So maybe someone has suggested this before but what about a tradeskill familiar? When you have it up it gives even more chance to succeed? or to salvage? Plus, it should look cool and different )
We could also bake or tinker our own familars. The cookie bro is already there on the special PoK vendors but no receipe for it. We want more, more, more !
drunken dwarf that curses, burps and throws up alot then tells you what it was like when he was younger
Would be fun if the familiar had a 32 slot tradeskill bag that you could put tools in, and if they are up when you open a recipe they will "hand you the tools" and autofill it. That way you could chuck in all your sewing needles, glass eye, planning tool etc. Totally superfluous though.
The Telchin in the Forest of Forever by Thomas Burnett Swann were an ant species that did jewel craft. Maybe specific familiars for specific trade skills. Imps for spell research. Personal demon assistant.