Quote Originally Posted by genericwit View Post
This seems to suggest that the totem would still take up a chakra somewhere on the body, just that you could choose which.
It does have to occupy another slot, but will not close that slot off to items unless you bind it there as well. This would require you to have the corresponding slot available for binding, as well as have a chakra bind free to utilize it.

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For example, a Totemist who wants to use Sphinx Claws to attack can do so at level 2, when his totem chakra opens up. He therefore shapes Sphinx Claws and binds them to his totem chakra. However, he still needs a body slot for them to occupy, because the totem chakra doesn't have a slot of its own. For Sphinx Claws, the only option is Hands, so he has them occupy his hands. Now he can make attacks with the claws, but he does not gain the Pounce ability that a Hands bind would get him - his hands chakra is not open yet. But he does get to wear, and benefit from, magical gloves and gauntlets.

At level 5, his Hands chakra opens. However, he still can't bind the Claws to his Hands because he only has one chakra bind available - the one that he used at level 2 to bind to his Totem. So now he can choose between using the claws to attack (totem) or, if he has other natural attacks available, unbinding the Claws from his totem and binding them to his hands instead. He will lose the natural attack from his claws, but gain the ability to Pounce with any other natural weapons he possesses (e.g. from race or feats.) Binding them to his hands, however, will prevent him from benefiting from (and in some cases, physically wearing) magical gloves or gauntlets.

At level 6, he gains his second chakra bind. This allows him to finally do both - bind the claws to his Totem, and to his Hands. He thus not only gains a set of claws, he can Pounce with them too.