[DF] Fighting with a cat on your shoulders

[Barghaest]

Originally Posted by vierasmarius

That sounds a bit harsh. After all, the cat isn't trying to obstruct the wizards in the way a normal grappler would be. But that does set one end of the spectrum for us...

A drowning person isn't trying to obstruct their rescuer in the way a normal grappler would... it just happens because they're panicking and trying to save themselves using their rescuer as an anchor.

However, due to SM differences most cats wouldn't really hamper a person that severely. I'd say if it's just clinging to his shoulder and he's not trying to dislodge it (meaning taking care with his actions) maybe impose a -1 to -2 to DX for physical activities AT MOST. If it's in a full panic, it might serve as forcing Will rolls to avoid distraction in concentrate maneuvers as well.

EDIT: But in either of these cases it would only really be justified if they purchased the familiar as a Dependent as well as an Ally. If they just bought pure Ally, then it should never do anything that would intentionally impair it's master for it's own safety... it would be aware enough to rest there without obstructing him and maintain it's own balance. You should never find ways to make an Ally inconvenient to the character who took it... that's the job of a Dependent.