Posted on April 17, 2011
Chase cards & New Familiars
An update on what I was saying about the Paizo chase cards: they’re getting the art done and have finalised the layout.
I like the idea that even if you don’t have the requisite skill, you can fall back on basic saves. The deck will include City, Dungeon and Dungeon cards.
Making a mini-game out of what can be a complicated part of the game seems like a good idea for maintaining flow. I wish they would make a mini-game for Grappling.
EDIT: The Paizo site also has stat blocks for two new familiars and I have miniatures for both of them! Actually, since they are save boosters I can see both of these being pretty good choices.
Fox   CR 1/4
XP 100
N Tiny animal
Init +2; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +8
Defense
AC 14, touch 14, flat-footed 12 (+2 Dex, +2 size)
hp 5 (1d8+1)
Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +1
Offense
Speed 40 ft.
Melee bite +1 (1d3-1)
Space 2-1/2 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Statistics
Str 9, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Base Atk +0; CMB +0; CMD 9 (13 vs. trip)
Feats Skill Focus (Perception)
Skills Acrobatics +2 (+10 jumping), Perception +8, Stealth +10, Survival +1 (+5 scent tracking); Racial Modifiers +4 Acrobatics when jumping, +4 Survival when tracking by scent
Ecology
Environment any
Organization solitary, pair, or skulk (3â12)
Treasure none
Foxes are small, doglike carnivores with narrow snouts and bushy tails. A fox’s master gains a +2 bonus on Reflex saves.Hedgehog   CR 1/8
XP 50
N Diminutive animal
Init +3; Senses low-light vision; Perception +1
Defense
AC 18, touch 17, flat-footed 15 (+3 Dex, +1 natural, +4 size)
hp 2 (1d8â2)
Fort +0, Ref +5, Will +1
Offense
Speed 20 ft.
Space 1 ft.; Reach 0 ft.
Statistics
Str 1, Dex 16, Con 6, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 7
Base Atk +0; CMB â1; CMD 4 (8 vs. trip)
Feats Athletic
Skills Climb +5, Stealth +19, Swim +5
Ecology
Environment tropical or temperate forests
Organization solitary or pair
Treasure none
Special Abilities
Spiny Defense (Ex) As a move action, a hedgehog can roll itself up into a spiny ball. While rolled up, it gains a +1 enhancement bonus to its existing natural armor, and any creature attempting to grapple the hedgehog takes 1d3 damage on making a grapple check. While rolled up, a hedgehog cannot take any action other than leaving this state. The hedgehog can leave this state as a move action.Hedgehogs are spiny, insectivorous mammals. When threatened, a hedgehog rolls up into a spiny ball as a defense mechanism. A hedgehog’s master gains a +2 bonus on Will saves
While I’m gratified that they included the fantastic collective noun for foxes, I have to wonder about a hedgehog causing d3 damage if grappled. It isn’t an attack, so it can’t critical (just as well), but that would mean a 1st level mage could only try to grapple a hedgehog twice before seriously flirting with unconsciousness…
I’m not sure Paizo knows what a hedgehog is…
While Percy doesn’t need to worry himself about being sent on any suicide missions, both of those familiar options are a nice addition. If I chose a hedgehog familiar, though, I would go to great lengths to build him some kind of permanent Lesser Globe of Invulnerability to roll around in. And I’m sure Paizo know what a hedgehog is. They’re blue, they love coins, and when they get spinning you’d better watch out- 1d3 quill damage! But seriously folks, the Saving Throw bonus would raise Albedon’s Will Save to +10, which is pretty cool.
I also like the fox. Relflex Saves aren’t a Wizard’s strong point (although Fortitude Saves are worse), even when the wizard has an absurdly high Dex (Albedon’s is 17). So any help there is appreciated. Also I like the idea of a fox. But part of that is because I recently watched The Fantastic Mr. Fox again, and I love that movie.
As for the cards, you said there were cards for City, Dungeon and Dungeon. While I can appreciate doubling up on the Dungeon stuff, did you mean City, Forest and Dungeon? It looks like one of the cards in the image would suggest that as one of the card types. Regardless, I like the cards. This new D&D world where skills matter as much as combat prowess makes the game much more interesting to me as an adult. And so far every new deck of cards introduced to the game has made it at the very least more fun.
Yes, Forests, dungeons built of fresh air and trees. It is actually Forest I am most interested in…