Familiar Enhancer

This series of related enchantments are not true spells. Instead, they are special processes developed by the wizard and keyed to a type of familiar (cat, toad, weasel, etc.). The wizard must research the process to enhance his type of familiar; each enhancement, from I to VIII, is researched as a spell of the next higher level (familiar enhancer I is researched as a 2nd-level spell, etc.) according to the DMG rules for spell research. No enhancer level can be skipped: A familiar cannot receive familiar enhancer III until it has received familiar enhancer II, and so on. Special familiars (imp, quasit, etc.) cannot be enhanced. For the purpose of the special powers, the spellcasting level of the familiar is equal to the level of its wizard.

As the enhancement of a familiar continues, the familiar should develop a personality that seems almost human, displaying specific traits, likes, dislikes, opinions, habits, and foibles (DMG Table 70 may prove useful). Its animal qualities also develop as its personality matures. A black cat might develop discriminating and expensive tastes in food and creature comforts; a crow might become a collector of gaudy gemstones and jewelry; and an otter might develop a frolicsome personality combining a short attention span for serious matters with a love for playful pranks.

The familiar takes on some of the alignment view and attitudes of its wizard, though a leaning toward the neutral alignment, a holdover from its simple animal origin, will always remain. The familiar may tend to become more of an independent NPC as it is enhanced. The DM should carefully consider if relaxing the dependency of the familiar on the wizard will improve the campaign play.