Healing a familiar?

Krynus · Post by **Krynus** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 9:04 am

I'm on my fourth or fifth replay of the game, and this time I decided to start again with BG1 (albeit via Tutu, which is why this question is in the BG2 forum...). I've got a CG Mage with a Fairy Dragon familiar, but I can't figure out how to heal it when it takes damage. Obviously I can't give it a healing potion. Resting works, but very slowly. And when I tried to cast a healing spell on it with a druid, it was resisted (!!!).

Is there no way to heal a familiar apart from over time by resting?

Saros · Post by **Saros** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 10:32 am

This bug is happening in the original SoA + ToB if unmodded by something like G3 fixpack or Baldurdash. Meaning - positive effects are being stopped by one's magic resistance. Annoying and stupid bug. Yet, I don't know if there is a mod that can fix this in BG1.

AvatarOfLight · Post by **AvatarOfLight** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 11:38 am

Saros wrote:This bug is happening in the original SoA + ToB if unmodded by something like G3 fixpack or Baldurdash. Meaning - positive effects are being stopped by one's magic resistance. Annoying and stupid bug. Yet, I don't know if there is a mod that can fix this in BG1.

It's not a bug, it's just an aspect of the game many people have trouble coping with. I don't like it myself, but hey! This is how the designers intended it. You'll have to admit magic resistance is awfully powerful without a negative side to it.

Krynus · Post by **Krynus** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 12:04 pm

AvatarOfLight wrote:It's not a bug, it's just an aspect of the game many people have trouble coping with. I don't like it myself, but hey! This is how the designers intended it. You'll have to admit magic resistance is awfully powerful without a negative side to it.

I disagree. Magical healing works on party characters regardless of their magical resistance (at least this has been my experience as I recall). I don't think it makes sense to put familiars into the game in the first place if they were unable to be healed (especially given the steep penalty for a familiar's death).

Klorox · Post by **Klorox** » Thu Jul 05, 2007 6:33 pm

Krynus is right. You can "let your guard down" and choose not to resist magic in the game, which everybody who's injured and wants to receive healing magic would do.

Deadalready · Post by **Deadalready** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 4:42 am

That's a strange and annoying thing to have happen, maybe you should just avoid having your familiar in situations where it takes damage. It is pretty nasty to have one die, that's for sure!

Saros · Post by **Saros** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 7:47 am

Hmph...I always keep the familiar in my pack. After all, this way he is a permanent item which grants you permanent hp bonus. Everyone happy and all that. Besides, familiars are utterly useless unless you install a mod or something...Useful Familiars I think the name was.

Except the Ferret, I think. It casts Invisibility radius 10'. Anyway, use this carefully because the familiar may still die when casting.

Crenshinibon · Post by **Crenshinibon** » Sat Jul 07, 2007 9:55 am

The Ferret has 100 points in pickpocket while the Fairy Dragon is the one that casts the said spell.

The imp is useful early on but my choice lies with the ferret, until the bag of holding comes around... not to mention other interesting items which you can gain with the help of your friend.

I do remember that happening when I had a Cloak of Balduran on me and someone tried to heal me. Yea, I think something likes this is only in BG.