Wow, that is quite a pick up in responses, time to get crackin'
Thanks, I'm glad you like it!
- This is a pretty good idea. The issue is, of course, that it would feel a little strange for such a Binder-riffic template to be unavailable to binders. And LA buyoff is a concern, but once you're actually in a game, unless you're starting out at a high levels, that buyoff will have a noticeable effect on the game.
- The basis of the idea is pretty good, though there is a big problem as is. If, using your example, I did this with Halphax, then anyone who took it wouldn't get the Secure Shelter ability until 9th ECL, the Wall of Iron ability until 13th, and the Imprisonment until 18th! And then he would really be worth it for any low-level character.
- I really like this idea. It won't come up terribly often, but it is so flavorful, and adds a small drawback, which the template could use.
- Also a good small flavor idea!
I like this idea a little better. It is more like the Tenebrous Apostate. You're allowed to bind other vestiges, you can just never get rid of your chosen one.
I'm not quite sure what you mean by the second comment here. That the vestige could only choose them if they already had the requisite binder level or hit dice? On an inherited template?
Digging the commune spell idea. Goes hand in hand with the skill check bonus.
Hahaha...I'll certainly put them in there under a homebrew catagory once we've got the finer detail worked out. Gotta love The Demented One!
That though occurred to me, but honestly I didn't feel like I had the experience to make the LA and CR adjustments different and accurate. Which is why it was mentioned for help!
I'm...not sure where you're getting your info that three +2s are nearly enough to count for a +1 LA. Catfolk offer +4 Dex and +2 Cha and a couple other things for +1 LA, and they're barely considered for the most part, except for very specific builds. And even then I've never seen them be the optimum choice. Official sources in general have no idea how to do LA or CR.
And while casters certainly hate LA more than other classes, don't forget that other classes lose HD, Skills, BAB, Saves, class abilities, level-based feats, and stat boots too! its is quite a trade off.
DR 8/adamantine can be gotten with a +1 LA in Mineral Warrior, along with several other benefits. And don't forget that all their saves are tied to their hit dice and Cha, not the spell level. I can't imagine any character who would think Halphax's abilities as they are would be worth three class levels, except for purely flavor reasons.
Acid-testing?
I agree that Orthos, by virtue of that amazing 50% displacement, should probably be boosted to +3, since that is amazingly good. But at +5 I could just take 5 levels of Wizard and memorize Displacement. 5 HD of Wizard would be way better.
Naberius is a special case for optimizers and warlocks. I could see granting him a +2 LA just for that.
I don't have any particular desire to do a sweeping LA, so no issue there. That said it is hard to put a minimum HD requirement on an inherited template. This sucker is not an acquired template that you can pick up at any point in your career. You're born with it, or you don't get it.
I personally feel like it is the DM's job to watch for abuse-able combos, not the template's (though the players should be upfront too!). The template should be fun, functional, balanced, and above all worth taking as it stands, and not punish players who take Naberius for flavor and not to offset their constant Con sacrificing. And LA buyoff is a variant rule, not core, that that too is up to the DM.
Thanks for the input guys! I'll be doing some updating some timetodaytomorrow!
UPDATE - Alright, I updated and added some things. Claimed Soul, making it more difficult to resurrect a Chosen of the void. I added some favored class changes, and changed Naberius' and Orthos' LAs by +1. If you can bind multiple vestiges then one slot is always taken by your template vestige. And the DC to resist your vestige's influence increases if you make multiple saves in a short span of time.