

These XP are actually part of the item, however, so if the item is lost or destroyed, the character loses not only the bonus but a quantity of his existing XP as well. One additional special ability per three character levels above 20thĪ character of 6th level or lower may invest a portion of his life force into his item familiar, receiving bonus XP in return. Invest life energy invest skill ranks invest spell slots Table: Item Familiar Abilities Character Level Use Table: Item Familiar Abilities to determine what, if any, abilities the item familiar gains based on its owner’s character level. The character can also begin investing abilities into the item, using the item familiar to improve his own capabilities. Once the character has become bonded to the magic item, the item may gain additional powers or intelligence. This bond can be suppressed by an antimagic field or similar effect, but it cannot be dispelled. When a character selects an item and chooses the Item Familiar feat, the character establishes a permanent, supernatural bond to the item familiar. Item familiars normally become intelligent gradually, however, which lessens the complexity of the standard rules for intelligent items. This variant system does not depend on the item in question being intelligent, but any item familiar created eventually becomes intelligent. The magic item may have functions the character cannot currently use, and once the item is linked to the character he can separate from it for short periods of time without any harm.

Keep in mind that the item only needs to meet the basics of this criteria.

If you recover the item, you regain these XP. If you ever lose the chosen item (have it removed from your possession for a continuous period of more than one day per level) or if the item is destroyed, you automatically lose 200 XP per level as well as all benefits derived from possessing the linked item (plus any resources you put into the item). The exact nature of the item and the powers are described in the following text. You establish a link to that magic item, and the item improves in capability as you gain levels.Ī character must be at least 3rd level to take this feat.īy establishing a link to a particular item, you enable that item to gain power as you gain levels. To utilize these rules, the character must choose the following new feat.Ĭhoose a permanent magic item that you possess. These items gradually gain in power and sentience, and often fulfill small roles similar to those of living familiars, but sometimes they become powerful entities in their own right. Like the legendary weapons rules, the item familiars variant system presents a method by which a character, even a nonspellcaster, can find himself linked to a particular magic item for a large part of his career.
