Ghostwalk Exclusive Class - Eidolon

The terrifying haunt, the spirit that rots, the raging poltergeist, the body thief - all are kinds of eidolons. Eidolons may be guardian spirits, evil haunts, or adventurers of any type. Some are benign and use their abilities to help others, while others delve into the darker portions of the soul and emerge twisted and profane. Eidolons that are not adventurers may be any sort of person, from a powerful sorcerer to a humble cleric to a greedy mercenary to a common farmer.

Adventures: Many eidolons see their nature as just another aspect of existence and follow the same goals they had while alive, including adventuring. Others become eidolons only temporarily, forced down this path either when their bodies cannot be raised or when they must remain after dying to take care of unfinished business.

Characteristics: Eidolons have excellent fighting ability, even though they gain no additional proficiencies in weapons or armor (which are often useless for incorporeal creatures anyway). The greatest benefit of the eidolon class is the rapid acquisition of ghost feats, which allow each individual ghost to progress along a particular path toward advanced ghost abilities. Even non-fighters are helped by advancing in this class because of its good Will saving throw bonus and useful class skills.

Alignment: Eidolons may be of any alignment. Good eidolons are often benign entities who try to aid others or combat the undead. Lawful eidolons often work to protect the rights of ghosts in general or improve relations between ghosts and the living, Chaotic eidolons may be pranksters or opportunists, using their new abilities for personal gain simply because they can. Evil eidolons tend to be dangerous and malevolent spirits who seek revenge upon the living.

Religion: Most eidolons worship whatever deity they did in life, although most also revere Aluvan, protector of souls. Some who are intent on entering the True Afterlife pay homage to Dracanish so that the body and soul may be properly united in death. Most ghosts hate and fear Orcus, for worshipers of this foul deity often steal waiting bodies while their ghosts are away making it difficult to return to life or gain their final peace in the afterlife.

Background: All eidolons originate in the same manner - a person spends enough time as a ghost and eventually develops ghost abilities. Ghosts have a community of their own, for the bonds of death transcend race, nationality, or any other aspects of a person's background or personality. They tend to make friends among other ghosts who died in a similar way or with those who are on the same path of ghost powers.

Races: Because only humanoids can become ghosts under normal circumstances, almost all eidolons are humanoids. Eidolons come from all walks of life, regardless of race; no race is more likely to become a ghost than any other, and no race has a tradition of following certain paths over others.

Other Classes: Although possessing amazing abilities, an eidolon must sometimes rely upon the skills of others. Eidolons are decent fighters, but lack the specific training of a fighter. Their spellcasting ability does not improve after death, so a live spellcaster of equal experience is usually their better. While an eidolon might be sneaky when incorporeal, a manifested eidolon is no match for the quiet and skill of a true rogue.

Abilities: Wisdom and Charisma are especially important for eidolons, because many ghost feats rely on these ability scores, and Charisma determines the ghost's natural deflection bonus when it is incorporeal. A high Dexterity is important, since incorporeal ghosts cannot wear armor unless it has the ghost touch ability.

Alignment: Any.

Class Skills

The eidolon's class skills are Balance, Bluff, Concentration, Hide, Intimidate, Knowledge (the planes), Listen, Sense Motive, and Spot.

Skill Points at 1st Level: (2 + Int modifier) x 2.

Skill Points at each additional level: 2 + Int modifier. (You can never take eidolon as your first character class, so you never get the x4 multiplier for your skill points with this class.)

Class Features

All of the following are class features of the eidolon.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: An eidolon gains no proficiency in any kind of weapons, armor, or shields.

Free Multiclassing: Taking the eidolon class does not incur the experience point penalties normally associated with multiclassing (although it does not negate any existing penalties the character may have incurred from multiclassing in standard classes).

Ghost Feats: At 1st level, an eidolon gets a bonus feat. The eidolon gains an additional bonus feat at 2nd level and every two levels thereafter. These bonus feats must be feats with the [Ghost] descriptor. An eidolon must still meet all prerequisites for a feat, including ability-score minimums.

EidolonHit Die: d8
CLBABFortRefWillSpecial
1st+1+0+0+2Ghost feat, free multiclassing
2nd+2+0+0+3Ghost feat
3rd+3+1+1+3
4th+4+1+1+4Ghost feat
5th+5+1+1+4
6th+6/+1+2+2+5Ghost feat
7th+7/+2+2+2+5
8th+8/+3+2+2+6Ghost feat
9th+9/+4+3+3+6
10th+10/+5+3+3+7Ghost feat
11th+11/+6/+1+3+3+7
12th+12/+7/+2+4+4+8Ghost feat
13th+13/+8/+3+4+4+8
14th+14/+9/+4+4+4+9Ghost feat
15th+15/+10/+5+5+5+9

Also see Ghost Traits


Alternate Character Classes
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