Is Eidolon a viable Class? [3.5 Build]

[Empedocles]

Hey guys, so I'm playing a campaign right now and my character died, but rather then roll up a new one my DM suggested that I take the Ghost template from the Ghostwalk supplement and start leveling as an eidolon. Neither of us have ever seen an eidolon actually be built though, so I was wondering if it's a viable character class and if so, what Ghost feats to take.

Thanks in advance

EDIT: My DM wants it to be pure eidolon though, cutting out my previous class levels and replacing it with eidolon. I'm ok with this, but if it matters I was previously a level 4 ranger.

[PinkysBrain]

Never played it ... but looking at it it looks just a bit squishy with poor fort and ref (no undead type either).

A dominator type ghost is hugely much better than all other types :/ Definitely the caster of ghosts.

[deuxhero]

But it's a class feature, not a class

One thing that should be noted is that Ghostwalk is 3.0 material, not 3.5.

[Feralventas]

I love the Eidalon class, though I use it more as a dip class than on its own merits. It's a box of feats, as a Fighter is, with a slightly better skill-set and a lower HD.

My playing experience has lead me to believe that the Eidalon class lends itself to surprising utility at lower levels, which will be balanced out at higher levels with a T3 or higher group. Think along the lines of a Warlock; you'll have a set of static abilities that you can use at will (though some will burn your Charisma for your trouble, so there's a limit on some) while using your skills to support the party.

Traveler path is amazing for sneak/stealth/thief characters.

Poltergeist can work well as single-target control or utilities (I have a build involving the Ghost Hand effects that goes into Master of the Unseen Hand).

The feats revolving around crafting via Ectoplasm seem a little meek, but having the right tool at the right time can be valuable; consider this if you mean to make use of that full BAB.

My in-play experience with Eidalon was as an Eidalon/Paladin/Shadowcaster under a Vow of Poverty that was a char-op train-wreck but proved useful none the less through walking through walls to grant flanks and intelligence, emergency healing, and being effectively radio-active to anything with an evil alignment (Touch of Golden Ice+ Corrupting Touch.)

The character Fell a couple sessions ago, and traded VoP and Paladin class features for a +5 LA Death Knight Template. Still doing pretty well all things considered.

[Empedocles]

But it's a class feature, not a class

One thing that should be noted is that Ghostwalk is 3.0 material, not 3.5.

It was updated via a web enhancement to 3.5

Never played it ... but looking at it it looks just a bit squishy with poor fort and ref (no undead type either).

A dominator type ghost is hugely much better than all other types :/ Definitely the caster of ghosts.

It's incorporeal, which certainly helps the squishiness. I'll look at the dominator. Thanks for the suggestion!

I love the Eidalon class, though I use it more as a dip class than on its own merits. It's a box of feats, as a Fighter is, with a slightly better skill-set and a lower HD.

My playing experience has lead me to believe that the Eidalon class lends itself to surprising utility at lower levels, which will be balanced out at higher levels with a T3 or higher group. Think along the lines of a Warlock; you'll have a set of static abilities that you can use at will (though some will burn your Charisma for your trouble, so there's a limit on some) while using your skills to support the party.

Traveler path is amazing for sneak/stealth/thief characters.

Poltergeist can work well as single-target control or utilities (I have a build involving the Ghost Hand effects that goes into Master of the Unseen Hand).

The feats revolving around crafting via Ectoplasm seem a little meek, but having the right tool at the right time can be valuable; consider this if you mean to make use of that full BAB.

My in-play experience with Eidalon was as an Eidalon/Paladin/Shadowcaster under a Vow of Poverty that was a char-op train-wreck but proved useful none the less through walking through walls to grant flanks and intelligence, emergency healing, and being effectively radio-active to anything with an evil alignment (Touch of Golden Ice+ Corrupting Touch.)

The character Fell a couple sessions ago, and traded VoP and Paladin class features for a +5 LA Death Knight Template. Still doing pretty well all things considered.

So you're saying most of the feat paths are viable?

[Feralventas]

It was updated via a web enhancement to 3.5



It's incorporeal, which certainly helps the squishiness. I'll look at the dominator. Thanks for the suggestion!



So you're saying most of the feat paths are viable?

Kinda. It depends on how strictly you adhere to the requirement of not-having-a-body. You've already got an existing character that you're looking to add Eidalon levels to if I read the first post right. Making a single path work for an existing character can be difficult unless you have something specific in mind (Touch-attack specialist with lots of contact-based effects for example.)

-Corrupter path
Having natural weapons is nice, but most of the feats state that you can't use more than one of them at a time, so you'll need to chose which of the options you really want. Alternatively, you can go for a dip in Monk or Fighter or Battle Dancer for Improved Unarmed Strike and Superior Unnamed Strike along with Snap Kick before going into Eidalon. This focuses on attacks and damage and debuffs, so you're looking at a combat support role with this combo, picking and choosing how you feel like ruining someone's day (negative levels, ability damage, energy damage, or just an untyped 1d4)

-Dominator path
I don't have as much experience with this one, but if you're incorporeal or take the Incorporeal Form feat then these could be quite useful in either disabling/turning a vital enemy in a fight (the rear guard, the sniper, the heavy hitter or the 'caster, etc. Maybe even take the scout and go back with false information.) The difficulty is that early on you'll need a body to work with, so in some settings or playstyles you'll need to be discrete about whee you get your corpses from.

-Haunt path
Good for deception (all the shape-shift and appearance changes are great for a spy or hide-in-plain-sight-but-not-with-the-class-feature-version type of character/playstyle. It is also the path of BURN YOUR CHARISMA FOR TEMPORARY DEBUFFS THAT ALLOW A SAVE and that's not always a good idea. In fact it's often a poor choice in my opinion, as it means your enemies can potentially reduce your ammo pool as well as lower your saves if they hit that vital ability score. Use with caution.

-Poltergeist path
Mentioned earlier. Lots of telekinetic utilites of various sorts, from Mage Hand to outright Telekinesis. The telekinetic bull-rush option is another that burns Charisma though. Switch in multi-weapon fighting with the Ghost Hands (if you have the Cha to get them) and wield as many weapons as you have Charisma Mod. Boost that score with a dip in Battle Dancer for Cha to AC and you're nearly looking at a SAD combatant; need Dex or Strength for to-hit though, or Wisdom if you're Good and take Intuitive Attack.

-Shaper path
Minor healing for yourself, ability to craft tools and weapons with minimal cost
with Witchlight and Greater Witchlight being the only direct combative options in it; neither of which is Great, but the first stage grants Faerie Fire which can be useful, and at low levels the 1d6 damage per round can be a nice touch.

-Traveler path
This is what made my own eidalon potent; mobility. Full BAB and 3 feats for a 40 flight speed along with the fly-by attacks can make a heck of a skirmisher. The Ethereal Side-step can potentially count for early-entry into the Dimensional Agility tree in Pathfinder. Even if it couldn't, being able to fly, locally Dimension Door, and walk through walls at level 2 is incredibly potent. Manifesting or Not manifesting yourself at will is a good way to cap it off.

[Empedocles]

So does anyone have an approximate tier estimate for the class? I think I've figured out my feat progression though thanks for all the help

[Feralventas]

High tier 4 to low tier 3, Warlock-ish.

[Particle_Man]

It is cool to have all the Sapphire Hierarchs worship you, so there is that.