A Familiar is, basically, an assistant to witches, wizards, and, in this case, mages. The Familiar can be humanoid or animal. If it is an animal it is standard size of the animal it represents. The same goes for the humanoid familiar. The familiar can be any of the following:
- Human
- Rat
- Bird
- Domestic Feline
- Domestic Canine
- Small Reptile
These Familiars can be spiritual or elemental. The difference between the two isn't looks, but abilities. Elemental Familiar abilities are restricted to abilities of that element. Spiritual Familiars may have various abilities. Elemental Familiars have a stronger elemental attack than Spirit Familiars. An Example is below:
- Spoiler:
Familiar A is a spirit based one and shoots a fire ball. Familiar B is a fire elemental familiar and shoots a fireball. Familiar B's fireball will overpower Familiar A's.
These Familiars are summoned by the mage when the mage wishes it. So yes, they can be used outside of combat. A mage can communicate with them however they wish, and the familiar may communicate with others but only through verbal communication, not mental.
Familiars do, however, count as a weapon and thus take up one of the mage's two weapon slots. The Familiar does not start out with any abilities, but ever 100 points you may add one 1 additional ability. The Familiar can participate in a fight with it's abilities or with basic attacks. If a Familiar dies in combat, it is dead for the rest of the topic.
The abilities of Familiars are not massive. A Familiar cannot erupt a volcano or cause an earthquake. Their abilities are medium at best but typically are something small. Familiars are just annoying enough to draw attention away from the mage in combat, but not powerful enough to do serious damage in a single shot like a mage could. The dispel rune doesn't dismiss the Familiar, but it does strip it of it's powers. Mages can dismiss the familiar or summon it, but if it dies in battle it's done for the rest of the topic, as previously stated.
Only one familiar per mage. The familiar cannot be in a topic without you, and you cannot make a post only as your familiar. Meaning your post must be for you AND your familiar.