D&D 5E Ghost as PC?


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My suggestion: Allow him to sense the world around him and communicate telepathically with other PCs, but only manifest as a ghost once per day for 1 minute. However, when possessing a creature of CR less than or equal to his level (or the party's level), he can sustain possession even after his manifestation expires.

The idea is that except in unusual cases, he'll spend most of his time walking around in some possessed creature's skin. The CR limit keeps him from grabbing anything too grotesque.

Interesting, tho' the ghost only being able to possess humanoids (and not use any of their knowledge or proficiencies) should prevent abuse in that direction.

I will have to decide on whether potions can heal ghosts. It seems that the cure spells don't.
 

I'd give him:

Resistances: bludgeoning, piercing and slashing damage from non-magical weapons
Incorporeal Movement: You can move through other creatures and solid objects as difficult terrain. If you end your turn inside a solid object you take 1d10 force damage.
Ghastly Visage: When you are not in bright light, you have advantage on Charisma (Intimidation) checks.
Ethereal Overlap: You can see and interact with creatures on the ethereal plane, and they can see and interact with you.
Limited Interaction: You deal half damage to targets that are neither incorporeal nor ethereal. When you are not in bright light, you can manipulate objects on the material plane, but your carrying capacity is halved and you suffer disadvantage on Strength checks. In bright light, you can't affect objects on the material plane.
Undead Traits: You don't need to eat, drink, breathe or sleep. You are subject to effects that turn undead. When you are in bright light, you can't regain hit points. When you reach 0 hit points, your form dissipates into an ectoplasmic mist.


So those are some pretty good benefits (resistance and incorporeal movement) in return for some real hindrances and fragility. It's not the same as a MM ghost but that's a good thing -- the MM ghost is not appropriate for a PC.
 

Thanks to all in the thread. I had a talk with the player and we are starting with the "ghost as monster" stuff, with the caveat that physical objects don't go into the ethereal plane with the ghost. Interestingly, the player wants to keep up the pretence that he is still alive, via possession of a well-paid servant and a disguise self spell and hiding in a palanquin carried by other well-paid servants. Also, he is tethered to within 40' of the MacGuffin.

Most importantly, the player is perfectly cool with modding the ghost if it seems to overshadow the party, take away focus, or just not fit.

So we shall see.

Thanks again!
 

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