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I have this idea for a player class based on a kind of spiritual medium. The class would be fundamentally built around a kind of mutually beneficial possession by a ghost(s) who chooses to become the Spiromancer's spirit guardian(s) through a complex summoning and bonding ritual. The ghosts would impart their knowledge and physical capabilities to their living host for a brief time (a la the Barbarian's Rage ability), fundamentally changing the Spiromancer's abilities for the duration of the possession. If the spirit guardian was a knight in life, for example, while possessing the host's body, the Spiromancer becomes nearly as skilled in using blade and armor as his ghost, despite never having had the training. Similarly, if the ghost were a wizard or other caster, it would bestow some of its magical talent unto the living man. However, being possessed by a spirit is not the same as having the real-life training their spirits had; a Spiromancer's ghosts can only have 1/2 the character's Spiromancer levels in their designated class and no multiple classes.
While unpossessed, the Spiromancer would be essentially an underpowered sorcerer, casting spells from charisma, but given a more limited spell list and fewer spells per day. Possibly those spells would be limited to the Necromancy and a few generic spells from other schools. The spirit guardian during this time has a limited effect on the world, only able to appear to those who are sensitive to undead creatures (i.e. have detect undead as a racial ability or have cast the spell) and capable of only minor tricks and prestidigitations.
As the Spiromancer gains in power, he could either gather more guardians (1 ghost at 1st level, 2 at 5th, 3 at 10th, etc.) or increase the power of his current one(s), and as they level, they simultaneously increase the amount of time spent possessed. If they choose to bind a new guardian, they must undertake a 24-hour long ritual in order to call the ghost and convince it to join the Spiromancer. Or if they choose to strengthen an existing guardian, the max level of the guardian increases to 3/4 the Spiromancer's level.
Personality of the Spiromancer and the ghost are very important to the bond. The two must have similar goals, backgrounds, interests, or a blood relation from which to build their relationship on. (The choice in guardian may be vetoed by the GM if it's felt that the character and ghost are too dichotomous) Any ghost that the Spiromancer wishes to contract with must be within two steps on their alignment, otherwise conflicting personalities cause the two souls to struggle for dominance and render the possession ineffective.
Ex: Harlowe is a 12th level NG Spiromancer with two spirit guardians, Roderick, an LN former drill instructor, who, during possession, gives Harlowe the talent of a 9th level fighter, and Catarine, who provides the knowledge and skills of a 6th level NE cleric of Asmodeus. Harlowe himself is a generally easygoing man who had grown up working in the smithy, providing weapons and armor for the local guard. In life, Roderick was a gruff and salty man who trained and outfitted all the guardsmen in town in his day and age. The two of them share a common goal and interest in protecting their home town. Catarine, though she worshiped the Lord of Hell when she was alive, was a charming woman, easy to get along with and very much someone Harlowe may have fallen in love with if she hadn't died more than a century ago.
Class abilities: Detect Undead (free action), Channel Negative Energy or Grave Touch (Maybe, I'm undecided on this one), At 3rd level: Command Undead, and so on.
What are the community's thoughts?
You mean (conceptually) like the Medium from the Occult Adventures Playtest?