Post by bostich on Aug 16, 2015 at 8:59pm
This came up in tkul's session the other day. Can you take a Lyrakien Azata (CG) as Familiar as a NG character?
Relevant Information:
Improved Familiar (Ultimate Magic):
General Rule: One step on each alignment axis.
Lyrakien Azata (Bestiary 2):
A chaotic good 7th-level spellcaster can gain a lyrakien as a familiar...
Inevitable Arbiter (Bestiary 2):
An arbiter inevitable can serve a spellcaster as a familiar. Such a spellcaster must be lawful neutral...
This could be interpreted in 2 ways:
A) Specific wording from the Azata trumps general wording of the Feat and the different wording for the Arbiter in the same book is an editor oversight.
B) The wording on the Azata just means that it can be used as a familiar even if it is not listed under the improved familiar list in the core rulebook at the time of printing. For an Arbiter you MUST be lawful neutral. Then UM comes out and updates the Improved Familiar List.
I found no FAQ on the topic, only a couple threads with people wondering.
Personally i think the different wording between Azata and Arbiter in the same book is a hint that B) is intended, but i can also see merit in A).
I wont use my familiar for now. If A) is the rule i am fine with choosing another familiar or another feat.
I think a couple of other players might be affected as well. There are a couple familiars in Bestiary 2 with the Azata wording and a couple with the Arbiter wording. So this will affect a number of improved familiars.
Relevant Information:
Improved Familiar (Ultimate Magic):
General Rule: One step on each alignment axis.
Lyrakien Azata (Bestiary 2):
A chaotic good 7th-level spellcaster can gain a lyrakien as a familiar...
Inevitable Arbiter (Bestiary 2):
An arbiter inevitable can serve a spellcaster as a familiar. Such a spellcaster must be lawful neutral...
This could be interpreted in 2 ways:
A) Specific wording from the Azata trumps general wording of the Feat and the different wording for the Arbiter in the same book is an editor oversight.
B) The wording on the Azata just means that it can be used as a familiar even if it is not listed under the improved familiar list in the core rulebook at the time of printing. For an Arbiter you MUST be lawful neutral. Then UM comes out and updates the Improved Familiar List.
I found no FAQ on the topic, only a couple threads with people wondering.
Personally i think the different wording between Azata and Arbiter in the same book is a hint that B) is intended, but i can also see merit in A).
I wont use my familiar for now. If A) is the rule i am fine with choosing another familiar or another feat.
I think a couple of other players might be affected as well. There are a couple familiars in Bestiary 2 with the Azata wording and a couple with the Arbiter wording. So this will affect a number of improved familiars.