Planar Vessel (Warpriest/Summoner)

Powerful denizens of the outer planes come in a myriad of forms and shapes. Where other warpriests find the weapons and armor enchanted by their faith, a planar vessel channels some aspect of a particular denizen of his gods plane, assuming an otherworldly mantle. (Original Concept by Apraham Lincoln)

Primary Class: Warpriest.

Secondary Class: Summoner.

Alignment: Any except true neutral.

Hit Dice: d8.

Bonus Skills and Ranks: The planar vessel may select three summoner skills to add to his class skills in addition to the normal warpriest class skills. The planar vessel gains a number of ranks at each level equal to 2 + Int modifier.

Weapon and Armor Proficiency: The planar vessel is proficient with all simple and martial weapons, plus his deity’s favored weapon. He is also proficient with light armor, medium armor, and with shields (except tower shields). If the planar vessel worships a deity with unarmed strike as its favored weapon, the planar vessel gains Improved Unarmed Strike as a bonus feat.

Planar Blessings: This is exactly like warpriest’s blessings ability, except that the planar vessel must select one alignment blessing that matches his own. In addition, the planar vessel is considered to have the Augmented Summoning feat whenever he summons his battle companion from his alignment blessing.

Sacred Aspect (Su): At 1st level, a planar vessel can channel a sacred aspect of his alignment as a swift action. He gains a small pool of evolution points that he can spent on a wide variety of modifications and upgrades that add new abilities, attacks, and powers to himself. This pool is equal to 2 evolution points at 1st level, plus 1 additional evolution point every odd level thereafter, to a maximum of 11 evolution points at 19th level. The planar vessel may choose from the following evolutions.

• 1 Point Evolutions: basic magic, bite, bleed, claws, gills, hooves, improved natural armor, low-light vision, magic attacks, pincers, pull, push, reach, resistance, scent, slam, slippery, sticky, sting, swim, tail, tail slap, tentacle, unnatural aura, wing buffet.

• 2 Point Evolutions: alignment smite (must match his alignment blessing), constrict, energy attack, flight, gore, grab, minor magic, poison, rend, shadow blend, shadow form, sickening, trample, trip.

• 3 Point Evolutions: celestial appearance, damage reduction, fiendish appearance, frightful presence, major magic, see in darkness.

• 4 Point Evolutions: breath weapon, dimension door, incorporeal form, spell resistance, ultimate magic.

He may change these evolutions every time he gains a new evolution point. A planar vessel can maintain his planar aspect for a number of rounds per day equal to his planar vessel level, but these rounds need not be consecutive. A planar vessel is considered proficient with any natural attacks gained from his evolutions.

In addition, weapons wielded by a planar vessel are charged with the power of his faith. In addition to the favored weapon of his deity, the planar vessel can designate a weapon as a sacred weapon by selecting that weapon with the Weapon Focus feat; if he has multiple Weapon Focus feats, this ability applies to all of them. Whenever the planar vessel hits with his sacred weapon, the weapon damage is based on his level and not the weapon type. The damage for Medium planar vessels is listed on Table: Planar Vessel; see the table for Small and Large planar vessels in the Warpriest class description. The planar vessel can decide to use the weapon's base damage instead of the sacred weapon damage—this must be declared before the attack roll is made. (If the weapon's base damage exceeds the sacred weapon damage, its damage is unchanged.) This increase in damage does not affect any other aspect of the weapon, and doesn't apply to alchemical items, bombs, or other weapons that only deal energy damage. The planar vessel may designate a natural attack gained through his evolutions as a sacred weapon with the Weapon Focus feat, granting it the sacred weapon damage increase (see Sacred Weapon Damage on Table: Planar Vessel).

A planar vessel does not gain the weapon enhancement aspect of the sacred weapon ability, and cannot add weapon special abilities to his sacred weapons. This ability replaces sacred weapon.

Planar Guard (Su): At 7th level, when a planar vessel is channeling his sacred aspect, he gains a +1 shield bonus to his Armor Class and a +1 circumstance bonus on his saving throws. This bonus increases by 1 every 3 levels thereafter, to a maximum of +5 at 19th level. This ability replaces sacred armor.

Persistent Aspect (Su): At 12th level, a planar vessel’s sacred aspect now lasts for 1 minute per level, but these minutes need not be consecutive. This ability replaces the bonus feat gained at 12th level.

Twin Aspect (Su): At 20th level, as a swift action, the planar vessel and his sacred aspect can split into two creatures: the planar vessel and the sacred aspect. Both have the same stats (including ability scores, hit points, AC, evolutions, etc.). The sacred aspect emerges in a square adjacent to the planar vessel if possible. All effects and spells currently targeting the planar vessel-sacred aspect affect both the planar vessel and the sacred aspect.

The planar vessel can use this ability for a number of rounds per day equal to his planar vessel level. He can end this effect at any time as a full-round action. For the duration of this effect, the sacred aspect functions as the planar vessel (see above), but any ability uses or spells cast count against the planar vessel’s daily maximum. This ability replaces aspect of war.

Table: Planar Vessel