Is it worth having a familiar? It sounds like they would be easy to kill and I don't want to lose the constitution point. Are they really of any benefit?

It was said before: it gives you HP. Keeping it in backpack you will not loose it. Some of them have nice special abilities, some are almost useless, but again: most of them give you 12HP so I say: take it and keep hidden.

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Well known expetitioner, Heffalumps hunter, friend of Boo.

The CG one is pretty usefull since he can make your party invissible.
But basicly the only reason i use them is because they are fun to have.

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Those who watch their backs meet death from the front- Dreamer128 Demonslayer of the OHF.

Paladin of the order, first bodyguard of Lady Lioness and defender of Castle Kerhelm

I always play a spellcaster, and I always have a fimiliar. I'm planning to kit this one character into a wild mage for BG2, and he's chaotic good (I think all wild mages should be chaotic in alignment, but that's me...) anywhos, I'm giving him a familiar. That invis. 10' radius saved my ass a couple of times. I always keep mine in my pack though. They're extremely useful if you have a single classed mage, as you need all the extra hps you can get.