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View Full Version : Effective use of Demonic Possession?



SangoProduction
2017-10-05, 07:49 PM
So, Demonic Possession (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/monster-feats/demonic-possession/) is a feat (that can be taken multiple times) that grants Magic Jar as a spell like ability 1/day. Normally, this would be a pretty cool ability. But, you can get it at level 1 (CR 2), quite trivially as a Half-Fiend, which means you are getting this spell about 8 levels before you normally could. All you need is a 17 Charisma and 13 Wisdom before the template.

It's a save or lose, with the added benefit of being usable in social situations, and potentially causing chaos in the ranks, as their own barbarian just starts slaughtering the support casters. Then there's Improved Possession (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/feats/monster-feats/improved-possession/) which means (arguably) you can also have that barbarian raging as it slaughters the support casters, depending on what you define as "the body's" abilities.

And lastly, you can basically use the possessed people as temporary sacks of hp for you, since you are returned to your body if the possessed dies while in range, which, at level 12, can be increased with Reach Spell Like Ability. (Although...getting sent back isn't ideal, unless you are reasonably nearby. So, actually, best implementation is to have a party member carry you on their back in some sort of coffin, Kankurō style, to protect your body while you're messing with others'. Or better yet, have your body-slave do it.)

And of course, being a spell-like ability of a 5th level spell, and requires you to have an inflated charisma score, the DC is going to be pretty wacky...especially at CR 2. And just screw any group who actually allows Young to be taken as a -1 CR for anyone not strength-based, and even then... {rambles}



So, those are the benefits of this ability. But that's just a feat. How are we going to actually use the body once we've taken it over? What's the character build, aside from a 1/day save or die? Bard seems kinda cool as you get to buff your party, in addition to taking someone out.

Sorcerer...eh. Yeah. Probably more effective. You've got the will save coverage with your feats, so take reflex and fort saves for those pesky casters. It's somewhat inconvenient when you don't have a body-slave, as you'd have to get out of your hidey hole to cast stuff, but still possible, and with the largest printed spell list of any class, there's something to be said about this.

Summoner is convenient, for always having a body even without a body-slave. And does help with the whole numbers advantage for you. Mesmerist is definitely a natural double-down on the whole possession theme.


Perhaps a more interesting option though, is to take a mix of Swashbuckler and Sleuth investigator, letting you take advantage of your targets' likely high physical stats, and getting bonuses to combat from your mental stats, including 2x your Charisma [minimum of +5, likely +6] as your panche pool.

Daring Infiltrator Swashbuckler is cool for those social uses of Demonic Possession, as you get a bonus to bluff...but it's +1/4 levels, and you're giving up your Charisma to saves bonus. Not worth. And with that said, if you manage to be a Good little half-fiend, you can take Mysterious Avenger, and gain 3 more uses of Charisma to saves, and gain Charisma to AC (less important, unless your main body is being attacked).


You guys got any input for builds?

Crake
2017-10-06, 05:55 AM
Well, firstly, pathfinder updated the whole magic jar possession thing with the spells named after exactly that (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/p/possession/). It's recommended that you use that in place of magic jar wherever applicable, so you may want to have a look at it, it makes more sense to use than magic jar when you don't have a gem as a focus. If you can find a way to remove the native subtype, you would even get access to the greater version, by the spell's description. It would work great on a quasit familiar actually.

SangoProduction
2017-10-06, 08:22 AM
Well, firstly, pathfinder updated the whole magic jar possession thing with the spells named after exactly that (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/p/possession/). It's recommended that you use that in place of magic jar wherever applicable, so you may want to have a look at it, it makes more sense to use than magic jar when you don't have a gem as a focus. If you can find a way to remove the native subtype, you would even get access to the greater version, by the spell's description. It would work great on a quasit familiar actually.

So, you are supposed to replace instances of magic jar with possession? That's cool, I guess. I'm not seeing much of a difference other than not having a focus.

Sheogoroth
2017-10-06, 12:54 PM
I like this a lot.

Probably the most thematic and cool use would be a Sorcerer/Souleater (http://dnd.arkalseif.info/classes/soul-eater/index.html), then possess something with multiple natural attacks.

SangoProduction
2017-10-06, 03:17 PM
I like this a lot.

Probably the most thematic and cool use would be a Sorcerer/Souleater (http://dnd.arkalseif.info/classes/soul-eater/index.html), then possess something with multiple natural attacks.

I always liked the idea of Soul Eater, though the implementation is more than a little underwhelming. The capstone is nice for body hopping. There's not much synergy with Sorcerer there though.

Segev
2017-10-07, 11:27 AM
If you can use it, the web supplement for psionics that included the PrC that kept victims in cocoons to feed on them for PP might work with such a thing. Hide your real body in a cocoon that you don't feed on, and if you get "rescued" along with the others, they don't ever suspect they failed to kill the real villain.

SangoProduction
2017-10-08, 06:54 PM
If you can use it, the web supplement for psionics that included the PrC that kept victims in cocoons to feed on them for PP might work with such a thing. Hide your real body in a cocoon that you don't feed on, and if you get "rescued" along with the others, they don't ever suspect they failed to kill the real villain.

I....don't even know where to begin looking.

Quarian Rex
2017-10-10, 01:00 PM
I....don't even know where to begin looking.

I believe he is referring to the Body Leech (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040925a).

You're welcome.

Segev
2017-10-10, 01:05 PM
I believe he is referring to the Body Leech (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040925a).

You're welcome.

That's the one. Thanks.

I apologize for not being more specific, but my own memory failed me on enough of a name to begin to search, myself. So thanks, Quarian Rex, for parsing that for me!

SangoProduction
2017-10-10, 01:18 PM
I believe he is referring to the Body Leech (http://archive.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/psm/20040925a).

You're welcome.

Oh. That's incredibly interesting. Thanks.

ATHATH
2017-10-10, 01:31 PM
Well, firstly, pathfinder updated the whole magic jar possession thing with the spells named after exactly that (http://www.d20pfsrd.com/magic/all-spells/p/possession/). It's recommended that you use that in place of magic jar wherever applicable, so you may want to have a look at it, it makes more sense to use than magic jar when you don't have a gem as a focus. If you can find a way to remove the native subtype, you would even get access to the greater version, by the spell's description. It would work great on a quasit familiar actually.
Could you give a quote/citation on the recommendation to replace Magic Jar with Possession? Is it just a suggestion, or is it a "proper" (variant?) rule?

Septimus
2017-10-10, 05:30 PM
It is implied in the PRD (http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/occultAdventures/occultRules.html#occult-possession), as an addendum for Occult Rules. Important quote:
Creatures that use magic jar can often use the new possession spell instead.