EarthSeraphEdna
Explorer
The Mortal Possession ritual/spell seems to be ripe for abuse after the adventure. It seems like a cheap way for a PC to swap their body into that of a high-Strength/Constitution/Dexterity NPC and then indefinitely run around with many of the benefits for having high physical ability scores. Intelligence/Wisdom-, Intelligence/Charisma-, and Wisdom/Charisma-based PCs all stand to gain plenty from possessing the corpse of a defeated antagonist.
Even if it could not be used on a corpse, morality may not be an issue for some characters who are supposed to be morally dubious anyway. It is fully possible for the vessel to be unable to affect the possessor's mind on anything but a natural 20 (in 4e) or a natural 1 (in Pathfinder). Meanwhile, the possessor is reaping many of the benefits of high physical ability scores.
How, then, is this supposed to be balanced for long-term use from book #8 onwards? It greatly rewards Intelligence/Wisdom-, Intelligence/Charisma-, and Wisdom/Charisma-based PCs who care little for their original body, while being far less appealing for PCs who actually invested in their physical ability scores.
Even if it could not be used on a corpse, morality may not be an issue for some characters who are supposed to be morally dubious anyway. It is fully possible for the vessel to be unable to affect the possessor's mind on anything but a natural 20 (in 4e) or a natural 1 (in Pathfinder). Meanwhile, the possessor is reaping many of the benefits of high physical ability scores.
How, then, is this supposed to be balanced for long-term use from book #8 onwards? It greatly rewards Intelligence/Wisdom-, Intelligence/Charisma-, and Wisdom/Charisma-based PCs who care little for their original body, while being far less appealing for PCs who actually invested in their physical ability scores.