Editing Familiar (section)

===2nd Edition===
2nd edition still used the ''find familiar'' spell to summon one up, but the spell was changed pretty heavily. It took 2d12 hours to cast (meaning an average time of 12-13 hours), and cost 1,000 gp of materials. The familiar had 2-3 points more Intelligence than others of its kind, along with having 2-4 hit points, +1 hit point per caster level. They now granted the wizard a flat +1 to surprise checks, and the familiar had a specifically defined empathic link, allowing the wizard to issue mental commands to it up to 1 mile away. The familiar used the wizard's saving throws while in physical contact, and for save-or-damage effects, the familiar took half damage on a failed save, or no damage on a success (a very early version of the improved evasion mechanic in 3rd edition).

Likewise, the drawbacks of familiars were different. The familiar loses 1 hit point each day they are separated from the caster (and there's no specification what "separated" exactly meant). If the familiar dies, the wizard immediately rolls a System Shock check; if they fail, they die, and if they succeed, they loose 1 point of Constitution (as in permanently).

In theory, there were options for obtaining special familiars in various supplements and in certain Dragon Magazine articles (#181 and #200, for those interested). In practice, unfortunately, these had no actual mechanics behind acquiring them, because 2nd edition was even more of a Rule Zero game than its predecessor, leaving much of its workings up to DM fiat. While some [[grognard|grognards]] grunt appreciatively at this, suffice it to say that you were only one argument with the DM away from getting royally [[Anal circumference|ass-invaded]].

So once again, there was little real reason to have a familiar, other than role-playing and other bullshit.

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'''2nd Edition Familiars'''
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;Player's Handbook
* Black Cat
* Crow
* Hawk
* Screech Owl
* Toad
* Weasel

;Complete Wizard's Handbook
* Bat
* Cat
* Chipmunk
* Crow
* Dog
* Fox
* Gull
* Hawk
* Hare/Rabbit
* Lizard
* Monkey
* Mouse
* Otter
* Owl
* Parrot
* Raccoon
* Rat
* Rooster
* Raven
* Skunk
* Snake
* Squirrel
* Toad
* Weasel
* Wolverine

;Familiar Faces (Dragon #200)
* Bullfrog
* Chameloen
* Compsognathus
* Euparkeria
* Iguana
* Garter Snake
* Toad
* Crow/Raven
* Hawk
* Falcon
* Owl
* Parrot
* Rhea
* Armadillo
* Badger
* Common Bat
* Cat (Domestic or Wild)
* Mouse Deer
* Wild Dog
* Ferret
* Fox
* Jackal
* Monkey
* Opossum
* Otter
* Rabbit
* Raccoon
* Wood Rat
* Skunk
* Squirrel
::Humanoid Mages
* Vampire Bat
* Bloodhawk
* Huge Centipede
* Common or Giant Rat
* Large Spider
* Large Scorpion
* Stirge
* Vulture
* Weasel
::Underdark Mages
* Common Bat
* Fire Beetle
* Burbur
* Huge Centipede
* Small Lizard
* 1HD [[Myconid]]
* Giant Rat
* Large Spider
* Stirge
::Sea Mages
* Barracuda
* Weed Eel
* Small Fish
* Lobster
* Octopus
* Sea Horse
* Stingray
::Special Familiars
* [[Faerie Dragon]]
* [[Pseudodragon]]
* [[Brownie]]
* 1HD [[Mongrelfolk]]
* [[Buckawn]]
* [[Atomie]] type [[Sprite]]
* [[Imp]]
* [[Jermlaine]]
* [[Quasit]]

;Greater Familiars of Faerun (Dragon #228)
Note: This issue of Dragon introduced more advanced familiar types, Companions and Minions, through spells that summoned them. You can have one each of a familiar, companion, and minion.
::Find Companion Creatures
* Raccoon
* Badger
* Winged Serpent
* Rat
* Spider
* Iguana
* Talking Owl
* Falcon
* Vulture
* Bat
* Monkey
* Snake
* Stag
* Otter
* Fox
* Wolf
* Horse
* Cooshee
* Brown Bear
* Cheetah
::Find Minion Creatures
* [[Owlbear]]
* Elven Cat
* Blink Dog
* [[Umber Hulk]]
* [[Unicorn]]
* [[Pseudodragon]]
* [[Displacer Beast]]
* [[Peryton]]
* [[Pegasus]]
* [[Dragonne]]
* [[Hippogriff]]
* [[Griffon]]
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