Persona Shifter (Investigator/Sorcerer)

Persona shifters are foremost spies, infiltrators, and deceivers who possess the blood of doppleganger’s somewhere in their family line. More so, their blood marks them as tainted and ever changing, for even in their youth they took to creating disguises to fool others. However because of their ever-shifting personas, there is the risk of losing themselves in the personas they assume. If a persona shifter is not careful–deadly careful–they can lose all understanding of self and truly become the identities they create. (Original Concept by JonathonWilder)

Primary Class: Investigator.

Secondary Class: Sorcerer.

Alignment: Any.

Hit Dice: d8.

Bonus Skills and Ranks: The persona shifter may select three sorcerer skills to add to his class skills in addition to the normal investigator class skills. The persona shifter gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 4 + Int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The persona shifter is proficient with all simple weapons, plus the hand crossbow, rapier, sap, shortbow, short sword, and sword cane. He is also proficient with light armor, but not with shields.

Spellcasting: A persona shifter casts arcane spells drawn from the alchemist formulae list and the sorcerer spell list. Only sorcerer spells of 6th level and lower and alchemist formulae are considered to be part of the persona shifter’s spell list. If a spell appears on both the sorcerer spell list and the alchemist formulae list, the persona shifter uses the lower of the two spell levels listed for the spell. He can cast any spell he knows without preparing it ahead of time.

To learn or cast a spell, a persona shifter must have a Charisma score equal to at least 10 + the spell level. The Difficulty Class (DC) for a saving throw against a persona shifter’s spell is 10 + the spell level + the persona shifter’s Charisma modifier.

Like other spellcasters, a persona shifter can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. His base daily spell allotment is given on Table: Persona Shifter. In addition, he receives bonus spells per day if he has a high Charisma score.

The persona shifter’s selection of spells is extremely limited. A persona shifter begins play knowing four 0-level spells and two 1st-level spells of the persona shifter’s choice. At each new persona shifter level, he gains one or more new spells, as indicated on Table: Persona Shifter Spells Known. (Unlike spells per day, the number of spells a persona shifter knows is not affected by his Charisma score.

Upon reaching 5th level, and at every third persona shifter level after that (8th, 11th, and so on), a persona shifter can choose to learn a new spell in place of one he already knows. In effect, the persona shifter “loses” the old spell in exchange for the new one. The new spell’s level must be the same as that of the spell being exchanged, and it must be at least one level lower than the highest-level persona shifter spell the persona shifter can cast. A persona shifter may swap only a single spell at any given level, and must choose whether or not to swap the spell at the same time that he gains new spells known for the level.

A persona shifter need not prepare his spells in advance. He can cast any spell he knows at any time, assuming he has not yet used up his allotment of spells per day for the spell’s level. This ability and cantrips replace alchemy and extracts.

Cantrips: Persona shifters learn a number of cantrips, or 0-level spells, as noted on Table: Persona Shifter Spells Known under "Spells Known." These spells are cast like any other spell, but they do not consume any slots and may be used again. This ability replaces

Doppleganger’s Blood* (Su): Somewhere in past generations, a doppelganger infiltrated the persona shifter’s family tree, infusing him with the innate magic of the doppelganger race. At 1st level, a persona shifter adds Disguise to his list of class skills. Whenever a persona shifter casts a polymorph spell on himself, he gains a bonus to Disguise skill checks equal to half his persona shifter level for as long as he remains polymorphed. In addition, he adds the following spell to his list of spells known at the indicated levels: disguise self (3rd), alter self (6th), monstrous physique I (9th), true form (12th), seeming (15th), transformation (18th). This ability replaces studied strike +2d6, +5d6, and +8d6.

Quickchange* (Su): At 1st level, a persona shifter can draw upon his doppelganger heritage to assume and change a disguise. Activating this ability is a swift action. A persona shifter gains a +5 bonus on one Disguise check made to impersonate a particular individual and it only requires a swift action to apply his disguise. He can use this ability a number of times per day equal to 3 + his Charisma modifier. This ability replaces trapfinding and swift alchemy.

Mimic Mastery (Su): At 2nd level, when a persona shifter uses disguise self or any polymorph extracts on himself, he is treated as 2 investigator levels higher for the purpose of determining the duration of that extract's effect. He can use these extracts to take the appearance of specific individuals of the type of form he chooses, gaining a +10 to Disguise checks even if that extract does not typically grant such a bonus. Furthermore, these extracts grant the persona shifter a +10 bonus to Disguise checks made as part of his voice mimicry ability. This ability replaces poison resistance.

Voice Mimicry (Ex): At 2nd level, a persona shifter learns to mimic voices and sounds around him. Using this ability requires a special Disguise check, and creatures hearing the voice can make a Perception check to discover the ruse. A persona shifter can attempt to emulate any creature or other sound he's heard clearly for at least 1 minute. The bonuses or penalties to this special Disguise check are modified in the following ways, all of which are cumulative.

Also, the creature making the Perception check gains a bonus based on its familiarity with specific voices, just as if it were confronted with a normal disguise. This ability is a language-dependent effect, meaning that if a creature cannot hear or understand what the persona shifter is saying, the ruse fails. Magic items, feats, and traits that affect typical disguises do not affect this disguise check. At 8th level, the persona shifter gains the effects of its master of disguise class feature on this special use of the Disguise skill (no penalty for a voice of a different gender, race, or age category, and only a –3 penalty for a different size category). This ability replaces poison lore.

Mind Reader* (Sp): At 3rd level, a persona shifter can read minds as a spell-like ability. This ability acts like detect thoughts, except it lasts only 1 round, it can only be used on a single target as a standard action, and if the target fails its Will save, the persona shifter gains information as if he had concentrated on it for 3 rounds. A persona shifter may use this ability once per day at 3rd level and one additional time per day for every four persona shifter levels he possess beyond 3rd, up to five times per day at 19th level. This ability replaces the investigator talent gained at 3rd level.

Studied Strike (Ex): This is exactly like the investigator ability of the same name, except that the extra damage is 1d6 at 4th level, plus 1d6 every three levels thereafter, up to a maximum of 6d6 at 19th level.

Investigator’s Talent (Ex): This is exactly like the investigator ability of the same name, except that the persona shifter gains a talent at 5t level and every three levels. In addition, whenever a persona shifter gains an investigator talent, he can select one of the following feats instead: Combat Casting, Deceitful, Dodge, Extend Spell, Great Fortitude, Spell Focus (transmutation), Stealthy, Tenacious Transmutation.

Perfect Copy* (Ex): At 9th level, a persona shifter can perfectly copy the appearance of specific individuals when he casts polymorph spells or uses abilities which function as polymorph spells on himself. This ability replaces the investigator talent gained at 9th level.

Alter Self* (Su): At 15th level, a persona shifter can change his shape into that of any humanoid at will. This ability acts like alter self, except the persona shifter may remain in a chosen form as long as he wants to. This ability replaces the investigator talent gained at 15th level.

True Shapeshifter* (Su): At 20th level, a persona shifter gains the shapechanger subtype in addition to the subtypes he already possesses. The persona shifter gains immunity to charm and sleep, darkvision 60 feet (if the persona shifter already possesses darkvision, it increases by 60 feet), and he becomes proficient in all weapons, armor, and shields. Additionally, a persona shifter can use any spell trigger or spell completion item as if the spells were on his spell list. A persona shifter’s caster level for items he normal couldn’t use is equal to his persona shifter level. This ability replaces true inspiration.

*Note: Quickchange, Mind Reader, Perfect Copy, Alter Self, True Shapeshifter, and information listed in the Doppleganer’s Blood ability are part of the Doppleganger Bloodline and are the property of Necromancers of the Northwest (http://www.necromancers-online.com/articles/FromtheWorkshop/2011/20110819.html). (Copyright 2010-2012 Necromancers of the Northwest, LLC)

Table: Persona Shifter

Table: Persona Shifter Spells Known