear?”
He was so excited!
Another player said, “Please look after this bear, he likes marmalade sandwiches!” which got a good laugh.
I thought I’d try to do it quickly “You get to your room in the inn and you find that there is something in your bed…”
Another player says “Who’s been sleeping in MY bed?” and we all lost it!
Another player added “The owl was too small, and the whale was too big but the bear was JUST right!”
Oh my god my dark and serious tone was dealt a mortal blow.
Getting back to it, the wizard says “Anyway, my character is suffering from Exhaustion, so I want to test to recover from it. Plus one for the Inn’s bed… Plus one for my teddy bear?..”
That is all
Because they're so A-Moo-Zing.
