Ghost guide

[PhaedrusXY]

Yeah, the HP isn't great (unless you get killed by a dread necromancer on a desecrated altar)

I'm a noob, can you explain this? Is it some sort of ritual?

Not really.

http://www.d20srd.org/srd/spells/desecrate.htm

You can look up the Dread Necro class yourself. Usually they also pick feats (like Corpsecrafter) to buff up any undead they create. I'm not sure if they can create ghosts, though. Can Create Greater Undead (or whatever that spell is called...) do that?

[The_Mad_Linguist]

Can Create Greater Undead (or whatever that spell is called...) do that?

It's mentioned as being possible in a FR book, but there are no details on it.

You could probably also argue that killing somebody counts as creating their ghost.

[Gavinfoxx]

So if one is going for a TK fiend, what base class works best as a Ghost?

[IlPazzo]

Assuming you can pick 4 levels of Master of the Unseen Hand PrC, anything works and you don't even care for your BaB anymore.

This means 2 things:

1) A TK ghost is an awesome dipper, so don't look for THE best base class.

As an example, look for marshal 1, hexblade 2 and paladin 2 (of slaughter or tyranny if you also take hexblade, which is restricted to any nongood) for awesome cha-based dips. Take them all and you'll have (assuming motivate dexterity) awesome initiative and awesome saving trows (keep in mind that, as you are incorporeal, basically almost everything that can hit you is a spell or spell-like effect). Hexblade 3 gives you mettle, which is awesome as hell with your already awesome saving trows. Add ring of evasion and laugh. I'm not sure if you can add SR somehow to have a great non-TO defensive build.

There are a lot of awesome dips. The usual Cleric 1 for domain powers is one.



2) If you really don't want dips, just pick a cha-based spellcasting class. Sorcerer will work. I'm almost positive the best choice is found here as per the usual law of optimization: a spellcaster does everything better. This, or something psionics (I really don't know psionics, but I bet if the answer is not spellcaster, then it's them).

[nijineko]

or just pick template levels and no class levels at all! feytouched with half-fey transition is a good start....

[Xander_Phoenix]

Hexblade 4 / Dread Necromancer 1 / Ghost 4 / Master of the Unseen Hand 4 / Ephemeral Exemplar 3 / Lurking Terror 3 / Evolved Undead 1

[nijineko]

Hexblade 4 / Dread Necromancer 1 / Ghost 4 / Master of the Unseen Hand 4 / Ephemeral Exemplar 3 / Lurking Terror 3 / Evolved Undead 1

...sources, please?

[Xander_Phoenix]

...sources, please?

Ephemeral Exemplar and Lurking Terror - classes from Libris Mortis, pages 53 and 54 respectively. Evolved Undead - LA+1 template from the same book, page 99. The rest are obvious, I suppose.

Also, this may be handy.

[nijineko]

ah, thanks. i don't have that book, no wonder it didn't look familiar.

[Lycanthromancer]

Hmm. Eldritch Corruption on a ghost with Infested with Chickens. Free metamagic!

[Lycanthromancer]

Since you keep your feats and class features, one good way to play a ghost is to find a foe you really want to possess, knock it the hell out, debuff its Will save, possess it, then use it to eat face. You don't take damage unless you're not in possession of a body, and if your body dies, you can always get another one.

I did that using the Illithid Heritage feats. I possess a body, and it explodes into tentacles.

Use thrallherd for an endless source of bodies if you don't have enemies to exploit.

[nijineko]

pick up levels in alienist and/or pseudonatural template for extras.

[X-Codes]

If you don't mind shouldering the LA, then there's a better way to become a ghost, courtesy of the Age of Mortals splat...

Get a Contingent Bind Spirit cast on yourself by someone with whatever undead creation boosting abilities you want.  Trigger is obvious.

Walk next to an unholy altar and kill yourself.  Bind spirit then triggers, fail the saving throw.

Encase your body in an Eternal Repose spell, and cast some ridiculous-CL Hardening on the casket.  Further, find some way to stop Freedom, Limited Wish, Wish, and Miracle from affecting the casket, so that it becomes totally impervious to magic.

The only question is... what happens when the spell's duration expires?  That I don't know.  I'm sure you can extend the spell after it's casting, though.

[gorfnad]

Just something to think about..the Nightstalker class from Dragonlance: Races of Ansalon gives you a Ghost Cohort at levels 6, 12, and 18. It even states that they can take class levels like standard cohorts. Having 3 MotUH following you around could be very amusing.

[nijineko]

that just went thunk with another story about a guy with these three girls hunting him down....

[bearsarebrown]

Otherworldly entry into Fiend of Possession? Possess the weapons your throwing around?

This is possible, right?

[nijineko]

the steal steel psionic power allows one to possess any edged metal weapon. pass yourself off as a magic weapon. ^^

[awaken DM golem]

Slacker Ghost ... Commoner 1 / Ghost Prog 1 / whatever X

sucks at level 1, doesn't matter that it generally sucks after.

"You guys want me to fight? Nahh ... "
"Yeah, Mom was mad I got a D-minus in being a ghost, but ... "
"I'm'n'a go scare somebody, so I can have some privacy and quiet."

Needs a 1*.5*2000 item of ghost sound: Laugh Track.

[Mudkipz]

Just something to think about..the Nightstalker class from Dragonlance: Races of Ansalon gives you a Ghost Cohort at levels 6, 12, and 18. It even states that they can take class levels like standard cohorts. Having 3 MotUH following you around could be very amusing.

No, they should be bards.