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JellyPooga
2007-04-15, 09:17 AM
Hey-di-ho everyone!

I was contemplating the Spirit Shaman class from Complete Divine the other day and realised that htere weren't really any good PrC's for them (nothing that advanced Chastise Spirit for a start). So, I got to thinking about it and when I was reading through Races of the Wild, I saw Arcane Heirophant. Now, I've always liked the idea of the Arcane Heirophants Companion Familiar and it struck me that a similar concept could be used for the Spirit Shaman.

I had a concept for a Spirit Shaman PrC. I just needed some rules. Not being the most amazing homebrewer in the world, I thought I'd come here and ask for some help. Here's my ideas so far...

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Shaman Summoner

The Shaman Summoner has focused his energies on the interaction of animals and the spirit world. Using his specialised knowledge of this area, he learns to imbue his personal spiritual guide into his animal companion and gains the ability to summon the spirits themselves to aid him. (needs more obviously, but I'm a bit crap at prose)

Spirit Shaman 4 / Druid 1 = Quickest Entry
Spirit Shaman 4 / Ranger 4 = More Combat Oriented
Beastmaster also an entry possibility

Requirements
Skills: Knowledge (Nature) 8 ranks, Knowledge (The Planes) 4 ranks, Handle Animal 4 ranks
Feats: Augment Summoning, Natural Bond
Spellcasting: Able to spontaneously cast 2nd level Divine spells
Special: Animal Companion class feature and Blessing of the Spirits spell-like ability

Class Features

HD: d8
Skill Points: 4+Int mod
Class Skills: As Spirit Shaman

Spirit Companion (Ex): Spirit Guide bonded to Animal Companion (Form of Spirit Guide does not have to match animal)
Blessing of the Spirits works on Animal Companion as well.
Spirit Companion is still an Animal Companion (Shaman Summoner lvls stack with Druid for abilities).
Spirit Guide able to act through Spirit Companion: 1/day/level, Animal Companion gains improved mental capabilities*

Follow the Guide [1st level] and Guide Magic [6th level] - As Spirit Shaman abilities.

Ghost Animal: Treats Natural Weapons as Ghost Touch and can use Normal AC vs. Incorporeal Touch Attacks [2nd level]

Spirit Form: Spirit Companion able to become Incorporeal X/day (like Spirit Shaman feature) [4th level, 1/day. 6th lvl, 2/day. 8th lvl 3/day.)

Channel Animal: As Arcane Hierophant ability, except only through Spirit Companion

Spiritual Ascension: 10th level, Spirit Companion becomes a chimerical Incorporeal creature with features of both Animal Companion and Spirit Guide, able to manifest X/day. Improved mental capabilities now permanent.

*Spirit Guide has independent Int, Wis, Cha, Skills and abilities which supercede animals’ when using this ability. Increases with level. Immediate action to activate possession. (e.g. Spirit Guide gets Improved Evasion earlier than Animal Companion would, Int/Wis/Cha that scales with level, high Knowledge skills – allowing assist bonus’ to Shaman, able to speak with Shaman, etc….see familiar abilities for comparison)

Add half Shaman Summoner levels to Spirit Shaman levels for determining damage caused and the DC of Chastise Spirits
Shaman Summoner stacks with Spirit Shaman/Druid/Ranger levels to determine Wild Empathy modifier.
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1) Spellcasting progression is a given, but I wasn't sure on how much. I'm thinking full bar two levels (maybe 1st and 7th), but like I say, I'm not sure. Certainly not dual casting (I did consider an Ultimate Magus style of dual casting between Druid and Spirit Shaman, but rejected that idea).


2) Summoner - as the name suggests, I wanted some kind of summoning feature that summons spirit animals. I was thinking something along the lines of the Summon Undead ability that the Master of Shrouds (from Libris Mortis)gets, except obviously it summons spirit animals. The problem I had was three-fold a)How many uses per day? b)What template to apply to animals to make them spirit creatures? and c)How to scale the ability with level?
a)If I keep it true to the Master of Shrouds PrC, it's 3+Cha mod. I'm happy with that myself. Does anyone see a problem with that thouh?


b)Ghost Brute is a fairly obvious choice, though Umbral wouldn't be far off either. Any other suggestions?


c)This is the tricky part IMO. There are many animals and some make better spirits than others. One option is to say that all Spirit Animals have the same stats, regardless of what form they take. This option would mean that the only scaling would be the number of Spirit Animals summoned with each use (e.g. 1 at 1st level, 2 at 4th, 4 at 6th, 6 at 8th and 8 at 10th maybe). Another option would be to say that each use of the ability summons X HD of Spirit Animals. Obviously, the higher the level, the more HD can be summoned. Thoughts anyone?
3)Finally, I wanted something for the Shaman him/herself. Considering the fact that the Spirit Guide is supposed to be a sort of personification of the Shaman in the Spirit World and that the Spirit Guide is bound to the Animal Companion, I didn't think it would be to far-fetched to assume that the Shaman would start taking on some of the qualities of his/her Animal Companion.
To this end I thought that perhaps at 2 levels (3rd and 7th maybe), the Shaman Summoner could gain one of his/her Spirit Companions' Special Qualities or Racial Bonus' (Low-Light vision, Eagles Spot bonus, etc.).
This is problematical given the range of animals available and the Qualities they have. One solution would be to limit the available Special Qualities to a given list (which doesn't include the more powerful ones). I don't really have another solution besides scrapping this feature.

So there we go. I hope someone can help me out with this. Thanks

Autarch
2007-04-16, 11:15 PM
It looks ok... you really ought to make a table for readability. I wish I could give you some real, useful advice but I don't have some of the books you are using to base this class off of.

JellyPooga
2007-04-17, 08:54 AM
It looks ok... you really ought to make a table for readability. I wish I could give you some real, useful advice but I don't have some of the books you are using to base this class off of.

I would make a table, but don't know how...

XtheYeti
2007-04-17, 12:08 PM
i would like to also request a table

Inyssius Tor
2007-04-17, 12:29 PM
Like THEES:

--Edit: or not. it's being all weird.

Shaman Summoner
{table=head]|Base Attack[br]Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special|Spells

1st|
+0|
+x|
+x|
+x|Follow the Guide, Channel Animal|

2nd|
+1|
+x|
+x|
+x|Ghost Animal|+1 level of existing spellcasting class

3rd|
+2|
+x|
+x|
+x||+1 level of existing spellcasting class

4th|
+3|
+x|
+x|
+x|Spirit Form (1/day)|+1 level of existing spellcasting class

5th|
+3|
+x|
+x|
+x||+1 level of existing spellcasting class

6th|
+4|
+x|
+x|
+x|Guide Magic, Spirit Form (2/day)|+1 level of existing spellcasting class

7th|
+5|
+x|
+x|
+x||

8th|
+6/+1|
+x|
+x|
+x|Spirit Form (3/day)|+1 level of existing spellcasting class

9th|
+6/+1|
+x|
+x|
+x||+1 level of existing spellcasting class

10th|
+7/+2|
+x|
+x|
+x|Spiritual Ascension|+1 level of existing spellcasting class [/table]



Shaman Summoner
{table=head]|Base Attack[br]Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special|Spells

1st|
+0|
+x|
+x|
+x|Follow the Guide, Channel Animal|

2nd|
+1|
+x|
+x|
+x|Ghost Animal|+1 level of existing spellcasting class

3rd|
+2|
+x|
+x|
+x||+1 level of existing spellcasting class

4th|
+3|
+x|
+x|
+x|Spirit Form (1/day)|+1 level of existing spellcasting class

5th|
+3|
+x|
+x|
+x||+1 level of existing spellcasting class

6th|
+4|
+x|
+x|
+x|Guide Magic, Spirit Form (2/day)|+1 level of existing spellcasting class

7th|
+5|
+x|
+x|
+x||

8th|
+6/+1|
+x|
+x|
+x|Spirit Form (3/day)|+1 level of existing spellcasting class

9th|
+6/+1|
+x|
+x|
+x||+1 level of existing spellcasting class

10th|
+7/+2|
+x|
+x|
+x|Spiritual Ascension|+1 level of existing spellcasting class [/table]

Change <br> (it's between Base Attack and Bonus) into [br], and there you are.

JellyPooga
2007-04-19, 07:16 AM
Shaman Summoner

Hit Die: D8
Skill Points: (4+Int Mod) per level
Class Skills: As Spirit Shaman

{table=head]|Base Attack[br]Bonus|Fort Save|Ref Save|Will Save|Special|Spells

1st|
+0|
+2|
+0|
+2|Follow the Guide, Spirit Companion, Spirit Friend|

2nd|
+1|
+3|
+0|
+3|Ghost Animal|+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class

3rd|
+2|
+3|
+1|
+3|Summon Spirit (Ghost Brute)|+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class

4th|
+3|
+4|
+1|
+4|Spirit Form (1/day), Spirit Link|+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class

5th|
+3|
+4|
+1|
+4|Channel Companion 2/day|+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class

6th|
+4|
+5|
+2|
+5|Guide Magic, Spirit Form (2/day)|+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class

7th|
+5|
+5|
+2|
+5|Summon Spirit (Umbral)|

8th|
+6/+1|
+6|
+2|
+6|Spirit Form (3/day), Spirit Link|+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class

9th|
+6/+1|
+6|
+3|
+6|Channel Companion 4/day|+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class

10th|
+7/+2|
+7|
+3|
+7|Spiritual Ascension|+1 level of existing divine spellcasting class [/table]

Class Features:

Weapon and Armour Proficiencies: The Shaman Summoner gains no new weapon or armour proficiencies.

Spellcasting: At each level, except 1st and 7th, a Shaman Summoner gains an increase in spells per day, spells known and caster level as if he had also gained a level in an existing divine spellcasting classs. He does not gain any other abilities of that class, yadda, yadda, yadda.

Follow the Guide: As Spirit Shaman

Spirit Companion: At first level, the Shaman Summoner performs a day long ritual, binding his Spirit Guide to his Animal Companion. The Shaman Summoners class level stacks with his effective Druid level to determine his Spirit Companions abilities (bonus Hit Die, etc.). All future bonus Hit Die gained by a Spirit Companion are Magical Beast (do not upgrade any current Animal Hit Dice). Upon gaining any Magical Beast Hit Dice, the Spirit Companions type changes to Magical Beast with the (Augmented Animal)subtype.
Once/day/class level, a Shaman Summoners Spirit Guide may possess his Spirit Companion. When this happens, the Spirit Companion gains the Wisdom and Charisma of the Shaman Summoner as well as any ranks in Knowledge skills that the Shaman Summoner possess. The Spirit companion also gains the Intelligence and Special Abilities (but not Natural Armour bonus) of a Familiar of a Sorcerer of the Shaman Summoners level +5 (For example, a 5th level Shaman Summoners Spirit Companion gains an Int of 10, Improved Evasion, Share Spells, Empathic Link, Deliver Touch Spells, Speak with Master and Speak with Animals of its Kind). Being possessed is an Immediate action and is a supernatural ability.
If a Spirit Companion dies, the Shaman Summoner must make a Fortitude (?) check to to avoid losing Exp, just as if a Familiar had died. A Shaman Summoner who loses his Spirit Companion may aquire a new Animal Companion after 24 hours, but must wait a month after aquiring it before performing the ritual to turn it into a Spirit Companion.

Spirit Friend: Shaman Summoner levels stack with Spirit Shaman levels to determine his Wild Empathy modifier. A Shaman Summoner also adds half his class level to his Spirit Shaman level to determine the damage and DC of his Chastise Spirits ability.

Ghost Animal (Su): All of a 2nd level Shaman Summoners Spirit Companions Natural Weapons are treated as if they have the Ghost Touch weapon property. Also, they may use their full AC against Incorporeal Touch Attacks.

Summon Spirit (Su): At 3rd level, a Shaman Summoner has the ability to call spirits to his aid. A Shaman Summoner may use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3+(Shaman Summoners Cha mod) (Minimum 1/day). When he uses this ability, the Shaman Summoner summons a creature (as the Summon Monster spell) from the Animal Companion list of a Druid of equal level to the Shaman Summoners Class Level, with the Ghost Brute template applied to it. The summoned animal does not gain any bonus HD or special abilities of an Animal Companion, but the Shaman Summoner may choose animals from the higher lists (e.g. he may choose a creature from the "Druid-4" list at Shaman Summoner level 4). Effects that increase effective Druid level for the purposes of Animal Companion abilities have no effect on this ability. This ability lasts for 1 round/class level.
At 7th level, the Shaman Summoner may apply the Umbral tempate to the creature summoned instead of the Ghost Brute template.

Spirit Form: As Spirit Shaman class feature, except it effects the Shaman Summoners Spirit Companion instead of the Shaman Summoner.

Spirit Link (Ex): The Shaman Summoners spiritual link to his Spirit Companion works in two directions and over time, he gains some of the abilities of his companion. At 4th level and again at 8th, the Shaman Summoner may select one Special Quality from the following list (Darkvision, Low-Light Vision, Blindsense, Blindsight, Tremorsense or Scent [may add more]) that their Spirit Companion possess, to gain as an extraordinary ability. Alternatively, the Shaman Summoner may select one skill which their Spirit Companion has a racial bonus to and gain a +3 racial bonus to that skill. If a Shaman Summoners Spirit Companion dies, he loses these abilities/bonuses, but may select new abilities/bonuses appropriate to their new Spirit Companion when they aquire it.

Channel Companion: As Arcane Heirophant ability, except it only works through the Shaman Summoners Spirit Companion.

Guide Magic: As Spirit Shaman class feature.

Spiritual Ascension: At 10th level, the link between a Shaman Summoner, his Spirit Companion and the spirit world is all but indistinguishable. The Shaman Summoner aquires the Fey type and DR 5/Cold Iron. The Shaman Summoners Spirit Companion permanently gains the abilities that possession would confer (improved mental/special abilities) and also aquires the Ghost template.

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O.k. there it is in table form. Hope it makes things clearer. All of the above, as I said earlier, is more or less arbitary and I would appreciate any advice on balance issues or otherwise. Thanks.