Familliars

[Matarael]

Query: Where are the rules for having familliars in Rifts?
Can all magic users get them, or is it a limited number of classes?

Thanks

[drewkitty ~..~]

In Rifts canon, there is only one way to get a familiar. That is through the "familiar link" spell. This can be found on page 128 of the RBoM Or on page 217 in RUE.

The NB:TtGD book has a different way, for a mage, to get a familiar. This way was built on/expandid in one of the rifters.

It is limited to those mages who know the "familiar link" spell.
It might be possible, if your GM allows it for the use of a "familiar link" spell scroll to be used to get a familiar.

[Matarael]

I have a player who is just a regular magic using oCC , who is claiming they are able to have a sentient familliar that can cast spells and use psionics the like -- kind of like the avian biomechs that shifters can use and such.

The OCC, I believe, is an Obsidian Spell Thief.

I need to find the actual rules for it, so I can def. say this is not possible. Really wondering what is going on.

I assumed those were shifter only . . it's not an avian biomech, all I know is that it's sentient.

Just seems.... wrong?

[Mack]

I have a player who is just a regular magic using oCC , who is claiming they are able to have a sentient familliar that can cast spells and use psionics the like -- kind of like the avian biomechs that shifters can use and such.

The OCC, I believe, is an Obsidian Spell Thief.

I need to find the actual rules for it, so I can def. say this is not possible. Really wondering what is going on.

I assumed those were shifter only . . it's not an avian biomech, all I know is that it's sentient.

Just seems.... wrong?

Put the burdeon of proof on the player. He should be able to cite the book and page number. Have him produce his source.

[csbioborg]

In Rifts canon, there is only one way to get a familiar. That is through the "familiar link" spell. This can be found on page 128 of the RBoM Or on page 217 in RUE.

The NB:TtGD book has a different way, for a mage, to get a familiar. This way was built on/expandid in one of the rifters.

It is limited to those mages who know the "familiar link" spell.
It might be possible, if your GM allows it for the use of a "familiar link" spell scroll to be used to get a familiar.

incorrect the new version of the federation of magic has additional info about dweoner
there is shop where you can pay a shopkeeper to cast a version of the familar link for you

[drewkitty ~..~]

In Rifts canon, there is only one way to get a familiar. That is through the "familiar link" spell. This can be found on page 128 of the RBoM Or on page 217 in RUE.

The NB:TtGD book has a different way, for a mage, to get a familiar. This way was built on/expanded in one of the rifters.

It is limited to those mages who know the "familiar link" spell.
It might be possible, if your GM allows it for the use of a "familiar link" spell scroll to be used to get a familiar.

incorrect the new version of the federation of magic has additional info about dweoner
there is shop where you can pay a shopkeeper to cast a version of the familiar link for you

thank you for posting the exception. But you'd have to go to That magic shop to do have that happen, if you are playing an A-R pure Rifts canon game. Because that version of FL is not in the canon.

I have a player who is just a regular magic using oCC , who is claiming they are able to have a sentient familiar that can cast spells and use psionics the like -- kind of like the avian biomechs that shifters can use and such.

The OCC, I believe, is an Obsidian Spell Thief.

I need to find the actual rules for it, so I can def. say this is not possible. Really wondering what is going on.

I assumed those were shifter only . . it's not an avian biomech, all I know is that it's sentient.

Just seems.... wrong?

Under the familiar rules in NB:TtGD the familiar can be 'enhanced' to be sentient. But the base animal has to be non-sentient.

In the one of the Rifters, read: optional material, it does talk about getting Bio-mechs as familiars, but the mage still has to pay for the IQ as if they boosted the animal from non-sentience.

[Nightmask]

In Rifts canon, there is only one way to get a familiar. That is through the "familiar link" spell. This can be found on page 128 of the RBoM Or on page 217 in RUE.

The NB:TtGD book has a different way, for a mage, to get a familiar. This way was built on/expanded in one of the rifters.

It is limited to those mages who know the "familiar link" spell.
It might be possible, if your GM allows it for the use of a "familiar link" spell scroll to be used to get a familiar.

incorrect the new version of the federation of magic has additional info about dweoner
there is shop where you can pay a shopkeeper to cast a version of the familiar link for you

thank you for posting the exception. But you'd have to go to That magic shop to do have that happen, if you are playing an A-R pure Rifts canon game. Because that version of FL is not in the canon.

I have a player who is just a regular magic using oCC , who is claiming they are able to have a sentient familiar that can cast spells and use psionics the like -- kind of like the avian biomechs that shifters can use and such.

The OCC, I believe, is an Obsidian Spell Thief.

I need to find the actual rules for it, so I can def. say this is not possible. Really wondering what is going on.

I assumed those were shifter only . . it's not an avian biomech, all I know is that it's sentient.

Just seems.... wrong?

Under the familiar rules in NB:TtGD the familiar can be 'enhanced' to be sentient. But the base animal has to be non-sentient.

In the one of the Rifters, read: optional material, it does talk about getting Bio-mechs as familiars, but the mage still has to pay for the IQ as if they boosted the animal from non-sentience.

It's possible to select one of several 'special' familiars in Nightbane's Through The Glass Darkly that are in fact sentient from the start (don't be asking your Night Gnome familiar if memory serves where the ingredients for dinner came from).

[cornholioprime]

I have a player who is just a regular magic using oCC , who is claiming they are able to have a sentient familliar that can cast spells and use psionics the like -- kind of like the avian biomechs that shifters can use and such.

The OCC, I believe, is an Obsidian Spell Thief.

I need to find the actual rules for it, so I can def. say this is not possible. Really wondering what is going on.

I assumed those were shifter only . . it's not an avian biomech, all I know is that it's sentient.

Just seems.... wrong?

As I said in the other Thread, I believe that your Player has 'purloined' Familiar Creation Rules from PFRPG.

Technically, you could as GM block them from having access to that information on Rifts Earth.

[rat_bastard]

Familiar link's main restriction is the weight of the prospective familiar. You could bind a magical or psychic animal so long as it is 25 pounds or less. The Megaverse builders guidebook has some advanced familiars in it.

[Giant2005]

Familiar link's main restriction is the weight of the prospective familiar. You could bind a magical or psychic animal so long as it is 25 pounds or less. The Megaverse builders guidebook has some advanced familiars in it.

He knows of these familiars as he cited the "AVian Biomech" as the familiar which is found in those books.
I think the question he is trying to ask is "Are those familiars restricted to Shifters or anyone with the Familiar Link spell?"

I'd say no.