A New Kind of Shadow

[Arcanemuses]

Silhouette
A shapeless shadow stretches across the woodwork, mocking your outline in mad jealousy.

SILHOUETTE CR 3
XP 800
CE Medium undead (incorporeal)
Init +2; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +8

DEFENSE

AC 15, touch 15, flat-footed 12 (+2 deflection, +2 Dex, +1 dodge)
hp 19 (3d8+6)
Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +4
Defensive Abilities incorporeal, channel resistance +2; Immune undead traits

OFFENSE

Speed fly 40 ft. (good)
Melee incorporeal touch +4 (1d6 Charisma damage)
Special Attacks steal identity

STATISTICS

Str —, Dex 14, Con —, Int 6, Wis 12, Cha 15
Base Atk +2; CMB +4; CMD 17
Feats Dodge, Skill Focus (disguise)
Skills Fly +11, Disguise +8, Stealth +8 (+12 in dim light, +4 in bright light); Racial Modifiers +4 Stealth in dim light (–4 in bright light)
ECOLOGY

Environment any
Organization solitary, pair, gang (3–6), or swarm (7–12)
Treasure standard

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Steal Identity (Su) When A silhouette slays target with its charisma damage attack, the silhouette becomes corporeal, assumes the target's shape (as per the alter shape spell), and gains 10 temporary hit points. This effect ends after 24 hrs or when the temporary hit points are lost.
Charisma Damage (Su) A shadow's touch deals 1d6 points of Charisma damage to a living creature. This is a negative energy effect. A creature dies if this Charisma damage equals or exceeds its actual Charisma score.

A silhouette is a form of shadow that had once been a shapechanger, such as a doppelganger or mimic. These undead hunger not for mere life force, but form and identity. They are ever in search of beautiful beings to replace, if only for a day and a night.

[Azothath]

nice...
Rather than Steal Identity I'd name it Steal Appearance as they do not get any personal knowledge or skills from the target. "Steal Shape" might have been used somewhere.
The temp hit point loss is standard after 1 day, for sustainability I'd suggest losing 5 a day(non-lethal) to 1 per day (lethal)... they should gain the CHA of the target (1::1 point stolen) so pretty people are preferred food sources.
Should they be able to gain partially? Would it maintain their current appearance?

CHA Damage... I'd prefer non-lethal so they could tie up their host and come back and drain them every so often. If they go for long duration then kill them. Again, it's kinda standard to slay but that makes Shadows that would take over any village pronto.

I'd like to see an aversion to mirrors.

Casting shadows requires a light source, much like plane of shadow critters doing best in moderate lighting. So I see the modifiers for bright light.

Maybe +1 saves vs shadow magic.

Shadow Step at 20ft*HD per day using a minimum of 20ft shadow step for 5ft of movement would be nice.

[00iCon]

I agree with Azothath on removing the lethality of the Cha damage. It ties the silhouette to a certain location or body it uses as food. And it would move slowly overland, needing to spy on someone before taking their form.

When it becomes corporeal, it needs a specified strength.

[Azothath]

when they become corporeal (having stolen an appearance) they should get the physical attributes (Str Dex Con) of the target.

They should have a language, albeit crude at Int 6, or ranks in pantomime... lol... still, once they get a body the lack of language is going to be glaringly apparent and at CR 3 that's a pity.

I'd knock off the channel resistance, move the CHA dmg down to 1d3 and try to get them to CR 1 or at least CR 2.

Vulnerability to light based spells?