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How common are familiars in your games? I hear they are going to be omitted from the 4th edition? Are there some significant problems with them? For roleplaying reasons I think familiars are an interesting concept. My game that is going to start in a week will have a Troll Illusionist, and I wondered if I should recommend acquiring a familiar at some point to him.

Especially where part of the reason for familiars was because it allowed Cavalryman and Beastmaster characters to have an animal companion that was able to stay more mechanically relevant. The new talents on the Beastmaster (Enhance Animal Companion, for example) alleviate some of that need.

In my group, Familiar are always popular with spellcasters and beastmasters.

Spellcasters always enjoy an easy extra matrix. And it help the beastmaster keep their beast more useful in combat.

But has Mataxes says, in forth edition, it is no longer necessary for beastmasters. Though I'm very curious to know if the familiar in forth edition will be different, and how much.

There are not currently any plans for them to be in the GM Guide, so the Companion is most lilkely.

Just a thought here...

The current rules for familiars are more beneficial to magicians (spell matrix) then other adepts. I feel this should be modified so that the beneficial effects have more meaning for each discipline. Maybe expand the pool of purchased effects (talents) beyond animal possession and spell matrix.