Step 1 to making a Familiar more interesting for me would be to introduce cosmetic options for their visualization. Basically we need some form of character creation option here, or it's always going to seem sorta lackluster.
Like let me choose a color and a name for them, then, even if they're not mechanically useful, I'm suddenly way more attached to whichever specific Familiar.
Currently the familiars feel like generic summons, and it feels the same for every character. What if I want a blue wizard to summon the Blue Frog? Or I don't know, but something along those lines. Maybe find familiar Rat becomes more interesting when I can give 'em names like Templeton or Mrs. Frisbe and that displays when I cursor over the character.
I also think any familiar is going to need something like the Help action to make them worth bringing along. The basic actions Help/Dash/Jump/Hide etc. They should be at least as good at causing a distraction as minor illusion.
Right now Scratch feels like the default Familiar/Animal companion but he is very much a set character with an established visualization and a name. I'd like something custom where I can say pick a breed/basic phenotype, perhaps choosing a bark set, a coat color (major and minor, perhaps some spots or stripes) and then a collar color ROYGBIV. When they do stuff like that the familiar feels like part of the overall Character concept for a PC, rather than a summoning spell.
There are so many Animals in this game, many with personalities, and it would be cool to befriend any of them to slot into the role if the character wants to RP along with the story rather than doing the invention thing, but for custom Tav concepts then custom familiars would be best - complete with the magic mirror - I mean right? That's something I could get into.
ps. Also hope your health is ok and feelin' on the mend! Happy Lupercalia!
Last edited by Black_Elk; 14/02/24 04:02 PM.
