The ddo council of magics requests

[bigolbear]

we absolutly should have familiars.

But lets be clear, a familiar is not as much of an advantage as an animal companion. familiars offer small bonuses to their owners, and in some cases can get skill checks of their own - they are not capable combatants,

The best way to handle familiars for DDO is:
STAGE 1 add 2 extra feats:
1. familiar: you gain a familiar, go to the familiar trainer to claim it. (granted to wizards and sorcs at first lvl - basic choice of bat, cat, rat, dog. further options available via DDO store cosmetic pets.)
2. improved familiar: your familiar now has double the AP to spend on it and may be summoned as an amimal companion rather than as a cosmetic pet to assist you in combat.

STAGE 2 add familiar trainers to the game - or extra dialogue to wiz/sorc trainers.
familiars get 1 ap per character level.
enhancements include -
skills - each done seperately (grants skill bonues to owner and familiar+1 to +3) 2/4/6 ap
saves - each done seperately (grants save bonus to owner and familiar+ 1 to +3) 2/4/6 ap
tricks (grants your familiar party tricks - like cosmetic pets) 1 ap each
unlock skill (grants a skill to the owner, and to improved familiars. - they may perform this skill and are considered to have ranks equal to 1/2 their total character level) cost 10 ap.
(improved familiars only) evasion/improved evasion - your improved familiar gains evasion/improved evasion - 4/6 ap.
(improved familiars only) new form: select from a list of bigger animals/magical beasts. your improved familiar gains this combat oriented form. - 0 ap.
(improved familiars only) threat reduction stance. 1/2/3 ap. for -20, -40, -80% threat. + diplo clicky
(improved familiars only) threat increase stance. 1/2/3 ap. for +20, +40, +80% threat. + intim clicky.

STAGE 3: Your familiar should grant these bonuses even if it is not visable - we assume it is hiding in your pack. Familiars should be summoned/dismissed from the cosmetic pet Tab in the inventory pannel. When summoned a non improved familiar should be imprevious to harm - just like a cosmetic pet.

Improved familiars should be treated in all ways like animal companions. The passive skill and save bonuses should be considered training from the familiar and should still apply to the owner in the familiars absense.

A character that has access to any of the folowing should be able to summon them all at the same time and each should have a seperate hireling bar.
1. animal companion
2. improved familar
3. iron defender/homunculi.

id also suggest:
animal companions/iron defenders and imp familiars levels be based of total character level rather than class levels - to encourage multiclassing. the pets are harldy overpowered

[Kalari]

Those are great ideas Bigolbear

And I do want to stress that familiars would not be the end all be all companions again. I do want the implementation that if something happens to them IE death that the caster tied to them suffers some malady. Now I wont go as extreme as a permanent stat loss, but something along the lines of a level drain when it happens (can be on time and stack as touch of Dolrruth does when you are revived from dying).

That was one of the cooler things about familiars now Artie dogs when they die can affect you if you don't take uncaring master but I don't want to see any kinda blocking of damage taken if your familiar dies. I think it would take away from the spirit of these creatures and our mages duty to protect them.

[bigolbear]

Those are great ideas Bigolbear

And I do want to stress that familiars would not be the end all be all companions again. I do want the implementation that if something happens to them IE death that the caster tied to them suffers some malady. Now I wont go as extreme as a permanent stat loss, but something along the lines of a level drain when it happens (can be on time and stack as touch of Dolrruth does when you are revived from dying).

That was one of the cooler things about familiars now Artie dogs when they die can affect you if you don't take uncaring master but I don't want to see any kinda blocking of damage taken if your familiar dies. I think it would take away from the spirit of these creatures and our mages duty to protect them.

Its a purely personal thing here - but as pets are ai driven Id argue against this, 9 times out of 10 in ddo the thing that makes me scream at the monitor is the **** hireling/pet ai. - the 10th time is normaly lag!

In a more slow paced roleplay oriented game id agree with you. If some mage over uses his familiar in one of my pen and paper games you can bet im gona swat the thing.

You want a penalty - i dont. im sure there are numerous folks on both sides of this fence. the ansewr then is to have a AP - cost uncaring master effect.

As a compromise Id say, by default then when a familiar dies the caster should be struck with 'crushing despair - effect', no save, no dispeling. It wont kill you but it will make your life harder.

[Kalari]

Its a purely personal thing here - but as pets are ai driven Id argue against this, 9 times out of 10 in ddo the thing that makes me scream at the monitor is the **** hireling/pet ai. - the 10th time is normaly lag!

In a more slow paced roleplay oriented game id agree with you. If some mage over uses his familiar in one of my pen and paper games you can bet im gona swat the thing.

You want a penalty - i dont. im sure there are numerous folks on both sides of this fence. the ansewr then is to have a AP - cost uncaring master effect.

As a compromise Id say, by default then when a familiar dies the caster should be struck with 'crushing despair - effect', no save, no dispeling. It wont kill you but it will make your life harder.

Crushing despair is not a bad idea or symbol of pain, I just don't want to lose that flavor of feeling if you let your familiar die that you suffer some form of Malady from it, I just find it fitting for the familiar and brings back the D&D spirit for me