ideas for mundane pc with spell casting companion?

[MarkB]

I didn't want a physical companion. I guess my spirit creature won't have any hit points and stays near my character.

I was thinking that my character has to have the book open to release the spirit so won't be able to attack and has to keep concentration.

If I allow the spirit to roam further it requires penalties to tests?

If you're going to make it just an invisible, invulnerable thing that can't attack, defend, or do anything except float next to you and cast spells on your behalf, it doesn't seem like it's worth having any game-mechanical effects based upon it. You basically play the character as a straight-up spellcaster and say that the spirit is doing it for you.

But there are a number of monsters and effects in D&D that can see and attack spirits and other ethereal beings, so you can't assume it's always going to be invulnerable to everything you go up against.

 

[Ancalagon]

It could be fun to roleplay... if your GM is ok with it, why not?

It could be even more fun if it's ambiguous if the spirit is real or just in your head...

In a pathfinder campaign I'm involved in, I have a Magus (think of a fighter mage type) who can talk to the dead. He also has a spell called "defending bone" which animates a bone to act as a shield of some sort (damage resistance 5). He calls this bone - a skull - Mr Magoo and talks to him all the time...

... but it's just a floating skull.

 

[marshmandr]

If you're going to make it just an invisible, invulnerable thing that can't attack, defend, or do anything except float next to you and cast spells on your behalf, it doesn't seem like it's worth having any game-mechanical effects based upon it. You basically play the character as a straight-up spellcaster and say that the spirit is doing it for you.

Actually this seems like a good idea. Much simpler. Sometimes I over complicate things.
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It could be even more fun if it's ambiguous if the spirit is real or just in your head...

This sounds like great fun. I will have to consider it.

 

[Eltab]

Find Familiar might be of help. In your case, the familiar is a person and you are controlling the critter on his shoulder.

+1 to "talk with your DM". This concept has been abused to make the character ex post facto un-target-able and therefore will probably raise a 'red flag' with your DM.

The image of a bard with a tome (a hymnal? Top Songs of the Decade?) instead of an instrument is cool and fun, though.

 

[marshmandr]

+1 to "talk with your DM". This concept has been abused to make the character ex post facto un-target-able and therefore will probably raise a 'red flag' with your DM.

The image of a bard with a tome (a hymnal? Top Songs of the Decade?) instead of an instrument is cool and fun, though.

I don't intend any abuse. I am now saying the spirit is summoned from the book and casts spells as a normal bard would. My character will have to keep book open and concentrate on it while spirit is casting spells.

My character won't be flavored as a Bard. It's the spirit that casts the spells and perhaps sings. The character will just be a bookish naive guy. Its the book that grants him power.