My conclusion was to make the character insubstantial but you would adjust the hit points to half of what they would normally have at that level(if you would get 5 hp a level you would get 2 for even levels and 3 for odd).
This basically makes the character balanced with a slight bonus(healing other than from your surges is effectively doubled), and a slight drawback(odd number damage is slightly more damaging because the character resist half damage rounded down, and any attack that bypasses resistance, negates it, or instills vulnerability effectively does double the damage).
I'm still not sure when to give this a character and what(if any) cost(or bonus) it should have to balance it out.
I take it this is kinda like a "template" you would apply to a Fighter to make him a Ghost Fighter?
Makes me want to go and "update" the 3.0 Ghostwalk ghost class to 4E. The caster variant wouldn't be as viable in 4E, and the name of the non-caster is now the name of a construct or something, but all the ghost feats could become powers.....
As for any extra cost to balance it, how do you become one of these? Is it a special ritual? Does it have to be done on someone who is dead? (like bringing them back from the dead, but into ghost form instead of living form?) You could make it harder to recover them should they die. Since they aren't normal living things when they die, they might not be able to be resurrected in the same manner. (well, maybe a normal resurrection restores them to life, where a special resurrection ritual is required to turn them back into a ghost, like the initial acquisition)
It would be like multiclassing as a ghost as the ghostwalk classes except 4th edition style.
I had in mind ghost powers and such replacing class ones.
This was the only way i could think of having a powerful race.
I wanted to start out making something really powerful into something balanced or even underpowered that way even if I'm not doing crazy stuff I'm still having fun.
After that it's easy to deal with possessions and other ghost abilities; it's just another at-will/encounter/daily power.
I was also thinking "Phasing" is similar to combining the two epic acrobatic feats "Flanking Maneuver" and "Unfettered Stride", so phasing is not an over powered ability to be given at level 21 or possibly as a special epic feat for ghosts
I'm still trying to figure out flying though. Until they come out with a race that has that ability, I will probably omit it.
any help is appreciated.
he doesn't gain any benefit from heal checks, and
if he dies he makes a saving throw each day if he fails he can't be raised that day if he passes it's a normal raise dead, and
if he rolls a natural 20 he comes back with 0 health and no healing surges.
That was actually the idea i had in mind.
It would be like multiclassing as a ghost as the ghostwalk classes except 4th edition style.
I had in mind ghost powers and such replacing class ones.
A lot of the warlock powers (especially utility powers) have the right mechanics, and could be reflavored to make good ghost powers. No matter what, looking at these powers should help with balance.
Edit: Nvm. I thought this was in the previous editions forums. Will try to come up with something better later.
speed 5
floating: ignores difficult terrain and doesn't take falling damage (that is a pretty good racial so the racial encounter should be somewhat punitive)
ghastly: +1 to attack and damage with charm and fear effects
hover[racial feat]heroic
the ghost gains hover 3
phasing[racial feat]paragon
the ghost gains phasing
just give them little bonuses and use the feat system in place for all the continuous effects like phasing.
It's like that in ghostwalk now that i went over it again.
You start out as a ghost that is identical to an other race except you just look ghostly and you can take feats that make you act more like a ghost.
yeah that can work.
just give them little bonuses and use the feat system in place for all the continuous effects like phasing.
It's like that in ghostwalk now that i went over it again.
You start out as a ghost that is identical to an other race except you just look ghostly and you can take feats that make you act more like a ghost.
The argument entices me, so I can say this:
In my campaigns, one of the deities is more than willing to allow her clerics, if not all of the followers, the ability to lighten the load of mortal vessels as are now. So, it is not so automatic starting all by death, per default. could as well be, and it should be, a ritual of passage allowed by some deity, some power, some philosophy (why not? it could be the prize of a long search for heaven, to someone..)
--
Just my two-cents-worth thoughts, perhaps
