What is the point of Find Familiar? It sucks since only the main character IF he happens to be a mage or a Bard can cast the spell.

Why would they do this? Does this also apply to Multi-Player games? The biggest problem about BG1 and BG2 multi-player is that so much of the game is focused around 1 single player. Good example being Find Familiar.

Also only the main character can get a stronghold. That would piss me off in a multi=player game too.

They could limit some things to the antagonist to make play a bit more simple. Many of the strongholds require "maintenence" and during a multi-player game, you'd waste a lot of time just keeping everyone's strongholds running. then there is the whole "where did i leave this item????" factor. I would think that in multi-player, once you agree to NOT be the focus of the game, you accept that certain things are not available to you.

As far as find familiar, in keeping true to the nature of the spell, it would be wrong (in single-player) for you to order Aerie's Psuedodragon into combat since only she should be able to do that. It would take way too much extra programing to have her make those *choices*

Only the protagonist can have a familiar, but you don't have to be a mage. If you are in multiplayer, use import and export to put a mage as protagonist. Then do import and export again, putting your Fighter (ect) back. Your mage who used to be the protagonist can set down the familiar, but only the new protagonist who may be a fighter can pick it up. Just make sure once you pick it up, don't put it down again or it will disappear. You will get the bonus HPs, not bad - if you are neutral u get a cat with 24 hps, a nice bonus.