Not sure if this belongs in homebrew.
3.5 had templates for various types of undead "Wight Creature", "Wraith Creature", etc. I want to create a high level undead (wraith) with class levels of Sorcerer and Shadowdancer.
Can I remove the wraith's 5 HD, reduce all stats to modifiers, inherent (non-HD) bonuses to skills, AC, etc. and replace all that with a character that uses the elite array, choose skills based on undead type and classes and go from there?
And is there any set of rules for that or am I flying blind?
The rules are: Take monster, add class levels. Adjust CR as appropriate based on whether the class is synergistic or not.
Somebody should be able to post the rules in full, but that's the gist.
It keeps all its HD and normal stuff, then advances like a PC from there. For example your hypothetical Wraith Sorcerer 5 would have 5d8 HD from bring a wraith, plus 5d6 HD from Sorcerer. It's a synergistic class, so 5 CR is added as I recall (-1 CR for lacking PC wealth). Should put it at CR 9.
Gotcha. Thanks