View source for Animist Variant (3.5e Class)

==== Class Features ====

All of the following are class features of the Animist.

'''Weapon and Armor Proficiency:''' An Animist is proficient with all '''Simple Weapons''' , all''' Martial Weapon''' and 1 exotic of their choice of their choice. They are also proficient in the use of '''Light Armor'''. An Animist trains with light armor because of the constant interaction with Extraplanar creatures. These creatures are often unruly when an Animist first begins to summon them and  requires preventive measures to be taken to preserve the life of the Animist. Because of this training, the Animist learns to cast their spells with limited somatic components and do not incur the normal Arcane Spell Failure percentage while wearing Light Armor. '''If an Animist is wearing Medium or Heavy armor, or is using a shield, she incurs the normal Arcane Spell Failure chance according to the armor she is wearing.'''


'''Spells:''' An Animist lacks the spellcasting versatility of a cleric, sorcerer, or wizard being limited primarily to spells pertaining to the art of summoning. They also possess some limited ability to use spells which can heal or empower their anima. These spells can come from either divine or arcane lists. The exact list of spells they may learn is up to the GM/DM as if you are using this class chances are homebrew spells are also in the mix making any list made fairly pointless as most spells would be added according to the GM/DM's judgement regardless.

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

Like other spellcasters, an Animist can cast only a certain number of spells of each spell level per day. His base daily spell allotment is given on Table: The Animist. In addition, he receives bonus spells per day if he has a high Charisma score.
An Animist’s selection of spells is quite limited. An Animist begins play knowing all 0-level spells and four 1st-level spells of your choice. At each new Animist level, he gains one or more new spells, as indicated on Table: Animist Spells Known. A Animist also gains extra spells based on their charisma score gaining a number equal to the number of extra spells per day they may cast thanks to their charisma modifier. These new spells can be common spells chosen from the sorcerer/wizard spell list, or they can be unusual spells that the Animist has gained some understanding of by study. The Animist can’t use this method of spell acquisition to learn spells at a faster rate, however. An Animist automatically knows all summon spells as soon as he is able to cast them.

Upon reaching 4th level, and at every even-numbered Animist level after that (6th, 8th, and so on), a Animist can choose to learn a new spell in place of one he already knows. In effect, the Animist “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 two levels lower than the highest-level Animist spell the Animist can cast. A Animist may swap only three spells 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.

Unlike a wizard or a cleric, a Animist 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 spells per day for that spell level. He does not have to decide ahead of time which spells he’ll cast. Gains a +2 to spell caster level at each level.


{|  class="d20"
|+ {{anchor|Table: Animist Spells Known}}
|-
! rowspan="2" | Level || colspan="10" | Spells Known
|- {{#vardefine:odd|0}}
! 0 || 1<sup>st</sup> || 2<sup>nd</sup> || 3<sup>rd</sup> || 4<sup>th</sup> || 5<sup>th</sup> || 6<sup>th</sup> || 7<sup>th</sup> || 8<sup>th</sup> || 9<sup>th</sup>
|- class="{{Odd-Even|{{#var:odd}}}}"
|1st||4||2||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—
|- class="{{Odd-Even|{{#var:odd}}}}"
|2nd||5||2||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—
|- class="{{Odd-Even|{{#var:odd}}}}"
|3rd||5||3||—||—||—||—||—||—||—||—
|- class="{{Odd-Even|{{#var:odd}}}}"
|4th||6||3||1||—||—||—||—||—||—||—
|- class="{{Odd-Even|{{#var:odd}}}}"
|5th||6||4||2||—||—||—||—||—||—||—
|- class="{{Odd-Even|{{#var:odd}}}}"
|6th||7||4||2||1||—||—||—||—||—||—
|- class="{{Odd-Even|{{#var:odd}}}}"
|7th||7||5||3||2||—||—||—||—||—||—
|- class="{{Odd-Even|{{#var:odd}}}}"
|8th||8||5||3||2||1||—||—||—||—||—
|- class="{{Odd-Even|{{#var:odd}}}}"
|9th||8||5||4||3||2||—||—||—||—||—
|- class="{{Odd-Even|{{#var:odd}}}}"
|10th||9||5||4||3||2||1||—||—||—||—
|- class="{{Odd-Even|{{#var:odd}}}}"
|11th||9||5||5||4||3||2||—||—||—||—
|- class="{{Odd-Even|{{#var:odd}}}}"
|12th||9||5||5||4||3||2||1||—||—||—
|- class="{{Odd-Even|{{#var:odd}}}}"
|13th||9||5||5||4||4||3||2||—||—||—
|- class="{{Odd-Even|{{#var:odd}}}}"
|14th||9||5||5||4||4||3||2||1||—||—
|- class="{{Odd-Even|{{#var:odd}}}}"
|15th||9||5||5||4||4||4||3||2||—||—
|- class="{{Odd-Even|{{#var:odd}}}}"
|16th||9||5||5||4||4||4||3||2||1||—
|- class="{{Odd-Even|{{#var:odd}}}}"
|17th||9||5||5||4||4||4||3||3||2||—
|- class="{{Odd-Even|{{#var:odd}}}}"
|18th||9||5||5||4||4||4||3||3||2||1
|- class="{{Odd-Even|{{#var:odd}}}}"
|19th||9||5||5||4||4||4||3||3||3||2
|- class="{{Odd-Even|{{#var:odd}}}}"
|20th||9||5||5||4||4||4||3||3||3||3
|}

 
'''{{Anchor|Anima}} ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Extraordinary|Ex]]):''' 
An Anima is a being born from a fragment of an Animist's soul growing to become a unique being who is permanently tied to their master and when not summoned dwells in a demi-plane. An Anima has the same alignment as the Animist that creates it and can speak all of his languages. Animas are treated as summoned creatures, except that they are not sent back to their home plane until reduced to a number of negative hit points equal to or greater than their Constitution score. In addition, due to its tie to its Animist, an Anima can touch and attack creatures warded by protection from evil and similar effects that prevent contact with summoned creatures.

An Animist can summon his Anima in a ritual that takes 1 minute to perform. When summoned in this way, the Anima hit points are unchanged from the last time it was summoned. The only exception to this is if the Anima was slain, in which case it returns with half its normal hit points. The Anima remains until dismissed by the Animist (a standard action). If the Anima is sent back to its home plane due to death, it cannot be summoned again until the following day. The Anima cannot be sent back to its demi-plane by means of dispel magic, but spells such as dismissal and banishment work normally. If the Animist is unconscious, asleep, or killed, his Anima is immediately banished.

The Anima takes a form shaped by the Animist's desires. The Anima's Hit Dice, saving throws, skills, feats, and abilities are tied to the Animist's class level and increase as the Animist gains levels. In addition, each Anima receives a pool of evolution points, based on the summoner's class level, that can be used to give the Anima different abilities and powers. Whenever the Animist gains a level, he must decide how these points are spent, and the changes are set until he levels up again or recreates the Anima. An Animist can choose to recreate an Anima from scratch by concentrating for 6 hours causing it to melt into a primordial ooze they then spend the next week and 25 xp per HD of the Anima reshaping it into its new form.

The Anima's physical appearance is up to the Animist, but it always appears as some sort of fantastical creature or being. This control is not fine enough to make the Anima appear like a specific creature. The Anima also bears a glowing rune that is identical to a rune that appears on the Animist's forehead as long as the Anima is summoned. While this rune can be hidden through mundane means, it cannot be concealed through magic that changes appearance, such as alter self or polymorph (although invisibility does conceal it as long as the spell lasts).

'''{{Anchor|Lifemaker's Calling}} ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Extraordinary|Ex]]):''' 
All summoned creatures remain for 5 rounds per caster level.  The CL of the animist is also treated as being +2 for the purposes of spells relating to binding, summoning, or creating minions. Giving them all spells dealing with summoning, creating and binding.

'''{{Anchor|Bonded Souls}} ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Extraordinary|Ex]]):''' 
The Animist and Anima share an empathic and telepathic connection allowing them to communicate with ease without the use of words. They also are able to share the senses of one another when it is convenient to do so. A Animist is also able to use spells which normally can only be used on their own body on their Anima. The Animist, as a full round action, can summon their Anima to their location through pulling on the soul link between them. This action provokes attacks of opportunity. And because of this, they are able to share spells.

''' {{Anchor|Shield Ally}} ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Extraordinary|Ex]]):''' At 2nd level, whenever a Animist is within his Anima's reach, the Animist receives a +2 shield bonus to his Armor Class and a +2 circumstance bonus on his saving throws. This bonus does only applies if the Anima is within 30ft of the Animist.

'''{{Anchor|Split Soul}} ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Extraordinary|Ex]])
Starting at the Fourth level the Animist gains the ability to create additional animas at the cost of 25XP X the HD of the anima. Though you can have more then one Anima, the other Animas that you have created are forced to stay in the demiplane.

'''{{Anchor|Persona Aspect}} ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Extraordinary|Ex]]):''' 
Starting at third level a Animist gains Evolution points of their own for the first anima the have. This quantity is equal to half the number their Anima receives and like their Anima they may change the evolutions each time they level up or by spending xp. They must still meet the requirements of the evolutions they seek to purchase. The number of evolution points are based on the first anima that the animist creates. Example- An animist of third level with a charisma of 14 would receive 11 evolution points because the anima receives 18+2xthe animists cha modifier which is 22.  

'''{{Anchor|Lifemaker's Aura}} ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Extraordinary|Ex]]):''' 
Starting at fourth level creatures summoned or created by the Animist become strengthened while in their presence. The aura increases all of their stats by +2, grants +2 to all saves and checks, as well as granting the summoned creatures one extra HD. This bonus increases by 2 every four levels for the bonus to saves and stats and increases HD by every 4 levels.

''' {{Anchor|Greater Shield Ally}} ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Extraordinary|Ex]]):''' The shield improves as you level from here on out, refer to the table below for the increases.


'''{{Anchor|Dual Soul}} ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Extraordinary|Ex]]):''' 
Starting at the 5th level the Animist gains the ability to summon an additional Anima.

'''{{Anchor|Lifemaker's Visage}} ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Extraordinary|Ex]]):''' 
Starting at sixth level a Animist gains the uncanny ability to ward themselves from creatures summoned, bound, or created by others. Such creatures must make a will save with a DC of 10 + the Animist's class level + their charisma bonus or become unable to harm them. If they fail this save they must wait 2d4 rounds before being able to try to attack the Animist again and become dazed for 1 round.

'''{{Anchor|One Body Two Souls}} ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Extraordinary|Ex]]):''' 
Starting at seventh level a Animist is able to temporarily fuse with all their of their Anima. While doing so the fused being gains the benefits of each of them with everything stacking together. All weapons and items are absorbed into the Anima's body for the duration of the fusion. While fused the Animist is able to use one quickened spell per round at no change to spell level. They may also channel spells through their natural weapons. This ability may be used for a number of minites equal to the Animist's (charisma bonus + their class level) multiplied by forty. This ability may be used multiple times for day as long as the Animist does not exceed their fusion time limit. To fuse the Anima and Animist must remain in physical contact for three rounds making no other actions. If they are attacked while fusing they must make a concentration check or become dazed for 1d4 rounds and lost the progress on their fusion.

'''{{Anchor|Improved Dual Soul}} ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Extraordinary|Ex]]):'''
The Animist has the abiltiy to have yet another Anima equal to a max of 3 out of the demiplane that they are kept in.


'''{{Anchor|Lifemaker's Voice}} ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Extraordinary|Ex]]):''' 
Starting at twelfth level a Animist gains the ability to use dominate monster at will as a free action. This only works against beings which are either summoned, bound, or created. The DC is equal to 10 + 1/2 the Animist's class level + their charisma bonus. If the target succeeds at the save they may not attempt to dominate them again for 3d6 rounds. If the target fails the save then it gains the benefits of the Animist's abilities as long as it serves the Animist.

'''{{Anchor|Greater Dual Soul}} ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Extraordinary|Ex]]):''' 
The Animist has improved his control over his power so that he can summon 4 of his anima's from his demiplane.

'''{{Anchor|Epic Dual Soul}} ([[SRD:Special Abilities Overview#Extraordinary|Ex]]):''' 
Starting at twentieth level the Animist gains the ability to summon as many animas as he can create. However, having so many animas summoned is taxing, so the animist is fatigued for as long as he has more than five animas summoned.
Article Balance	Very High +
Author	Mr.Selfie +
Identifier	3.5e Class +
Rating	Unrated +
Title	Animist Variant +