* If, say, a lawful good soulborn or totemist gains the "Shape Soulmeld" feat and picks "incarnate avatar" as the gained power, would you let the character gain full benefits, ie. each point of essentia adds +1 insight bonus on melee attacks and AC?
I don't have my copy of the book handy, but if I recall correctly, then anyone who can shape a soulmeld is entitled to the full benefits of the unbound soulmeld. If a Lawful Good character gains the ability to shape the Incarnate Avatar, they would, of course, have to choose between shaping it as an Avatar of good or an Avatar of law. And, of course, they wouldn't gain the *full* benefits of the soulmeld because they wouldn't be able to bind it.
* Would you let a character (whether PC or NPC) gain the Multiattack feat, if he ALWAYS has girallon arms (or some other soulmeld that grants enough natural attacks) shaped?
Me, I'd approach it the same way I approach using magic items to qualify for feats: Sure, if you really want to, go ahead. Just bear in mind that any time you no longer meet the prereqs of the feat, you no longer gain the benefits either. Not sure if that's an official ruling, as I've never seen any precedent for it, but it's way I've always seen it done (regarding magic items, anyway.)
I would also be interested in hearing from other posters to my original questions.
I'd also like to ask (DMs) for their opinions on whether they would ever consider any of the incarnum classes to be nonassociated- and for which races?
Well regarding the first question, the White Toymaker is correct on both counts.
The Incarnate is analogous to the Cleric, the Soulborn to the Paladin and the Totemist to the Druid.
Nowhere does it say there's a choice- I think the character should get both benefits.
The reason that it doesn't say anywhere that there's a choice is that Incarnate Avatar is only available to Incarnates, who are required to be neutral on one axis. Thus, they only qualify for one avatar.
In the case of a Soulborn, they meet the prerequisites for two -- however, each avatar is unique, and unless you choose to make a new "Lawful Good" avatar, they could no more gain the benefits of the Lawful avatar and the Good avatar from one soulmeld than a Wizard could simultaneously Shapechange into both a Justicator and a Guardinal.
It's just fluff, though, unless you're playing in an epic game -- the benefits for all the avatars are the same unless you perform a chakra bind, and only an Incarnate can do that before epic levels.
Sorry, had to delete first post as I didn't think about infringement issues with posting ability verbatum.
I have a question about the Magic of Incarnum splat book. I am running a PF game with the complete books, psionics, and Incarnum as available options for the PCs. One of my players has an optimized stealth character. I know he has some Totemist levels, and he is headed to the Umbral Disciple (cool class concept btw). My problem is with one of the class features and its application in game.
"Embrace of Shadow": Basically is gives you concealment 10% and you get another 10% per point of essentia you invest in it. If the concealment bonus is 20% or higher it gives you the hide in plain sight ability. Unfortunately, it is worded in a way that has me a bit vexed.
Ok as I read it, the ability gives you Hide in plain sight, which means you can perform a hide check while being observed, but still need some form of cover. The way the pc reads it and intends to use it is that the 20% concealment IS the cover and he can hide in plain sight anywhere and effectively he is invisible.
Also, if he is indeed constantly able to use hide even without cover other than the shadows of that ability, when he spring attacks someone, he can hide as part of his move action. Not sure if the sniping rules would apply in this case, but he would effectively be invisible allowing sneak attacks and making him a very hard target seeing as you'd need to spot him to target him with any spell/effect/ or attack.
Any help with this would be appreciated.
Hivemind66 started a thread here in regards to this question as well.