Animal Soul (3.5e Prestige Class)

A tiger-patron animal soul's anthropomorphic form,(by cheetahpaws)

Animal Soul

Those with the power to transform sometimes feel a kinship with certain animals. Perhaps it was a childhood memory, or a past life, or the they have power of the spirit walker, but they feel the blood of beasts in their veins. Taking a hold of this power within they use they're transformations until they eventually permanently join with the aspect of animals they possess.

Prerequisites

Base Attack Bonus: +4

Feats: Animal Affinity

Skills: Survival 4 ranks, Handle Animal 4 ranks, Knowledge (Nature) 9 ranks

Special: Must have access to either Wild Shape or a form of polymorph which allows them to turn into their chosen animal.

Table: The Animal Soul

Hit Die: d8

Level	Base Attack Bonus	Fort Save	Ref Save	Will Save	Special	Bonus Spells
1st	+0	+2	+2	+0	Chosen Animal, Speak With (Chosen) Animal at Will, Wild Empathy	1
2nd	+1	+3	+3	+0	Animal Power, Claws and Bite	1
3rd	+2	+3	+3	+1	Extended Morph	0
4th	+3	+4	+4	+1	Primary Ability Boost +2, Animal Power	1
5th	+3	+4	+4	+1	Pack Leader	1
6th	+4	+5	+5	+2	Animal Power	1
7th	+5	+5	+5	+2	Secondary Ability Boost +2, Unlimited Morph	0
8th	+6	+6	+6	+2	Animal Power	1
9th	+6	+6	+6	+3	Mark of the Animal	1
10th	+7	+7	+7	+3	Primary Ability Boost +2, Animal Power, Animal Apotheosis	0
Class Skills (2 + Int modifier per level) Concentration (Con), Craft (Int), Escape Artist (Dex), Handle Animal (Cha), Knowledge (Arcana) (Int), Knowledge (Dungeoneering) (Int), Knowledge (Geography) (Int), Knowledge (Nature) (Int), Listen (Wis), Search (Int), Sense Motive (Wis), Spot (Wis), and Survival (Wis). Additional Skills may apply (see Chosen Animal).

Class Features

All the following are class features of the Animal Soul:

Chosen Animal

At the beginning of this class an Animal Soul chooses a patron animal to follow and eventually turn into. This cannot be changed. The example animals are Eagle, Bull, Turtle, Bear, Tiger, Rabbit, Wolf, Lion, Cat, Fox, and Snake. Additional animals may be constructed by the DM following this format.

The Animal Soul form is an anthromorphic form between human and the animal. This form effectively has the original scores of the creature, in addition to the benefits of this class. Until 10th level, when the Animal Soul turns into their anthromorphic form for good, all Animal Soul class abilities apply only when in the appropriate anthromorphic form, with exception to the bonus spells, BAB, and saves gained from this class.

In addition, depending on the animal chosen, you also add the following skills as class skills.

Table: Chosen Animal Skills

Chosen Animal	Extra Skills/Changes
Electric Mouse	Diplomacy (Cha), Gather Information (Cha), Perform (Cha), Speak Language (None), (Change to Poor Fort, Good Will)
Pink Panda	Climb (Str), Jump (Str), Swim (Str), Intimidate (Cha)
Tortoise	Diplomacy (Cha), Heal (Wis), Knowledge (all skills taken separately) (Int), (Change to Poor Reflex, Good Will)
Cuddlefish	Climb (Str), Heal (Wis), Search (Int), Swim (Str)
Pony	Climb (Str), Jump (Str), Swim (Str), Tumble (Dex)
Squirrel	Balance (Dex), Hide (Dex), Jump (Str), Move Silently (Dex), (Change to Poor Fort, Good Will)
Bear	Climb (Str), Intimidate (Cha), Search (Int), Swim (Str)
Spider	Balance (Dex), Bluff (Cha), Hide (Dex), Move Silently (Dex)
Tiger	Diplomacy (Cha), Heal (Wis), Intimidate (Cha), Sense Motive (Wis) (Change to Poor Reflex, Good Will)
Tapir	Appraise (Int), Knowledge (all skills taken separately) (Int), Spellcraft (Int), (Change to Poor Fort, Good Will)
Platypus	Bluff (Cha), Knowledge (all skills taken separately) (Int), Spellcraft (Int), (Change to Poor Fort, Good Will)

Bonus Spells

Animal Souls gain bonus spells as they gain levels in this prestige class, as if from having a high ability score, as given on Table: The Animal Soul. A bonus spell can be added to any level of spells the Animal Soul already has the ability to cast.

If a character has more than one spellcasting class, he must decide to which class he adds each bonus spell as it is gained. Once a bonus spell has been applied, it cannot be shifted.

While new spells per day and new spell levels are not gained with this class, this class counts as far as determining your caster level for the class which gains the bonus spells.

Wild Empathy (Ex)

An Animal Soul can improve the attitude of an animal. This ability functions just like a Diplomacy check made to improve the attitude of a person. The Animal Soul rolls 1d20 and adds her Animal Soul level and her Charisma modifier to determine the wild empathy check result. If the Animal is related to the Chosen Animal (such as a cat and a lion) they gain a +2 circumstance bonus to their roll. If it is the exact same animal (a bear to a bear) the bonus is +4.

The typical domestic animal has a starting attitude of indifferent, while wild animals are usually unfriendly. Animals of the exact same type as the Chosen Animal will also be indifferent normally.

To use wild empathy, the Animal Soul and the animal must be able to study each other, which means that they must be within 30 feet of one another under normal conditions. Generally, influencing an animal in this way takes 1 minute but, as with influencing people, it might take more or less time.

An Animal Soul can also use this ability to influence a magical beast with an Intelligence score of 1 or 2, but she takes a -4 penalty on the check.

This ability stacks with Wild Empathy from other classes.

Speak With Chosen Animal (Su)

At will the Animal Soul may use Speak with Animals with any animal of the same type as them. Wolves may speak to all canines for example (wolves, dogs, wild dogs), cats can speak to any feline (cats, lions, tigers), and so forth.

Claws and Bite (Ex)

At 2nd level the Animal Soul gains the bite and claw/slam attacks appropriate to their animal. They may choose either two claws/slams at 1d4 damage, or one bite at 1d6 damage. This is the damage given for Medium creatures, for small it is 1d3 for claws and 1d4 for bite attacks.

Animal Powers (Ex)

As the Animal Soul grows they get to tap into more and more powers of their chosen animal. The powers vary wildly, but all are gained at levels 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10.

Table: Electric Mouse Powers

Level	Power
2	Bardic Knowledge (use Animal Soul class as Bard levels, stacks with actual Bard)
4	+2 Inherent Bonus on all Social Skill Checks
6	+4 Inherent Bonus to Spot, Listen, Search, and Perform Checks
8	Charm Person as many times per day as Cha modifier.
10	Automatic Still and Silent spell with Charm spells and Suggestion spells.

Table: Pink Panda Powers

Level	Power
2	Rage 1/day
4	+6 Inherent Bonus to Intimidate
6	Rage 2/day
8	+4 bonus on opposed Strength checks.
10	Rage 3/day

Table: Tortoise Powers

Level	Power
2	+1 Natural Armor
4	+1 Natural Armor
6	+1 Natural Armor
8	+1 Natural Armor
10	+1 Natural Armor

Table: Cuddlefish Powers

Level	Power
2	+4 bonus on Survival and Track bonus feat.
4	Fast Healing 2
6	+4 bonus on opposed Strength checks.
8	Fast Healing 4
10	Automatically make a grapple attempt whenever making a successful attack with your natural weapons.

Table: Pony Powers

Level	Power
2	Fighter Bonus Feat
4	+10 bonus to speed
6	Fighter Bonus Feat
8	+10 bonus to speed
10	Fighter Bonus Feat

Table: Squirrel Powers

Level	Power
2	Monk's Unarmored Speed Bonus (Stacks with monk levels)
4	+2 Dodge Bonus increase
6	+4 Inherent Bonus to Jump and Listen Checks
8	+2 Dodge Bonus increase
10	Unarmed attacks may now be enchanted as if they were a masterwork melee weapon, at 120% cost

Table: Bear Powers

Level	Power
2	Low-Light Vision (or improved Low-Light Vision)
4	+10 bonus to speed
6	Scent
8	+10 bonus to speed
10	Free trip attempt whenever 2 or more attacks with natural weapons hit

Table: Spider Powers

Level	Powers
2	Reduce 10 ft. Fall Damage, Sneak Attack 1d6
4	+4 Inherent Bonus to Hide and Move Silently
6	Reduce 20 ft. Fall Damage, Sneak Attack 2d6
8	Spiderclimb 1/day
10	Reduce 30 ft. Fall Damage, Sneak Attack 3d6

Table: Tiger Powers

Level	Power
2	+4 racial bonus to Intimidate and Diplomacy
4	Aura of Heroes, allies in 30' gain +3 morale bonus to attack rolls
6	Aura of Courage, as paladin (if you already have this power, it extends 10 feet and the bonus is +8)
8	Aura of Heroes, bonus rises to +6
10	Frightful Roar, all in 90ft cone save vs fear for 2d6 round, Will DC (10 + 1/2 HD + Cha modifier)

Table: Tapir Powers

Level	Power
2	Tapir Lore, add class level as competence bonus to any Knowledge checks
4	Wizard Bonus Feat
6	Calm Mind, take 10 on skill checks in battle
8	Wizard Bonus Feat
10	Spell-Like Ability, as Archmage

Table: Platypus Powers

Level	Power
2	+4 Inherent Bonus on Bluff Checks
4	Additional Spell Learned
6	Blindsense 20 ft
8	Additional Spell Learned
10	Venom Spur (Fort save DC 10 + 1/2 HD + Con modifier), 1d6 Con/1d6 Con damage

Extended Morph (Su)

The Animal Soul's ability to transform, either by Wild Shape, polymorph, or similar, now acts as if it were under the Extend Metamagic feat, doubling the time it lasts.

Ability Boosts (Ex)

At levels 4, 7, and 10 you gain boosts to your ability scores. They are classified as Primary and Secondary, as each animal has a different ability boosted. Please refer to the chart below for details. By level 10, the primary ability will have gained +4 and the secondary, +2.

Table: Chosen Animal Skills

Chosen Animal	Primary/Secondary Ability
Electric Mouse	Charisma/Dexterity
Pink Panda	Strength/Constitution
Tortoise	Constitution/Wisdom
Cuddlefish	Wisdom/Constitution
Pony	Strength/Dexterity
Squirrel	Wisdom/Dexterity
Bear	Strength/Wisdom
Spider	Dexterity/Charisma
Tiger	Strength/Charisma
Tapir	Intelligence/Charisma
Platypus	Charisma/Dexterity

Pack Leader (Ex)

The Animal Soul is treated as having the Leadership feat when dealing with animals of their own kind. If in the event of battle and fighting with animals of their own kind, they can grant a +2 morale boost to attack rolls and damage to all within 30' of the Animal Soul. Likewise if fighting against those of her kind they make inflict a -2 morale penalty to attack rolls and damage. Enemies get a Will save, DC (10 + Animal Soul class level + Cha modifier).

Unlimited Morph

At 7th level one can polymorph or Wild Shape into your Animal Soul form at will as a full round action.

Mark Of The Animal

At 9th level the Animal Soul manifests a physical permanent sign of their change, which persists in their natural state. The part and benefit varies. See the table for each animal.

Table: Chosen Animal Skills

Chosen Animal	Mark
Electric Mouse	Cheek Pouches (Gain Lightning Bolt every 1d4 rounds.)
Pink Panda	Bear Hands (Gain two primary slam attacks for 2d6+Str modifier points of damage)
Tortoise	Hard Shell (DR 3/-), wearing armor now costs x2 as much, shell does not count as armor
Cuddlefish	Powerful Hug (Treat as a size larger for weapons and opposed strength checks)
Pony	My Little Body (Reduce armor check penalty on armor by 3)
Squirrel	Jittery Nerves (Never caught flatfooted or surprised by any enemy in 60' due to sharp hearing)
Bear	Bear Nose (Scent becomes so keen as to act as Blindsense 30 ft)
Spider	Creepy Crawler (Count as a size smaller when advantageous to do so, no size penalties for escaping a grapple)
Tiger	Hybrid Cool (Selective Aura of Fear leaves enemies in 30' shaken, DC 10 + 1/2 HD + Cha modifier)
Tapir	Exotic Luck (Able to apply +20 luck bonus to a single skill check or opposed roll 1/day)
Platypus	Form of Bafflement (Always take 20 on Bluff/Diplomacy checks, and take 10 in combat)

Animal Apotheosis

At 10th level the Animal Soul finally binds to their animal and becomes anthromorphic. Her type changes to Monstrous Humanoid.

The Epic Animal Soul

Table: The Epic Animal Soul

Hit Die: d8

Level	Special
11th
12th
13thd	Bonus Feat
14th
15th	Secondary Ability Boost +2
16th	Bonus Feat
17th
18th
19th	Bonus Feat
20th	Primary Ability Boost +2
Skill Points Per Level 2 + Int modifier per level).

Class Features

All the following are class features of the Epic Animal Soul

Ability Boosts (Ex)

At levels 4, 7, and 10 you gain boosts to your ability scores. They are classified as Primary and Secondary, as each animal has a different ability boosted. Please refer to the chart below for details. By level 10, the primary ability will have gained +4 and the secondary, +2.

Bonus Feats

The epic animal soul gains a bonus feat (selected from the list of epic animal soul bonus feats) every three levels higher than 20th.

Epic Animal Soul Bonus Feat List

Armor Skin, Blinding Speed, Damage Reduction, Energy Resistance, Epic Dodge, Epic Endurance, Epic Prowess, Epic Reflexes, Epic Speed, Epic Toughness, Epic Will, Fast Healing, Great Charisma, Great Constitution, Great Dexterity, Great Intelligence, Great Strength, Great Wisdom, Improved Combat Casting, Improved Combat Reflexes, Keen Strike, Legendary Climber, Legendary Leaper, Legendary Tracker, Legendary Wrestler, Penetrate Damage Reduction, Perfect Health, Self-Concealment, Superior Initiative.

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