Question Can you have more than one familiar?

Can you have more than one familiar?

If not, I wonder what's preventing it...

Malady wrote: Can you have more than one familiar?

If not, I wonder what's preventing it...

Creatures suited to being familiars may be as rare as people suited to magic. Worse for them, they may not all be creatures that humans in the local culture would normally want as a familiar. Or they're too old/young for the call in a less-populated area.

For those people who don't receive familiars through happenstance or fate like replacement goldfish, the essence needed to call a second suitable familiar might be too great to make it practical. You're close to guaranteed that it will take far more juice to call two familiars with overlapping tenures than two separately and consecutively.

It probably does happen on occasion: the call brings in a swarm (bees, fire ants, spiders, lemmings, etc.), a pair of siblings or twins, or maybe a mated pair.

I would say that it's a cost/benefit thing.
The first familiar costs a lot, but having a familiar opens some new possibilities that compensate for it.
The second familiar costs the same, but it won't add anything that the first familiar can't do, for the most part.

It's like, say, a car. Buying a car costs a bundle, but increases your mobility a lot. Buying a second car STILL costs a bundle, but your mobility is only increased marginally -- say, for the days your first car is in the shop. Or, for instance, one is small car for driving in the city, and the other a SUV for traveling. Unless you have a LOT of money, you are better off buying a single car that does most everything you need than two highly specialized cars. And, generally speaking, I have yet to see a mage that thinks that spending lots of Essence is "no big deal."

Note that not all wizards think even one familiar to be a good investment of one's magic.

What about a colony of familiars, such as ants or bees? Or are familiars limited to higher order animals?

How to get Jobe into magic. Mention a colony of spiders or even microbes.

bergy wrote: What about a colony of familiars, such as ants or bees? Or are familiars limited to higher order animals?

If it is possible, I recommend getting a sign that says "I ATE'NT DEAD"

Arcanist Lupus wrote:

bergy wrote: What about a colony of familiars, such as ants or bees? Or are familiars limited to higher order animals?

If it is possible, I recommend getting a sign that says "I ATE'NT DEAD"

"I ATE'NT IS PROBABLY DEAD"

Rest In Glory Terry Pratchett.

Rest in Glory.

bergy wrote: What about a colony of familiars, such as ants or bees? Or are familiars limited to higher order animals?

This brings up an interesting idea. How similar might familiars might be to Aquerna's little friends.
I know some differences. No contract or permanent connection comes to mind. But there is more going on there than just being able to speak to them. They seem to be able to think much better when she is around. They can intact plans and stratagems. She changes there behavior. Attack while avoiding hands and feet? They should not have bin able to wrap there hands around such a concept.
They could very well serve as psudo familiars. Adding her in magic arts... If she had any affinity for magic that is.
Or she could be the little ones familiar.
Though that brings up another question. Can a familiar belong to or work with more than one person. And if normally not could there be exceptions to that rule. Like a two headed snake or hydra.

Phoenix Spiritus wrote:

Arcanist Lupus wrote: If it is possible, I recommend getting a sign that says "I ATE'NT DEAD"

"I ATE'NT IS PROBABLY DEAD"

Rest In Glory Terry Pratchett.

Rest in Glory.

When I wrote this, I wasn't even thinking about the fact that today (well, yesterday now) was the Glorious 25th of May.

Sir Lee wrote: I would say that it's a cost/benefit thing.
The first familiar costs a lot, but having a familiar opens some new possibilities that compensate for it.
The second familiar costs the same, but it won't add anything that the first familiar can't do, for the most part.

It's like, say, a car. Buying a car costs a bundle, but increases your mobility a lot. Buying a second car STILL costs a bundle, but your mobility is only increased marginally -- say, for the days your first car is in the shop. Or, for instance, one is small car for driving in the city, and the other a SUV for traveling. Unless you have a LOT of money, you are better off buying a single car that does most everything you need than two highly specialized cars. And, generally speaking, I have yet to see a mage that thinks that spending lots of Essence is "no big deal."

Note that not all wizards think even one familiar to be a good investment of one's magic.

Good analogy, but if one car is say a short range electric then the Tesla frees you from gas prices and the gasoline vehicle takes you places that the electric can't, or you can get a Tesla and just have the nav help direct you to charging stations as needed.

You don't need to worry about one car trying to eat the other one.

Ametros wrote: You don't need to worry about one car trying to eat the other one.

Well, I mean in the Whatlyverse it's not exactly impossible.
I mean the demon possessed car in one of the Angel of New York stories is one example.

Phoenix Spiritus wrote:

Arcanist Lupus wrote:

bergy wrote: What about a colony of familiars, such as ants or bees? Or are familiars limited to higher order animals?

If it is possible, I recommend getting a sign that says "I ATE'NT DEAD"

"I ATE'NT IS PROBABLY DEAD"

Rest In Glory Terry Pratchett.

Rest in Glory.

He's not dead.

He's just continuing his work on another plane of existence.

Miss the person when they're not around, but don't forget to celebrate the fact that they existed.

mhalpern wrote: Good analogy, but if one car is say a short range electric then the Tesla frees you from gas prices and the gasoline vehicle takes you places that the electric can't, or you can get a Tesla and just have the nav help direct you to charging stations as needed.

It's not a perfect analogy, of course. Still, when you compute the TCO of the second car, any savings you might make from it are likely to evaporate. Sure you will save a bundle on gas if you are driving a Tesla instead a Hummer to work every day... but it's highly likely that you would save even more, in total costs, if you had a single car that is reasonably roomy and gets reasonable mileage.
Remember, the analogy assumes that wizards have a limited "budget" of magic. Someone in a budget wouldn't buy a Tesla AND a SUV; they would buy a minivan, or a Civic. Something that by itself covers something like 95% of the use cases for both cars, and possibly has a lower TCO than either one. It may not be sexy, but it's a rational choice. Making irrational choices with your budget leads you to bankruptcy.