Fun Familiars Fiend Folio Edition
Other articles in our Familiars series.
The Life of Pets, Familiars and Animal Companions
Life of Pets II
Fun Familiars for 5e
Feats for Familiars
Famous Familiars
It’s time for more familiars!
The 1st edition Fiend Folio is my favorite ‘monster manual’ from all the editions. The creatures found in this book are fascinating and bizarre, while others are just downright awful. Even better, the art is so bad it’s good. If you’ve never had the opportunity to peruse this book, I recommend tracking one down and flipping through it. You won’t be disappointed.
I’ve discussed before my disdain for the current familiar system in the 5th edition, especially the selection of existing familiars that are available. We’ve previously created new familiars, some of which fit the mold of the existing options, while others are drawn from famous creatures in movies and literature. Today we are going to pull exclusively from the 1st edition Fiend Folio. Some of the familiars created can be added to the standard familiar list when using the find familiar spell. Others are going to be more powerful than a common familiar, so using a 1st level spell to conjure your new powerful best buddy doesn’t feel right. We’ll need to address this issue first.
The solution is the addition of a new 3rd level spell find greater familiar. Familiars conjured using this spell will have the opportunity to make an attack action. Some may have a simple claw or bite attack. Others may have actions that do not deliver damage to your enemy, but good affect them in some other way that a normal familiar could not. All the familiars listed below fall into this category, so while your wizard may be chomping at the bit to get the fireball spell, purchasing a scroll of find greater familiar may be worth whatever it costs you.
Booka
The booka are fey creatures that despise cold climates, preferring to spend their days basking in the sun. They have a heartier constitution than their pixie and sprite cousins. The booka are very fast-moving, especially when flying. The booka can dart around and turn on a dime, making them extremely difficult to catch.
The booka can become invisible at will and use this ability if they sense danger or come under imminent threat. The booka are also pranksters, using their ability to turn invisible to fly above their potential target, turning visible as they divebomb the target. The book's victims may feel their hair pulled out of their head, become startled as it buzzes by right in front of their eyes, or some other annoying distraction.
The booka may not be the most powerful of the new familiars, but I didn’t dare make them anywhere close to the broken pixie in power. One, balance is important. Two, Stephen would kill me.
Firedrake
This tiny creature resembles a miniature dragon more than a drake. Not only do they look like little red dragons, but they share the same temperament as their giant cousins. I recommend not annoying them if at all possible.
The firedrake has sharp claws but does not use them in combat. It will use its small pointy teeth to bite anyone that invades its space, although its bite isn't very problematic for the average monster. What is worrisome is the firedrake's primary attack, fire breath. It's obviously not on par with that of a red dragon. However, it does more than singe the eyebrow of anyone standing in its path.
The firedrake's blood burns upon exposure to air with white-hot intensity. Upon its death, the firedrake explodes, splattering its burning blood in a 10-foot radius.
Witherstench
This unfortunate creature is a cross between a skunk and a squirrel. It makes you wonder whether the writers were scraping the bottom of the barrel for new monsters or did a lot of drugs. It has small patches of fur over its tough skin, a blotchy yellow color covered in small purple spots. So yes, they just made a terrible creature even worse. All the more reason to embrace them
The witherstench has two nasty claws and a vicious bite, but its stench spray keeps most creatures at bay. Spraying out a horrid-smelling liquid, anyone covered in it will find themselves nauseated and ill under they take a nice long bath for an hour. They'll do this far away from their friends since anyone who gets too close to a spray victim will also find themselves poisoned.
As always, please share your thoughts or what you liked, I may have missed, and what you would add in the comments below. Any and all constructive criticism is appreciated.
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Header Art - by TSR
