The NetBook of Familiars

v. 0.1 (work in progress)

http://www.dndcommunitycouncil.org/~nbofam

Requires the use of the Dungeons and Dragons third edition Player's
Handbook, published by Wizards of the Coast

Compiled and Created by: Curtis Bennett die_kluge@hotmail.com - Contributor ID

#019
Optional rules for 3rd Edition D&D

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Table of Contents
LEGALESE.................................................................................................................. 4
PROLOGUE................................................................................................................ 5
CONTRIBUTORS........................................................................................................ 5
THE HISTORICAL FAMILIAR....................................................................................6
FAMILIARS IN YOUR CAMPAIGN WORLD................................................................6
CHAPTER I GETTING A FAMILIAR........................................................................6
FAMILIARS IN THIRD EDITION......................................................................................................6
OPTIONAL FAMILIAR RULES........................................................................................................6
FAMILIARS AND RELIGION..........................................................................................................6
CHAPTER II - THE FAMILIARS.................................................................................6
FAMILIARS.................................................................................................................................6
ADDING NEW FAMILIARS............................................................................................................6
CHAPTER III FAMILIAR RELATED SPELLS..........................................................7
CHAPTER IV NEW RULES FOR FAMILIARS..........................................................7
CHAPTER V - NEW MAGICAL ITEMS FOR FAMILIARS............................................7
SUGGESTED READING.............................................................................................. 7
DRAGON MAGAZINE ARTICLES.....................................................................................................7
D&D BOOKS..............................................................................................................................8
OTHER RESOURCES....................................................................................................................8

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Work in Progress Page (to be removed >= v. 1.0)

Changes in version 0.1

Created.

TO DOs for version 0.20

Long Term/On-Going TO DOs

Add many familiars
Define familiars available by world/setting/geographic location.
Define new wizard feats for familiars
Define new familiar-related spells
Try to research a historical context for familiars.
Collect any net-related information on familiars.
Include familiar-related suggested reading.

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LEGALESE

This printing of the "NetBook of Familiars" complies with the Open Gaming License
(OGL) version 1.0a and includes Open Gaming Content (OGC) as identified under the
terms of the Open Gaming License.
Subsequent printings of this product will
incorporate, and comply with, the most current version of the Open Gaming License, as
made available by Wizards of the Coast . All familiars, spells, feats, and new rules
contained in this netbook have been licensed and entered under the Open Gaming
License as Open Gaming Content by the copyright holder. In accordance with the
terms of the Open Gaming License all entries used from this netbook should bear the
COPYRIGHT NOTICE associated with each individual submission. This COPYRIGHT
NOTICE must remain affixed as a permanent part of the content. All other portions of
this netbook are Copyright 2001 DnD Community Council and remain Product Identity
(PI) as protected under the terms of the Open Gaming License. The materials
presented herein are the original works of the author or are published with a
"Permission Agreement" placed on file for each contributor. These agreements can and
will be provided upon request.
This product also complies with the D20STL and STLG, using the D20 System logo in
compliance with all applicable rules set forth therein. The 'd20 System' and the 'd20
System' logo are Trademarks owned by Wizards of the Coast and are used according to
the terms of the d20 System License version 1.0. A copy of this License can be found
at www.wizards.com. The 'd20 System' and the d20 System logo are Trademarks
owned by Wizards of the Coast and are used with permission. "Dungeons & Dragons
and Wizards of the Coast are Registered Trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, and are
used with Permission."
The "Great Tinkering NetBook" is a DnD Community Council sponsored publication.
The DnD Community Council is a fan based community of role-players dedicated to
building upon the foundation of the Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition game and D20
System created by Wizards of the Coast . More information on the DnD Community
Council
and
additional
products
available
can
be
found
at
www.dndcommunitycouncil.org.
Use of the names Wizards of the Coast, Dungeons and Dragons, D&D, 3E, D20 or any
other copyrighted or trademarked names or materials is not intended as a challenge to
the copyright owner in any way. No challenge to those
copyrights or trademarks is intended by their use in this material. WIZARDS OF THE
COAST , Dungeons & Dragons , D&D , and the D20 System
are registered
trademarks of Wizards of the Coast, Inc. The Open Gaming License is owned by
Wizards of the Coast, Inc. The DnD Community Council has no affiliation with Wizard of
the Coast , the D20 System , the Open Gaming License , or the Open Gaming
Foundation .
THIS PRODUCT IS NOT PUBLISHED OR ENDORSED BY WIZARDS OF THE COAST,
INC.

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PROLOGUE

-Curtis Bennett

CONTRIBUTORS

Editor, compiler, author:

Contributor ID #019

Curtis Bennett

die_kluge@hotmail.com

All submissions not specifically identified are the work of Curtis Bennett.

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T H E H I S T O R I C A L FA M I L I A R

FA M I L I A R S I N Y O U R C A M PA I G N W O R L D

The following paragraphs discuss each D&D world and how familiars fit in with that
world:
Abeir-Toril (Forgotten Realms)
Oerth (Greyhawk)
Krynn (Dragonlance)
Athas (Dark Sun)
Ravenloft (The Demi-Plane of Dread)
Masque of the Red Death
Cerilia (Birthright)
Sigil and the Planes (Planescape)

C H A P T E R I G E TT I N G A FA M I L I A R

FAMILIARS IN THIRD EDITION

OPTIONAL FAMILIAR RULES

FAMILIARS AND RELIGION

C H A P T E R I I - T H E FA M I L I A R S

Table 2.1 Familiars

FAMILIARS

ADDING NEW FAMILIARS

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C H A P T E R I I I FA M I L I A R R E LAT E D S P E L L S

C H A P T E R I V N E W R U L E S F O R FA M I L I A R S

C H A P T E R V - N E W M A G I C A L I T E M S F O R FA M I L I A R S

SUGGESTED READING
DRAGON MAGAZINE ARTICLES

"Magenta's Cat" - Issue 58, page 10

This article by none other than Roger E. Moore describes a cat that is partially psionic.
The cat, an offspring of a familiar to a wizard named Magenta, is rare and powerful.
Converting 1st edition psionic cat statistics to third edition is beyond the scope of this
netbook, but is included here for those so inclined in having one of these for a familiar.
"A cast of Strange Familiars" - Issue 84, pages 10-18
Stephen Innis takes a long hard look at familiars in a kind of mini-netbook of familiars.
Stephen includes 34 new choices for familiar, from a bat to a weasel. Stephen also
includes descriptions of each animal, and provides some frank discussion on the topic of
familiars and the rules for them. All in all it is a very good article.
"Familiars with a Special Use" - Issue 86, pages 12-22
Stephen Innis again takes an indepth look at familiars, this time providing a new list of
more powerful supernatural familiars that can serve a special niche in the D&D game.
These familiars are sent directly by gods, in some cases and each might have a special
purpose. While this article is interesting, it's also a little bizarre.
"Dragons are Wizards' Best Friends" - Issue 146, pages 14-21
David E. Cates introduces us to the idea of small dragon familiars. Here, he details several
types of "pseudo-dragons" (for lack of a better word) that high level wizards can use for
familiars. Each dragon's statistics are in 1st edition, but some of these creatures,
including the faerie dragon, have been introduced in some second edition monstrous
supplements.
"Getting Familiar" - Issue 147, pages 14-20
In this article, Patricia Nead Elrod talks about familiars and their personality (or lack
thereof) and describes the abilities and unique characterstics of the common familiars
listed in the 2nd edition player's handbook.

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"That's Certainly Un-Familiar!" - Issue 181, pages 23-28, 88

Len Carpenter provides new wizard spells called familiar enhancers that can increase the
power and provide special abilities to familiars.
"Familiar Faces" - Issue 200, pages 30-33
David Howery updates us on Stephen Innis' "A cast of Strange Familiars" article from issue
84 taking a look at new options for second edition familiars. Included in this article, David
gives us options for familiars for aquatic races, familiars in the underdark, and familiars
for humanoid mages.
"Bazaar of the Bizarre - Familiar Items, Magic for your Familiars - Issue 221
pages 83-85
For all your familiar magical item needs, James R. Collier provides several magical items
designed specifically for familiars.
"Greater Familiars of Faerun" - Issue 228, pages 77-82
Jean Rabe takes a look at some new higher level wizard spells for summoning more
powerful familiars and companions. Included here one will find rules for griffons and
unicorns as minions, among other things.
"The Wizard's Companion - The Care and Feeding of Humonculi" - Issue 246,
pages 24-33
Lloyd Brown III takes a look at all kinds of Humonculi in what could best be described as a
compendium of Humonculi. Included in this very well written and thorough article are
comments about having these interesting creatures as familiars.
D&D BOOKS

Book Name Author (year) [pub#]

OTHER RESOURCES

Baldur's Gate II Computer Game, by Black Isle Studios

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