Milo v3
2015-05-24, 04:17 AM
The Ascendant
Some warriors spend years of training and meditation to improve their bodies, minds, and souls in the aim of perfection and enlightenment. Some mages bind themselves to beings from beyond the mortal realm for arcane power. But some who have meditated and philosophized enough may find their souls becoming something more than it should be, something more planar in nature. Ascendants are individuals whose soul has grown to be similar to an outsider itself, and like outsiders, their souls possess physical bodies. When they choose to manifest this body, their normal body is kept safe and immaterial without the soul, but it can only remain within for so long before it requires sustenance.
Role: Ascendants are highly mobile warriors. They can strike powerfully, have high amounts of defences, and teleport around the battlefield to bypass hazards and enemies. But ascendants can also be talented in skills, possibly gaining racial bonuses while in their evolved form.
Alignment: Any.
Hit Die: d10.
Parent Classes: Monk and summoner.
Starting Wealth: 1d6 × 10 gp (average 35 gp).
Level
Base Attack Bonus
Fort Save
Ref Save
Will Save
Special
Natural Strike
1st
+1
+2
+0
+2
Diverse Soul, Evolving Soul, Natural Strike, Outsider Affinity
1d6
2nd
+2
+3
+0
+3
Evasion, Otherworldly Eyes
1d6
3rd
+3
+3
+1
+3
Anima Armour +1
1d6
4th
+4
+4
+1
+4
Affinity Evolutions
1d6
5th
+5
+4
+1
+4
Twin Truths
1d8
6th
+6/+1
+5
+2
+5
Wholeness of Body
1d8
7th
+7/+2
+5
+2
+5
Abundant Step, Anima Armour +2
1d8
8th
+8/+3
+6
+2
+6
Affinity Evolutions
1d8
9th
+9/+4
+6
+3
+6
Manifesting
1d8
10th
+10/+5
+7
+3
+7
Improved Evasion
1d10
11th
+11/+6/+1
+7
+3
+7
Anima Armour +3
1d10
12th
+12/+7/+2
]+8
+4
+8
Affinity Evolutions
]1d10
13th
+13/+8/+3
+8
+4
+8
Controlled Shape
1d10
14th
+14/+9/+4
+9
+4
+9
Otherworldly Step
1d10
15th
+15/+10/+5
+9
+5
+9
Anima Armour +4
2d6
16th
+16/+11/+6/+1
+10
+5
+10
Affinity Evolutions
2d6
17th
+17/+12/+7/+2
+10
+5
+10
Timeless Body
2d6
18th
+18/13/+8/+3
+11
+6
+11
Expanded Manifesting
2d6
19th
+19/+14/+9/+4
+11
+6
+11
Anima Armour +5
2d6
20th
+20/+15/+10/+5
+12
+6
+12
Affinity Evolutions, Perfect Soul
2d8
Class Skills
The ascendant's class skills are Bluff (Cha), Craft (Int), Knowledge (planes)(Int), Perception (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Stealth (Dex) and four additional skills determined by diverse soul (see below).
Skill Ranks per Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Class Features
The following are the class features of the ascendant.
Weapon and Armour Proficiency: Ascendants are proficient with simple weapons and any weapon with the monk special weapon quality. Ascendants are not proficient with any armour or shields.
Diverse Soul: Outsiders are a diverse group of beings, as each is formed from unique souls. In addition to the class skills listed above, ascendants may select four additional skills of their choosing to be class skills. The additional class skills can be any skill except; that if he selects Knowledge as one of these skills it must be specific type of knowledge skill, and if his outsider affinity grants him Skilled as an evolution at first level he must take whichever skill that evolution applies to as an additional class skill if it isn’t already a class skill.
Evolving Soul (Su): An ascendant begins play with the ability to subsume their body into their soul, causing their soul to flow out and become a solid body into a planar form as a standard action. The benefit of this form is that the ascendant gains a number of evolutions, some from their level and some from their outsider affinity (see below). The evolved form’s physical appearance is up to the ascendant, but it always appears as some sort of fantastical creature appropriate to its subtype. This control is not fine enough to make the form appear like a specific creature. This form completely replaces the ascendant normal appearance.
The ascendant’s evolved form possess a pool of evolution points equal to their class level, which can be spent as if he were a biped eidolon and a summoner level equal to their class level by spending 10 minutes in meditation and concentration per point being spent. In addition, he can spend 5 minutes in meditation and concentration to lose an evolution and return the points that were spent on it to his pool. Despite only gaining the benefits of these evolutions while in evolved form, he can only perform these meditations when he is not in evolved form.
Being in his evolved form does possess some vulnerabilities; he counts as his normal type or outsider (whichever is worse) for the purpose of spells and effects, creatures that are protected against summoned creatures (such as creatures affected by protection from evil) gain a +4 deflection bonus to armour class against his natural and unarmed attacks, and whenever he would be affected by banishment or a similar effect he automatically leaves evolved form.
While he can eat and drink in evolved form, these acts do not count towards giving him sustenance. He can leave his evolved form with a full-round action, and he automatically leaves it if he falls unconscious. Regardless of how he leaves evolved form, the ascendant becomes shaken for 1d4 minutes (this is not a fear effect) and he cannot enter evolved form until he loses the shaken condition.
Natural Strike (Ex): At first level, the ascendant gains a slam attack as a primary natural weapon. The damage dealt by an ascendant’s slam attack is determined by the natural strike column on the table above (The damage listed is for Medium ascendants). An ascendant's slam attack is treated as both a manufactured weapon and a natural weapon for the purpose of spells and effects that enhance or improve either manufactured weapons or natural weapons.
This slam attack can be used in place of unarmed attacks whenever the ascendant would benefit from doing so, and he counts as having Improved Unarmed Strike for the purposes of meeting feat prerequisites. Unlike normal, an ascendant can make iterative attacks with his slam attack as if it was a light manufactured weapon of the close weapon group (rather than a natural weapon).
Only the ascendant's first slam attack they possess gains the increase in damage from this ability, slams they possess in addition have damage determined by their origin, size and feats. Finally for the purpose of how many times the ascendant can take the slam evolution, he is counted as already having taken it once.
Outsider Affinity: Most do not know what awaits them in the afterlife, but most can’t view upon their own soul’s future. At first level, the ascendant must select one of the eidolon subtypes that matches his alignment. This decision remains until the ascendant’s alignment changes, where he must immediately select a new affinity subtype. While in evolved form you gain all the base evolutions of your affinity subtype as if you were an eidolon, using your class level to determine what abilities are gained.
Evasion (Ex): At 2nd level, an ascendant can avoid even magical and unusual attacks with great agility. If he succeeds at a Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, he instead takes no damage. Evasion can be used only if the ascendant is wearing light armor or no armor. A helpless ascendant does not gain the benefit of evasion.
Otherworldly Eyes (Su): Upon reaching second level, the ascendant’s eyes become windows to the soul. He gains darkvision 60 ft., and an insight bonus to sense motive checks equal to his charisma bonus (minimum +1).
Anima Armour (Su): A third level ascendant can shape his soul to grant himself protection from attacks. He gains an enhancement bonus to natural armour equal to his charisma bonus + 1, which increases by +1 every four levels thereafter. In addition, your natural armour acts as though it had the Ghost Touch special ability.
Twin Truths (Ex): At fifth level, the ascendants evolved form starts counting as their true form. Spells and effects that show an individual's true form (such as true seeing) does not see through the evolved form.
Wholeness of Body (Su): By shaping their soul into their flesh, ascendants of sixth level or higher can spend a full-round action to heal an amount of damage equal to 1d8 + his ascendant level. The ascendant can do this a number of times per day equal to his charisma bonus (minimum 1).
Abundant Step (Su): A seventh level ascendant can use their planar nature to slip magically between spaces, as if using the spell dimension door. Using this ability is a move action, which can be made a number of times per day equal to his charisma bonus (minimum 1). The ascendant’s caster level for this effect is equal to his class level. He cannot take other creatures with him when he uses this ability.
Manifesting (Su): Upon reaching 9th level, the ascendant’s soul becomes so attuned to their affinity that it’s power bleeds into your mortal frame. He gains the base evolutions from his Outsider Affinity even when not in his evolved form. For base evolutions that would cause changes in physical appearance, these changes only occur when you are actively using the evolution, such as immediately growing wings when an Angel Ascendant would attempt to fly in their normal form and then immediately lose the wings when you stop flying.
Improved Evasion (Ex): At 10th level, an ascendant’s evasion ability improves. He still takes no damage on successful Reflex saving throws against attacks, but henceforth he takes only half damage on failed saves. A helpless ascendant does not gain the benefit of improved evasion.
Controlled Shape (Ex): Since the ascendant’s shape comes from their souls, they grow resistant to others attempting to shape their flesh. A thirteenth level ascendant gains the shapechanger subtype.
Otherworldly Step (Sp): A fourteenth level ascendant can use their planar nature to slip magically between dimensions, as if using the spell planeshift. Using this ability is a full-round action, which can be made a number of times per week equal to his charisma bonus (minimum 1). The ascendant’s caster level for this effect is equal to his class level.
Timeless Body (Ex): At 17th level, the ascendant’s bond to the planes causes him to no longer takes penalties to his ability scores for aging and cannot be magically aged. Any such penalties that he has already taken, are removed. Age bonuses still accrue, and the ascendant still dies of old age when his time is up.
Expanded Manifesting (Su): Upon reaching 18th level, an ascendant that is not in evolved form can spend a swift action to gain one of the evolutions his evolved form possesses until the start of his next turn.
Perfect Soul: At 20th level, an ascendant's soul has reached a state of perfection high enough that it cannot be contained by his mortal flesh. He is forevermore treated as an outsider rather than a humanoid (or whatever his original creature type was) for the purpose of spells and magical effects whenever it would be beneficial. The ascendant cannot leave evolved form, and can now gain sustenance while in the form. In addition, the ascendant must pick a plane to be an outsider of that is suitable for his evolved soul's subtype. The ascendant is considered to be an outsider of that plane for all effects, and gains the extraplanar subtype when not on that plane of existance.
Some warriors spend years of training and meditation to improve their bodies, minds, and souls in the aim of perfection and enlightenment. Some mages bind themselves to beings from beyond the mortal realm for arcane power. But some who have meditated and philosophized enough may find their souls becoming something more than it should be, something more planar in nature. Ascendants are individuals whose soul has grown to be similar to an outsider itself, and like outsiders, their souls possess physical bodies. When they choose to manifest this body, their normal body is kept safe and immaterial without the soul, but it can only remain within for so long before it requires sustenance.
Role: Ascendants are highly mobile warriors. They can strike powerfully, have high amounts of defences, and teleport around the battlefield to bypass hazards and enemies. But ascendants can also be talented in skills, possibly gaining racial bonuses while in their evolved form.
Alignment: Any.
Hit Die: d10.
Parent Classes: Monk and summoner.
Starting Wealth: 1d6 × 10 gp (average 35 gp).
Level
Base Attack Bonus
Fort Save
Ref Save
Will Save
Special
Natural Strike
1st
+1
+2
+0
+2
Diverse Soul, Evolving Soul, Natural Strike, Outsider Affinity
1d6
2nd
+2
+3
+0
+3
Evasion, Otherworldly Eyes
1d6
3rd
+3
+3
+1
+3
Anima Armour +1
1d6
4th
+4
+4
+1
+4
Affinity Evolutions
1d6
5th
+5
+4
+1
+4
Twin Truths
1d8
6th
+6/+1
+5
+2
+5
Wholeness of Body
1d8
7th
+7/+2
+5
+2
+5
Abundant Step, Anima Armour +2
1d8
8th
+8/+3
+6
+2
+6
Affinity Evolutions
1d8
9th
+9/+4
+6
+3
+6
Manifesting
1d8
10th
+10/+5
+7
+3
+7
Improved Evasion
1d10
11th
+11/+6/+1
+7
+3
+7
Anima Armour +3
1d10
12th
+12/+7/+2
]+8
+4
+8
Affinity Evolutions
]1d10
13th
+13/+8/+3
+8
+4
+8
Controlled Shape
1d10
14th
+14/+9/+4
+9
+4
+9
Otherworldly Step
1d10
15th
+15/+10/+5
+9
+5
+9
Anima Armour +4
2d6
16th
+16/+11/+6/+1
+10
+5
+10
Affinity Evolutions
2d6
17th
+17/+12/+7/+2
+10
+5
+10
Timeless Body
2d6
18th
+18/13/+8/+3
+11
+6
+11
Expanded Manifesting
2d6
19th
+19/+14/+9/+4
+11
+6
+11
Anima Armour +5
2d6
20th
+20/+15/+10/+5
+12
+6
+12
Affinity Evolutions, Perfect Soul
2d8
Class Skills
The ascendant's class skills are Bluff (Cha), Craft (Int), Knowledge (planes)(Int), Perception (Wis), Sense Motive (Wis), Stealth (Dex) and four additional skills determined by diverse soul (see below).
Skill Ranks per Level: 4 + Int modifier.
Class Features
The following are the class features of the ascendant.
Weapon and Armour Proficiency: Ascendants are proficient with simple weapons and any weapon with the monk special weapon quality. Ascendants are not proficient with any armour or shields.
Diverse Soul: Outsiders are a diverse group of beings, as each is formed from unique souls. In addition to the class skills listed above, ascendants may select four additional skills of their choosing to be class skills. The additional class skills can be any skill except; that if he selects Knowledge as one of these skills it must be specific type of knowledge skill, and if his outsider affinity grants him Skilled as an evolution at first level he must take whichever skill that evolution applies to as an additional class skill if it isn’t already a class skill.
Evolving Soul (Su): An ascendant begins play with the ability to subsume their body into their soul, causing their soul to flow out and become a solid body into a planar form as a standard action. The benefit of this form is that the ascendant gains a number of evolutions, some from their level and some from their outsider affinity (see below). The evolved form’s physical appearance is up to the ascendant, but it always appears as some sort of fantastical creature appropriate to its subtype. This control is not fine enough to make the form appear like a specific creature. This form completely replaces the ascendant normal appearance.
The ascendant’s evolved form possess a pool of evolution points equal to their class level, which can be spent as if he were a biped eidolon and a summoner level equal to their class level by spending 10 minutes in meditation and concentration per point being spent. In addition, he can spend 5 minutes in meditation and concentration to lose an evolution and return the points that were spent on it to his pool. Despite only gaining the benefits of these evolutions while in evolved form, he can only perform these meditations when he is not in evolved form.
Being in his evolved form does possess some vulnerabilities; he counts as his normal type or outsider (whichever is worse) for the purpose of spells and effects, creatures that are protected against summoned creatures (such as creatures affected by protection from evil) gain a +4 deflection bonus to armour class against his natural and unarmed attacks, and whenever he would be affected by banishment or a similar effect he automatically leaves evolved form.
While he can eat and drink in evolved form, these acts do not count towards giving him sustenance. He can leave his evolved form with a full-round action, and he automatically leaves it if he falls unconscious. Regardless of how he leaves evolved form, the ascendant becomes shaken for 1d4 minutes (this is not a fear effect) and he cannot enter evolved form until he loses the shaken condition.
Natural Strike (Ex): At first level, the ascendant gains a slam attack as a primary natural weapon. The damage dealt by an ascendant’s slam attack is determined by the natural strike column on the table above (The damage listed is for Medium ascendants). An ascendant's slam attack is treated as both a manufactured weapon and a natural weapon for the purpose of spells and effects that enhance or improve either manufactured weapons or natural weapons.
This slam attack can be used in place of unarmed attacks whenever the ascendant would benefit from doing so, and he counts as having Improved Unarmed Strike for the purposes of meeting feat prerequisites. Unlike normal, an ascendant can make iterative attacks with his slam attack as if it was a light manufactured weapon of the close weapon group (rather than a natural weapon).
Only the ascendant's first slam attack they possess gains the increase in damage from this ability, slams they possess in addition have damage determined by their origin, size and feats. Finally for the purpose of how many times the ascendant can take the slam evolution, he is counted as already having taken it once.
Outsider Affinity: Most do not know what awaits them in the afterlife, but most can’t view upon their own soul’s future. At first level, the ascendant must select one of the eidolon subtypes that matches his alignment. This decision remains until the ascendant’s alignment changes, where he must immediately select a new affinity subtype. While in evolved form you gain all the base evolutions of your affinity subtype as if you were an eidolon, using your class level to determine what abilities are gained.
Evasion (Ex): At 2nd level, an ascendant can avoid even magical and unusual attacks with great agility. If he succeeds at a Reflex saving throw against an attack that normally deals half damage on a successful save, he instead takes no damage. Evasion can be used only if the ascendant is wearing light armor or no armor. A helpless ascendant does not gain the benefit of evasion.
Otherworldly Eyes (Su): Upon reaching second level, the ascendant’s eyes become windows to the soul. He gains darkvision 60 ft., and an insight bonus to sense motive checks equal to his charisma bonus (minimum +1).
Anima Armour (Su): A third level ascendant can shape his soul to grant himself protection from attacks. He gains an enhancement bonus to natural armour equal to his charisma bonus + 1, which increases by +1 every four levels thereafter. In addition, your natural armour acts as though it had the Ghost Touch special ability.
Twin Truths (Ex): At fifth level, the ascendants evolved form starts counting as their true form. Spells and effects that show an individual's true form (such as true seeing) does not see through the evolved form.
Wholeness of Body (Su): By shaping their soul into their flesh, ascendants of sixth level or higher can spend a full-round action to heal an amount of damage equal to 1d8 + his ascendant level. The ascendant can do this a number of times per day equal to his charisma bonus (minimum 1).
Abundant Step (Su): A seventh level ascendant can use their planar nature to slip magically between spaces, as if using the spell dimension door. Using this ability is a move action, which can be made a number of times per day equal to his charisma bonus (minimum 1). The ascendant’s caster level for this effect is equal to his class level. He cannot take other creatures with him when he uses this ability.
Manifesting (Su): Upon reaching 9th level, the ascendant’s soul becomes so attuned to their affinity that it’s power bleeds into your mortal frame. He gains the base evolutions from his Outsider Affinity even when not in his evolved form. For base evolutions that would cause changes in physical appearance, these changes only occur when you are actively using the evolution, such as immediately growing wings when an Angel Ascendant would attempt to fly in their normal form and then immediately lose the wings when you stop flying.
Improved Evasion (Ex): At 10th level, an ascendant’s evasion ability improves. He still takes no damage on successful Reflex saving throws against attacks, but henceforth he takes only half damage on failed saves. A helpless ascendant does not gain the benefit of improved evasion.
Controlled Shape (Ex): Since the ascendant’s shape comes from their souls, they grow resistant to others attempting to shape their flesh. A thirteenth level ascendant gains the shapechanger subtype.
Otherworldly Step (Sp): A fourteenth level ascendant can use their planar nature to slip magically between dimensions, as if using the spell planeshift. Using this ability is a full-round action, which can be made a number of times per week equal to his charisma bonus (minimum 1). The ascendant’s caster level for this effect is equal to his class level.
Timeless Body (Ex): At 17th level, the ascendant’s bond to the planes causes him to no longer takes penalties to his ability scores for aging and cannot be magically aged. Any such penalties that he has already taken, are removed. Age bonuses still accrue, and the ascendant still dies of old age when his time is up.
Expanded Manifesting (Su): Upon reaching 18th level, an ascendant that is not in evolved form can spend a swift action to gain one of the evolutions his evolved form possesses until the start of his next turn.
Perfect Soul: At 20th level, an ascendant's soul has reached a state of perfection high enough that it cannot be contained by his mortal flesh. He is forevermore treated as an outsider rather than a humanoid (or whatever his original creature type was) for the purpose of spells and magical effects whenever it would be beneficial. The ascendant cannot leave evolved form, and can now gain sustenance while in the form. In addition, the ascendant must pick a plane to be an outsider of that is suitable for his evolved soul's subtype. The ascendant is considered to be an outsider of that plane for all effects, and gains the extraplanar subtype when not on that plane of existance.