Demon / Devil / Symbiote host classes?

[TraceChaos]

I'm generally looking for ANY classes, preferably reasonably balanced, that have you drawing on the power of a demon, devil, or other creature that lives inside the player character.

Examples in other media include
Naruto, Bleach, Fairy Tail.
Tagers from Cthulhutech.
The venom and Carnage symbiotes from Spider-Man.
Etrigan from DC.
The Black Ka'kari from the Night Angel book series.

The idea is to have near-free access to a non-casting or at least martial focused set of powers, preferably with a transformation included, based aroudn having another creature that lives on or inside you as the power source. Preferably with the ability to either communicate with the creature, and get on good terms with it.

The reason is twofold ; first is because I love this as a concept and want to play it myself. Second is because I'm running a game myself and one of my players wants a similar ability.

Either 3.x or PF work, I'm not picky.

[ATHATH]

Summoner with the Synthesist archetype (PF), Warlock (3.5), Binder (3.5), the Demonbinder (NOT Nar Demonbinder) PrC (3.5), and just refluffing another class, off the top of my head.

Take a look at some (official) symbionts here (note that it's not a complete list, and you might have to scroll past the stuff about grafts): http://www.realmshelps.net/magic/items/grafts.shtml

[Yogibear41]

Acolyte of the Skin is something you might want to look into, its only 1/2 casting, but Capstone of DR 10/good is pretty good IMO, even if you can replicate similar effects with spells. Its 3/4s bab so might go decently with a more melee inclined gish. Its possible to get in as early as 3rd level if you use the right feats/classes to boost your caster level enough.


Might also want to look at the 3rd party Fiendblade class you can pick up a copy of the pdf for like 2 bucks on Drive through rpg.

[TraceChaos]

Warlock doesn't have demons living inside them, and binders are pretty temporary.

I can't find any good Homebrew that mroe directly goes for it ; most of it's ridiculous like all good saves full BAB and like 6+skills per level.

The listed options soudn decent, otherwise. Though anyone know any third party or homebrew base classes designed aroudn the concept?

Thanks for th feedback so far, though!

Just noticed the edit on Yogibear!

I'll actually look into that, thanks!

[Thurbane]

Impure Prince (Magic of Eberron) is a PrC that has some features related to hosting symbionts, but mainly focused on fighting aberrations. 4/6 casting progression.

The Mountebank base class from Dragon Compendium draws its powers from a fiendish patron, but nothing about having anything living inside of them.

These two threads might be of interest:

Fleshwarping: A List of Grafts, Symbionts, and Related Goodies (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?190350)

[3.5] Fiend Touched Compendium (http://www.giantitp.com/forums/showthread.php?517307) (I should really go back and do more work on that at some stage).

[Red Fel]

Warlock doesn't have demons living inside them, and binders are pretty temporary.

Warlock fluff is left specifically vague - you totally could fluff it as some kind of cohabiting entity. Which is kind of the point - you could take a number of classes and fluff them that way. Heck, you could fluff a Barbarian as becoming possessed by a bloodthirsty demon during bouts of rage. (In fact, Pathfinder gives Barbarians Rage Power options for both the Daemon Totem (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/barbarian/rage-powers/paizo-rage-powers/daemon-totem-lesser-su) and Fiend Totem (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/core-classes/barbarian/rage-powers/paizo-rage-powers/fiend-totem-lesser-su).)

As for Binder, there is a more permanent option for them - the Knight of the Sacred Seal PrC is specifically designed for Binders who enter into a pact with one specific Vestige. And you can totally fluff that too - say that, while the character is taking Binder levels, he is gradually learning to tap into his semi-dormant/sealed passenger's power, and once he starts taking KotSS, he has learned to more fully partner with the spirit within. (Sort of like how Naruto goes from passively receiving the Kyuubi's chakra and healing fast to actively tapping into an increasing number of tails, for example.)

[Thurbane]

As for Binder, there is a more permanent option for them - the Knight of the Sacred Seal PrC is specifically designed for Binders who enter into a pact with one specific Vestige. And you can totally fluff that too - say that, while the character is taking Binder levels, he is gradually learning to tap into his semi-dormant/sealed passenger's power, and once he starts taking KotSS, he has learned to more fully partner with the spirit within. (Sort of like how Naruto goes from passively receiving the Kyuubi's chakra and healing fast to actively tapping into an increasing number of tails, for example.)

Cool - vaguely reminds me of the depiction of Dexter's Dark Passenger from the novels.

In book 3, from memory, the Dark Passenger turns out to be an actual demon/devil. I believe this was retconned in later novels, due to the massively negative feedback from readers. After book 1, the novels diverge pretty widely from the TV series. I enjoy both.

[DrMotives]

There was a class that was the opposite in the Dragon mag somewhere, can't recall the exact name to find it. But a host took a ten level class to have a host Celestial share more of their power as they advanced in the class. It had a high BAB & HP warrior version, and a mage version that gave partial spellcaster advancement. And you picked the Celestial when you took the class, to get the benefits of the type of being you had riding along with you. I think it was called the Infused or something like that.

[ATHATH]

There was a class that was the opposite in the Dragon mag somewhere, can't recall the exact name to find it. But a host took a ten level class to have a host Celestial share more of their power as they advanced in the class. It had a high BAB & HP warrior version, and a mage version that gave partial spellcaster advancement. And you picked the Celestial when you took the class, to get the benefits of the type of being you had riding along with you. I think it was called the Infused or something like that.
I vaguely recall something like that, but it was for demons.

[Nifft]

There was a class that was the opposite in the Dragon mag somewhere, can't recall the exact name to find it. But a host took a ten level class to have a host Celestial share more of their power as they advanced in the class. It had a high BAB & HP warrior version, and a mage version that gave partial spellcaster advancement. And you picked the Celestial when you took the class, to get the benefits of the type of being you had riding along with you. I think it was called the Infused or something like that.

Yep, Dragon Magazine #321 has the Infused, a class for characters who want to get stuffed by an angel.

There's a warrior version (full BAB), and a half-caster-progression version which claims to be for spellcasters.

[The Viscount]

I vaguely recall something like that, but it was for demons.

That's DotU's Demonbinder, which gives you powers based on the demon you select.

There's a line of spells for a similar effect, Investiture of the x Devil, which is a pretty good line of spells.

[Telonius]

Quori Nightmare from Races of Eberron has a similar thing going on, especially if you're entering it as an Inspired. The Quori aren't devils or demons, precisely, but it's similar in theme to what you're going for.

[TraceChaos]

Thanks for all the feedback / input, guys! These are all very helpful! More would be appreciated, especially things with physical transformations or super forms.

I like so far the soudn of the Infused, and the Quori Nightmare SOUNDS cool!

I also like the sound of the Knight of the Sacred Seal.

[ATHATH]

That's DotU's Demonbinder, which gives you powers based on the demon you select.

There's a line of spells for a similar effect, Investiture of the x Devil, which is a pretty good line of spells.
No, that's not the one that I was thinking of. I've mentioned it (Demonbinder) already earlier in the thread.

[Red Fel]

Thanks for all the feedback / input, guys! These are all very helpful! More would be appreciated, especially things with physical transformations or super forms.

For physical transformation, I'd suggest going back to ATHATH's earlier suggestion of the Synthesist Summoner from PF.

First, some background. The Summoner (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/summoner/) class is a limited-spellcasting class with a special class feature called an Eidolon. The Eidolon is a powerful extraplanar creature who has formed a bond with the Summoner. As the Summoner levels, he can upgrade his Eidolon's abilities and physical features.

The Synthesist (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/summoner/archetypes/paizo-summoner-archetypes/synthesist/) is a summoner archetype which follows a simple premise - instead of the Summoner conjuring an aspect of his Eidolon, he becomes his Eidolon. He retains his mind and mental scores, but his physical body transforms into his Eidolon's.

Take it a step further. The Unchained Summoner (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/unchained-classes/summoner-unchained/) is a modified version of the Summoner class which, among other things, allows you to take a specialized Eidolon (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/unchained-classes/summoner-unchained/eidolons-unchained) - one with a subtype, such as Aberration, Elemental, or Demon. The Un!Summoner is also compatible with the Synthesist archetype, meaning that you could, for example, create an Un!Summoner Synthesist who transforms into his Demon Eidolon, then fluff it to be something along the lines of Jason Blood/Etrigan.

You know, this guy.

http://i.makeagif.com/media/9-30-2016/_OCD2y.gif

[TraceChaos]

You know, this guy.

http://i.makeagif.com/media/9-30-2016/_OCD2y.gif

Gone, oh little man so tame.
Arise the demon... Whatsisname?

Summoner sounds solid. I've also been searching the web and found a reasonably cool Vigilante Archetype that is LITERALLY a Venom / Carnage type thing.
Symbiotic Slayer.
It gives you a familiar, then gives that familiar a custom archetype that makes it a symbiote. And it has talents for things like limited use / day fast healing, forming weapons (Natural or otherwise) out of your symbiote, and even tying people up with Symbitoe Stuff.

[Daefos]

From Pathfinder, a Medium with the Fiendkeeper archetype explicitly has an evil force sealed inside them, and their class features revolve entirely around drawing power from it.

[Red Fel]

From Pathfinder, a Medium with the Fiendkeeper archetype explicitly has an evil force sealed inside them, and their class features revolve entirely around drawing power from it.

On a related, if somewhat less crunchy note, the Oracle (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/oracle/) archetype, Possessed Oracle (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/oracle/archetypes/paizo-oracle-archetypes/possessed-oracle), is also about being possessed by some evil force. The Oracle class is a divine spellcaster with two major class features - Curses and Mysteries. Curses give you a drawback, but also grant a scaling benefit. Mysteries give you a list of Revelations to choose from, which give you either a passive buff or an ability with daily uses. The Possessed Oracle archetype requires you to take one of two curses - Haunted (which makes it hard for you to grasp items but adds several telekinetic-style spells to your list) or Tongues (which limits your speech in combat but lets you speak every language otherwise). It also adds several spells to your list of spells known, including the powerful Divine Vessel (basically a battle transformation), and it grants you a special Revelation that lets you resist Enchantments and reroll Will saves (since the thing inside you is also resisting).

Not a powerful class/archetype combination, but flavorful.

[ShurikVch]

How about the classes for fiends?
Fiend of Blasphemy, Fiend of Corruption, and Fiend of Possession are all able to empower mortals in some ways, and the latter one is may be literally inside


No, that's not the one that I was thinking of. I've mentioned it (Demonbinder) already earlier in the thread.Tainted Spellcaster and Tainted Warrior in Dragon #302

[Yogibear41]

Another 3rd party class springs to mind, check out the Arcanis setting it has a new base class called holy warriors, which is actually several classes that are all different depending on which deity you choose. One of the classes specifically takes a demon or devil (there are several choices to choose from) and binds it within you giving you increasing fiendish abilities as you level up. Its on the Paladin Chassis.

The player's guide to Arcanis is the book you want, but you might also want to check out the other Arcanis book called legacy of Damnation which is full of support for tiefling/half-fiends/other similar types of characters.

Do note that Arcanis eventually remade its game into its own thing, you want the older d20 version that is compatible with 3.X

[dude123nice]

For physical transformation, I'd suggest going back to ATHATH's earlier suggestion of the Synthesist Summoner from PF.

First, some background. The Summoner (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/summoner/) class is a limited-spellcasting class with a special class feature called an Eidolon. The Eidolon is a powerful extraplanar creature who has formed a bond with the Summoner. As the Summoner levels, he can upgrade his Eidolon's abilities and physical features.

The Synthesist (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/base-classes/summoner/archetypes/paizo-summoner-archetypes/synthesist/) is a summoner archetype which follows a simple premise - instead of the Summoner conjuring an aspect of his Eidolon, he becomes his Eidolon. He retains his mind and mental scores, but his physical body transforms into his Eidolon's.

Take it a step further. The Unchained Summoner (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/unchained-classes/summoner-unchained/) is a modified version of the Summoner class which, among other things, allows you to take a specialized Eidolon (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/classes/unchained-classes/summoner-unchained/eidolons-unchained) - one with a subtype, such as Aberration, Elemental, or Demon. The Un!Summoner is also compatible with the Synthesist archetype, meaning that you could, for example, create an Un!Summoner Synthesist who transforms into his Demon Eidolon, then fluff it to be something along the lines of Jason Blood/Etrigan.

You know, this guy.

http://i.makeagif.com/media/9-30-2016/_OCD2y.gif

Why is nobody warning the OP that the Synthesist archetype is one of the most controversial archetypes in Pathfinder, and for a good reason. That might actually make it VERY MUCH what the OP wants, or it might mean he can't use it.

[TraceChaos]

The palyer's guide to arcanis, that I can find, is 20 dollars which is more than I'm capable of spending. Which sucks because the Holy Warrior thing sounds like it'd really fit.

Synthesist sunchained summoner sounds cool, but asking the GM for the game I'm playing got me a solid no since apparently they can get 15+ in like every physical from the eidolon while keeping their mentals so like a really minmaxy build is way too easy to come by.

[N. Jolly]

I've also been searching the web and found a reasonably cool Vigilante Archetype that is LITERALLY a Venom / Carnage type thing.
Symbiotic Slayer.
It gives you a familiar, then gives that familiar a custom archetype that makes it a symbiote. And it has talents for things like limited use / day fast healing, forming weapons (Natural or otherwise) out of your symbiote, and even tying people up with Symbiote Stuff.

Hey there, I'm the writer of that archetype, and yeah, it's intended to be a Venom/Carnage expy. Don't forget how you can let the symbiote take over to get boosts to your talents or all the other stuff it can do. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

[TraceChaos]

Hey there, I'm the writer of that archetype, and yeah, it's intended to be a Venom/Carnage expy. Don't forget how you can let the symbiote take over to get boosts to your talents or all the other stuff it can do. If you have any questions, feel free to ask.

My only question is if you'd consider it worth it to take Weaponized Symbiote + Whip Symbiote while primarily doing lethal combat with natural weapons via the other talent (That I forget the name of.)

Otherwise, the archetype is pretty great,a nd I can easily see myself taking only symbiotic talents on a character.