Strange Case (3.5e Prestige Class)

Summary::Rip the Strange Case of Doctor Jekyll and Mister Hyde in DnD! Minimum Level::2 Class Ability::Other Class Ability Progression::Partial

Strange Case
"Who knew Dave was the machete-wielding psychopath all along?"

A prestige class if you want to be Jekyll and Hyde!

Becoming a Strange Case
Strange cases drink a imperfect serum of their own making, turning them into dual beings. That said other origin like gamma ray exposition, being possessed by the wrath of a deity or some other things make for perfect strange cases. It is more of an universal alternate class feature than a class.

Class Features
All of the following are class features of the Strange Case.

You gain the BAB, saves, skill points, and class skills of a previous class you leveled in, and may improve your previous class abilities as if you took a level in your chosen previous class. Only things which scale with level are advanced, new class features are not gained. Special abilities does not progress at the 1st elevl of the class but at each other levels. For example, a barbarian would continue to gain more rages per day and more trap sense, but not a new feature such as tireless rage or mighty rage. A wizard would gain caster level and spells known, but not receive any bonus feats. The one exception to this rule is the fighter class, who obtains an extra fighter bonus feat at 3rd, 6th, and 9th. If you have more than one class before entering strange case you may choose what class to advance each level.

Both psyche vie for the same body, but only the unnatural psyche is aware of the actions of the other. Both psyche have the same or similar goal but take very different approach to pursuing them. Switching between psyche is a non-action that is undertaken by the player, not the character and can be done at will, however there must be at least one hour between each changes.

The unnatural psyche has a different alignment than the original, it alignment must have at least component on the other side of the spectrum (a lawful good strange case could have it unnatural personality be chaotic good or lawful evil but not lawful neutral). The unnatural personality has it own name, it own alignment and it own true name.

At 1st level the unnatural psyche can switch around the original's ability scores. She may trade the values of two physical ability scores and two mental ability scores (it would be possible to trade the value of strength/dexterity and intelligence/wisdom but not strength/wisdom). Additionally while in either form it receive a +2 bonus on it lowest ability score (which could be the same or different).

At 2nd level the unnatural psyche can select different feats than the originals, although she must still be able to qualify for any prestige classes and permanent ability she took (like if a druid strange case took a feat to take a celestial eagle she is forced to take that feat with her unnatural personality). The unnatural personality count as it alignment or it original alignment (whichever is better) for the purpose of qualifying for prerequisites. Additionally she receive a bonus feat she meet the prerequisite of.

At 3rd level the unnatural and original psyche receive a +4 alchemical bonus to one mental ability score and one physical ability score (both ability score chosen must be different between the original and unnatural psyche), her form also may also change significantly while in her unnatural personality (within the limit of alter self). All changes made by the split class features are chosen when the ability (or feat) is gained and cannot be changed afterward save for rebuilding the character, treat the unnatural personality as a an alternative character sheet. The original psyche progress as normal, only the unnatural psyche is changed. It does not remember any actions done while she was in her unnatural personality. If the strange case is a spellcaster she automatically fall under the effect of sasha's separate psyche (except the alignment change) while under her unnatural psyche.

 : A strange case may roll her will saves twice, using the original and the unnatural psyche's will save. If one succeed she count as having made her save, however if one fail she immediately change to that the personality that succeeded the save even if wasn't already in control.

 : At 3rd level a strange case is able to use an ability score for another, it choose a class, a physical ability score (Str, Dex, or Con) or a mental ability score (Int, Wis, or Cha). You may use any of the chosen class abilities, DCs, and other features of one physical ability for another (or one mental ability for another). It may choose different ability score for both it original and unnatural form.