New Idea: Stone Familiar (in General)

As it stands the familiars in CB are used offensively. However, would it be helpful to have a familiar used for defensive purposes? The familiar's AC would go up accordingly to the level and they would have steel skin trained... and HP....

If you want to make it really special it can be made so that the familiar is always hit first regardless of how it is attacked, whether by a MsK, melee weapon, SG, ex/axbow, MM, etc. and that no other minions can be attacked until the familiar is dead. I guess spread damage would be able to get around this.

I like it but then Fireball would be back

fireball being back would be good.

I would love that! Familiar wall!

I suggested this long, long ago.

Sounds cool ^^

My first instinct is against this... Battles are going longer into melee already, PL is VERY effective, and defense in general is doing just fine with layers, etc. Additionally, there is already the RoS (to allow DEs to form a proper defense) and the ToE to increase endurance across the board. Wouldn't this new familiar be somewhat samey?

If you want a golem helping you out, junction a Jig properly. A Jig already has endurance, and a goodly amount of HP. Plus, it can at least dole out some damage to prevent stalemates when he is last guy standing.

Jig has long lost endurance.

However, I agree with sutekh. It doesn't seem significantly different from other ways to live to melee.

I guess I was just trying to think of a way to add more variety to the game. Like mix up the roles where the familiar would primarily be used for defense and the minions for offense. And even though there are many defensive layers in the game already, none of them specifically reduce damage all across the board.

I find the concept really cool. Lately familiars have been a way to make up for lack of exp concentration offensively, why not let them take up defensive roles?

I just like the name, sounds intimidating :)