DeadManSeven/ExpandedFamiliars
Here's my fix on the Familiar Background. Points in Familiar can be spent in three areas (rated 0-3): Size, Intelligence, and Powers.
Size
- x: A tiny and frail animal. (Ex. butterfly, mouse)
- o: An small animal. (Ex. dog, pony)
- oo: A large animal. (Ex. horse, bear)
- ooo: A massive animal. (Ex. yeddim, hybroc)
Intelligence
- x: Basic animal intelligence. Capable of being trained like any common animal, given enough time. Alternatively, if the animal is something already quite intelligent, it possibly ignores many of the commands the character gives it.
- o: Able to understand simple commands and master complex tricks ('Get the keys,' 'Make a noise if there's somebody coming,' circus routines). The animal is capable of making itself understood to the character, but not to other unless they are very familiar with its mode of expression
- oo: Within the range of human intelligence. The animal is capable of expressing itself to anyone, through speech or an equally-complex method of communication.
- ooo: Godlike mental capacity, unrivaled by even First Age savants.
Powers
- x: Nothing save the basic abilities of the animal (claws and teeth, flight, breathing underwater).
- o: A simple innate skill, generally only able to be of use to the familiar alone. Alternatively, a weak ability able to affect others, on a similar power level to mortal thaumaturgy.
- oo: A moderate ability, with the same strength as many Charms.
- ooo: A world-shaking power, on par with the highest circles of Sorcery.
So, let's say you want to have an intelligent horse as your Eclipse diplomat's familiar. A horse is Size 2, and to make it smart enough to understand you is Intelligence 1. It doesn't have any special Powers, so your super-clever horse is Familiar 3. Alternatively, let's say you want a sorcerer-type cat familiar for your No Moon that was previously the familiar of your old incarnation, kept alive by Sorcery of some kind. A cat is Size 1, and the cast store of knowledge it has is Intelligence 3. Being an unaging cat isn't its own ability, but it's probably enough to qualify for Powers 1, making this immortal cat Familiar 5.
