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Familiars - How do I use them??

PaulB73PaulB73 Member Posts: 1
in Icewind Dale: Enhanced Edition
So, I just used find familiar to find a cat for my wizard, and now I'm kinda wishing I hadn't. When / If it dies, I get a permanent -1 to Con??
Also, what is the point of the thing? I'm worried that I'm just going to be busy trying to keep this thing alive. Does it have a point? If so, could someone explain to me the process of using it, or where I can find a detailed guide on how to use the familiar?
I'm on PC.
Despite this, loving everything else! In fact, I'd even go so far as to say I'm obsessed. I've basically stopped playing Skyrim in favour of this IDEE!!

Comments

  • sarevok57sarevok57 Member Posts: 6,007
    they are mostly used for role play purposes, or perhaps a scout if they have some sort of invisibility or stealth like abilities

    plus they give the caster a permanent HP boost as long as they remain alive

    once you get to higher levels then you will receive spells that can summon other creatures who will be more useful in combat
  • Permidion_StarkPermidion_Stark Member Posts: 4,861
    My rather cynical opinion is that the only reason familiars were introduced to BG and IWD was to boost magic users' hit points and give them a better chance of surviving at low levels. Personally, I just stick them in my backpack (which basically makes them invulnerable) and forget they exist.
  • ZaxaresZaxares Member Posts: 1,332
    Permidion_Stark wrote: »
    My rather cynical opinion is that the only reason familiars were introduced to BG and IWD was to boost magic users' hit points and give them a better chance of surviving at low levels. Personally, I just stick them in my backpack (which basically makes them invulnerable) and forget they exist.

    I summon my Pseudo-Dragon for roleplaying AND stick him permanently in my backpack. ;) I just imagine he's like this sidekick that only appears when he's needed for plot purposes, like sticking his head out of a pocket to make some wisecrack before disappearing back inside again.
  • ThoriumThorium Member Posts: 36
    Normally I would just keep the familiar in the backpack. However, it can be useful if you are playing a solo character or if for some other reason the party is missing a proper thief. Most notably, rabbit familiar has 40% in find traps which is actually useful in the early phases of the game (but it won't be able to disarm traps in mid or late game).
  • Balrog99Balrog99 Member Posts: 7,371
    edited April 2021
    Thorium wrote: »
    Normally I would just keep the familiar in the backpack. However, it can be useful if you are playing a solo character or if for some other reason the party is missing a proper thief. Most notably, rabbit familiar has 40% in find traps which is actually useful in the early phases of the game (but it won't be able to disarm traps in mid or late game).

    In IWD the rabbit can be made even more useful if you have a bard sing the luck song and/or cast luck on it (via a spell or the Lucky Scimitar). If you do both, the rabbit can disarm most of the traps in the game (not some of the harder ones in Dragon's Eye, though). I find I don't need a thief with a rabbit and the knock spell. That can be invaluable if you don't want to invest in a thief character.
  • Balrog99Balrog99 Member Posts: 7,371
    edited April 2021
    Oh, I forgot to mention the 'familiar can use quickbar items' exploit (ferret & cat only - frustrating to try with a rabbit but possible I guess). It's a chore, but for a solo run an extra wand user can be helpful...
  • alice_ashpoolalice_ashpool Member Posts: 261
    edited April 2021
    • Invisible scouting, especially for navigating a project image or summons in fog of war, rather than using wizard's eye
    • Tanking/Damage dealing early on in Heart of Fury mode
    • Extra HP
    • the trap scouting and disarming rabbit
    • Specific situational abilities of questionable and very niche utility (e.g. glass dust, pickpocket with low chance, petrification immunity useful in Baldur's gate)
    • Level one availability of Mustard Jelly polymorph form (Lawful Evil Imp) with normal weapon immunity for ultra-cheesy abuse of IWDs poor target shifting
    • Solo invisibility abuse
    • Various exploits
    • taking up inventory space
    Post edited by alice_ashpool on
  • kalekale Member Posts: 53
    I've found using the familiars component from the More Styles for Mages mod very useful. It allows you to name the familiar and they will level up a bit more (they still won't be that useful in fights though). It also allows you to specialise in thief skills or get a few mage spells (for instance, a familiar with burning hands can help to finish off the trolls in Dragon's Eye).
  • JuliusBorisovJuliusBorisov Member, Administrator, Moderator, Developer Posts: 22,761
    https://www.reddit.com/r/baldursgate/comments/nc16fa/cat_familiar_vs_firkraag/
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