If a phantom is in your mind (or you're using bonded manifestation) and therefore in the same square as you, is it considered in your reach for the purpose of the Vigilant Phantom feat?
While your phantom is within your reach, you gain a +4 bonus on Perception checks.
(The feat has the requirements that the phantom not be unconscious or helpless, but nothing says a stored phantom is either of those, so that shouldn't be an issue.)
I assume your consciousness is in your square and the square you're standing in is "within your reach"? Or is it a strange case where your space is in your reach but your consciousness isn't in your space?*
*Is the character's consciousness the guy behind the character sheet gorging on cheetos?
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A stored phantom can act? AFAIK, it can't. I will consider that a good reason to call it helpless when stored.
A helpless character is paralyzed, held, bound, sleeping, unconscious, or otherwise completely at an opponent’s mercy.
While it isn't at an opponent mercy, the phantom can't do anything until the Spiritualist summons it.
At 4th level, whenever a spiritualist is within the reach of her ectoplasmic manifested phantom, she gains a +2 shield bonus to her Armor Class and a +2 circumstance bonus on her saving throws. She doesn’t gain these bonuses when the ectoplasmic manifested phantom is grappled, helpless, or unconscious.
A spiritualist within 30 feet of her incorporeally manifested phantom receives a +2 circumstance bonus on saving throws against mind-affecting effects. This bonus is a supernatural ability and does not apply if the phantom is unconscious.
Spiritual interference has a similar requirement, but add ectoplasmic manifested or incorporeally manifested. I think that the added text is there because the effect varies depending on the kind of manifestation, but other GMs can see it differently.
A stored phantom can act? AFAIK, it can't. I will consider that a good reason to call it helpless when stored.
A helpless character is paralyzed, held, bound, sleeping, unconscious, or otherwise completely at an opponent’s mercy.While it isn't at an opponent mercy, the phantom can't do anything until the Spiritualist summons it.
Woah there Diego we're going to disagree again. Just because it cant act while in the consciousness doesnt make it helpless.
Do you rule that surprised opponents that can't act in the surprise round of combat are helpless? (Obviously you wouldn't). Just because helpless might mean you are unable to act doesnt mean the reverse is true. That'd be mental!
Nothing about the bonus it grants says the phantom has to act or take actions anyway, its a passive bonus that ends when the phantom is unconscious or helpless. (And it makes sense that you'd gain the bonus while the phantom is in your head chatting to you and seeing through your eyes. "Your phantom is highly observant, and its link with you increases your own watchfulness." Certainly doesnt go against that.)
This is a question about the square location of the phantom when stored in a consciousness. Which I assume to be in the same square as the character. Let's not go off on tangents.
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This is a question about the square location of the phantom when stored in a consciousness. Which I assume to be in the same square as the character. Let's not go off on tangents.
Ok. It has no location, as it is only consciousness.
For the spiritualist abilities "within reach" seem to be related to a manifested phantom.
Ok. It has no location, as it is only consciousness.
For the spiritualist abilities "within reach" seem to be related to a manifested phantom.
I'm going to agree with Diego on this particular stance. Even if it had a location, you couldn't actually reach out to touch it, no more than you could reach into your own head and touch your brain (i mean, you could, but that kind of damage is usually lethal). I'd say that it would have to be manifested (have a physical or incorporeal presence) in order to be within reach.
Only a tiny bit of inconvenience considering i'll want it manifested most of the time anyway although it does make it seem pretty inferior to skill focus. I assume bonded manifestation counts because it has a physical presence, being all ectoplasmic tentacles and all that?
It does say "During a bonded manifestation, the phantom can’t be damaged, dismissed, or banished", which I dont think it would bother mentioning if it wasn't targetable / didnt have a physical presence. So that should be fine at least, yes?
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Only a tiny bit of inconvenience considering i'll want it manifested most of the time anyway although it does make it seem pretty inferior to skill focus. I assume bonded manifestation counts because it has a physical presence, being all ectoplasmic tentacles and all that?
It does say "During a bonded manifestation, the phantom can’t be damaged, dismissed, or banished", which I dont think it would bother mentioning if it wasn't targetable / didnt have a physical presence. So that should be fine at least, yes?
When a spiritualist uses this ability, she must choose either ectoplasmic or incorporeal form.
As bonded manifestation has that stipulation, yes, I think it will allow Vigilant Phantom to work. The Phantom is present.
But always check with your GM. The rules are unclear enough that he can choose another interpretation.