Help with a character mechanic I want to give a PC

[Beardsmith]

Hi all.

I have a Wayang monk within my campaign. I have decided to give each player a special side campaign that only progresses between main adventures within the main campaign. For my Wayang player, who is super into the dissolution, I have decided to give them an animated shadow (their shadow).My plans are as such.

The player will now have a shadow pool (starting at 2 shadow points.)

To start the shadow has two spell-like abilities (mage hand and message) each costing a 1 shadow point to use.

My thought is that as the side campaign goes the stronger the shadow becomes. Gaining more abilities and more shadow points.

Does anyone have any more ideas as far as powers I can give the shadow later down the road?

I am giving every player special things from their own respective side campaigns so I am not too worried about this character becoming the "OP" character.

[Noir le Lotus]

Did you look at the shadow companion of the shadowdancer PrC ??

[Beardsmith]

I did not realize there was such a thing :) Ill take a look.

[Dastis]

There are a ton of 3.5 shadow spells. Specifically within spell compendium or you can just google 3.5 shadow spells

You could make the shadow a familiar and/or let him archetype it. Figment might be interesting

Shadow bloodline powers

Any light themed abilities can simply be inverted for easy "unique" powers

Stealing from TV, books, movies, etc. is always great. Specially if that player referenced said media when describing his character

[Val'bryn2]

Maybe a shadow themed Eidolon

[Beardsmith]

I kinda want this mechanic to be a supplement to his class. So thematically its his shadow going off and doing things like grabbing an object for him (mage hand) running over to someone and whispering what he says into someones ear (message). Mechanically I dont want to give him another entity like an eidolon or familiar. I want the powers he is using to come from his "shadow" but they aren't really a part of him

Plot for side campaign:

His side campaign is going to take him down the path of becoming an assassin, his targets are selected by the an entity that promises him entrance into the shadow upon death if he follows the entities will. The targets at first are going to be "evil" characters. As time goes they will become more and more grey as to whether they are evil. The end of the campaign will be that the whole time the player while have been working for a Succubus who has been using him for their own nefarious plans.

[Declindgrunt]

Well you could progress the shadow so he gets 2 + 1/4 his Lvl and then later on you could give his shadow more spells shadow related, like shadow walk or invisibility/greater(later on). You could even give the option of turning his showdown into a shadow dancer companion with the use of a feat or 2 just so if he really likes the idea of having him as a combat Aly he has the option for it

[Tyinyk]

You could allow him to teleport to where is his shadow is.

Need to escape this cell? Send your shadow to the other side and teleport to it.

Need to get to the other side of a locked door? Send your shadow through.

Need to get down to ground level in a snap? Good thing you can cast a shadow from high up.

[Johnnycat93]

Unseen Servant, Spiritual Weapon, Spiritual Squire, Spiritual Weapon, Spiritual Ally can all fit that theme as spells, as well as Phantasmal Killer.

The Shadow Conjuration spells are also good here.

[Dastis]

So something like

Shadow points- 1/character level. (X) is the abilities cost
Lv1 Mage Hand(1), Message(1)
Lv3 Shadow Opponent(1)
Lv5 Shadow Image(2)
Lv7 Shadow Maneuver(2)
Lv9 Insert ability here
Lv11 Shadow Swap(3)
Lv13 Shadow Scout(4)
Lv15 Insert ability here
Lv17 Shadow Conjuration(6)
Lv19 Shadow Assassin(8)

Abilities
All of these take a standard action to activate unless they say otherwise. Only 1 ability may be used per round. They are supernatural abilities unless otherwise stated
Mage Hand- as spell
Message- as spell
Opponent- target is considered flanked by you for 1 round
Image- as a move action your shadow appears to be you giving an effect similar to mirror image but with only 1 image
Maneuver- perform a single combat maneuver against a target within 60ft using your modifiers. The maneuver never provokes an attack of opportunity though activation of this ability might

Swap- dimension slide(arcanist exploit)
Scout- arcane eye

Conjuration- Shadow Conjuration Greater. Cannot use other abilities while shadow is in this form
Assassin- like phantasmal killer but good

[Beardsmith]

Thank you everyone for your suggestions. You have given me a lot to consider.

FYI. I did the first adventure of side quest, and the player really enjoyed it.

He is on his way of becoming a shadow assassin for Nocticula (believing her to be making him worthy rejoining the shadow per the Dissolution)

[Devilkiller]

I think one of the higher level powers should be a spell-like or supernatural ability which does Shadow Projection.