Spirit Finder  (Shaman/Ranger)

A shaman warrior, the spirit binder does not appease spirits, but forces them to do his bidding. He understands that there is a spirit in all living beings, and attacking that spirit weakens the one it resides in. However, many times stronger than the little helpers of other shamans, the spirit finder’s spirit animal is his only true ally from the otherworld. Other spirits (wandering spirits) can only be bound to him for short periods of time, but he can coerce them to give him more power than what ordinary shamans are granted. (Original Concept by Noro)

Primary Class: Shaman.

Secondary Class: Ranger.

Alignment: Any.

Hit Dice: d8.

Bonus Skills and Ranks: The spirit finder may select three ranger skills to add to her class skills in addition to the normal shaman class skills. The spirit finder gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 4 + Int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The spirit finder is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, and with light armor.

Minor Spirit (Su): At 1st level, a spirit finder forms a temporary bond with a minor spirit each day, granting her access to a witch hex of her choosing, but not a major hex or a grand hex. She must make this selection each day when she prepares her spells for the day. Until she changes the minor spirit, she continues to have access to the witch hex. At 2nd level, she can instead select a hex from one of her wandering spirits selected for that day. If she selects a witch hex, she treats her spirit finder level as her witch level, and uses her Wisdom in place of her Intelligence for the purpose of that hex. She can make temporary bonds with two minor spirits (thus gaining two hexes) at 6th level, and with a third minor spirit (and hex) at 14th level.

In addition, when choosing a hex for this ability, the spirit finder may choose one of the following new hexes restricted to the spirit finder multiclass archetype instead of a witch hex or hex granted by her wandering spirit.

Spirit Camouflage (Ex): The spirit finder can use the Stealth skill to hide in any of her spirit terrains, even if the terrain doesn't grant cover or concealment. The spirit finder must be at least 14th level to select this hex.

Spirit Empathy (Ex): The spirit finder gains the ranger's wild empathy ability, except that she can only improve the initial attitude of creatures of the enemy types of her wandering spirit.

Spirit Tracking (Ex): The spirit finder adds half her level (minimum 1) to Survival skill checks made to follow the tracks of her spirit enemies or creatures from her spirit terrains.

This ability and spirit enemy replaces spirit and hex.

Spirit Animal (Su): This is exactly like the shaman ability of the same name, except for the following changes. While a spirit animal is the foremost link of the spirit finder to the world of spirits, on a metaphysical level, the animal hunts and captures minor spirits for the spirit finder while the binder meditates for her daily spells and wandering spirit. A spirit animal is treated as a druid's animal companion instead of a wizard's familiar and uses the spirit finder’s class level as her effective druid level. The spirit animal gains the spirit animal bonuses from the spirit finder’s wandering spirit, and the intelligence score of a wizard’s familiar as normal. If the spirit finder gain the nature spirit’s true spirit ability (companion animal), it grants two extra levels to the spirit animal (up to its maximum HD).

Spirit Pool (Su): At 2nd level, a spirit finder gains a reservoir of mystical spirit energy that she can draw upon. This spirit pool has a number of points equal to 1/2 her spirit binder level (minimum 1) + her Wisdom modifier.

At 2nd level, a spirit finder can use her spirit pool to cast her wandering spirit’s spirit magic spells. To cast spirit magic spells in this way, the spirit finder must spend a number of spirit points equal to the level of the spell. She must be able to cast spells of that level.

Additionally, a spirit finder can spend 1 spirit point to gain an extra use of her wandering spirit’s spirit ability. At 6th level, she can spend 1 spirit point to access the wandering spirit’s greater spirit ability for one round (or for a number of rounds equal to 3 + her Charisma modifier if it is a permanent power). At 10th level, she can spend 1 spirit point to gain an extra use of her wandering spirit’s greater spirit ability (or a 20% increase in power if it is a permanent power). At 14th level, she can spend 2 spirit points to access her wandering spirit’s true spirit ability for one round (or for a number of rounds equal to 3 + her Charisma modifier if it is a permanent power). At 18th level, she can spend 2 spirit points to gain an extra use of her wandering spirit’s true spirit ability (or a 20% increase in power if it is a permanent power). At 20th level, the spirit finder can spend 3 spirit points to gain her wandering spirit’s manifestation ability for a number of rounds equal to her Charisma modifier. This ability replaces spirit magic.

Wandering Spirit (Su): At 2nd level, a spirit finder gains access to the wandering spirit class feature. At 10th level, she gains the abilities listed in the greater version of her wandering spirit. At 18th level, she gains the abilities listed in the true version of her wandering spirit. In addition, the spirit finder can grant her spirit animal one use of her wandering spirit’s spirit ability (but not greater or true versions) by spending 1 point from her spirit pool. This ability alters wandering spirit.

Spirit Enemy (Ex): At 4th level, a spirit finder gains the ranger’s favored enemy ability and chooses one enemy from his wandering spirit, as shown on Table: Wandering Spirit Enemies and Terrains. She applies all the favored enemy bonuses to this chosen enemy. At 12th level and again at 20th level, she selects one additional enemy from his wandering spirit. At each such interval, the bonus against any one spirit enemy (including the one just selected, if so desired) increases by +2. A spirit finder also applies her highest spirit enemy bonuses against any creature with the mystery or spirit class features, regardless of its actual type (or subtype).

Table: Wandering Spirit Enemies and Terrains

In addition, a spirit finder can use her spirit pool to change the bonuses granted to her spirit enemies. At 12th level or higher, a spirit binder can spend 1 spirit point to change the bonuses of two of her spirit enemies for a number of round equal to 1/2 her spirit binder level + her Wisdom modifier. For example, if a spirit finder gains a +4 bonus against dragons and a +2 bonus against oozes, she can spend 1 spirit point to change it to +4 against oozes and +2 against dragons the duration of the ability’s effect. At 20th level, she can spend 3 spirit points to change the bonuses of all three of her spirit enemies.

Spirit Terrain (Ex): At 8th level, a spirit finder gains the ranger’s favored terrain ability and chooses one terrain from his wandering spirit, as shown on Table: Wandering Spirit Enemies and Terrains. She applies all the favored terrain bonuses to this chosen terrain. At 16th level, she selects one additional terrain, and the bonus granted by any one spirit terrain (including the one just selected, if so desired) increases by +2.

In addition, a spirit finder can use her spirit pool to change the bonuses granted to her spirit terrains. At 18th level or higher, a spirit finder can spend 1 spirit point to change the bonuses of her two spirit terrains for a number of round equal to 1/2 her spirit binder level + her Wisdom modifier. For example, if a spirit finder gains a +4 bonus in the forest terrains and a +2 bonus in the swamp terrain, she can spend 1 spirit point to change it to +4 in the swamp terrain and +2 in the forest terrain for the duration of the ability’s effect. This ability replaces wandering hex.

Manifestation (Su): This is exactly like the shaman ability of the same name, except that the spirit finder gains her wandering spirit’s manifestation ability.

Table: Spirit Finder