Astronomer Variant: Soul Refractor
In a campaign allowing incarnum, as an astronomer, you might naturally focus your studies on learning to shape and bind soulmelds. If so, your research into star charts and the many uses of an astrolabe would fall by the wayside.
Abilities: As a Soul Refractor, you will rely on Constitution far more than Charisma.
Base Save Bonus: The Soul Refractor has good Fortitude and Will saves, and poor Reflex saves.
Class FeaturesThe Soul Refractor has all the standard astronomer class features, except as noted below.
Observe Phenomena: You learn fewer phenomena than a normal astronomer, as shown on the table below.
Meldshaping: You shape incarnum soulmelds, drawn from the list of Soul Refractor soulmelds below, to aid your focus when observing phenomena. You know and can shape any soulmeld from this list. Unlike the aligned forces of an incarnate’s melds, or the bestial spirits of totemist, your soulmelds represent the indurate essence of scientists long past. The Difficulty Class for a saving throw against one of your soulmelds is 10 + the amount of invested essentia + your Constitution modifier. Your meldshaper level is equal to your Observer level.
You can shape only a certain number of soulmelds per day; the daily allotment is shown on the table below. The maximum number of soulmelds that you can have shaped simultaneously is equal to your Constitution score minus 10 or the number of soulmelds on the table, whichever is lower. At 1st level, you can shape one soulmeld at a time (assuming you have a Constitution score of at least 11). As you advance in level, the number of soulmelds you can shape increases.
At 1st level, you also gain access to your personal pool of essentia, which can be invested into your soulmelds to increase their power. Your essentia pool’s size is shown on the table below; while you do not gain any actual essentia from this class feature until 2nd level, at 1st level you count as having an essentia pool of size 0. Your character level determines the maximum essentia capacity of one of your soulmelds (or other essentia receptacles, such as feats, items, or class features) as described in The Magic of Incarnum, table 2.1. Each round as a swift action, you can reallocate your essentia investments in your soulmelds and other receptacles. You do not study or prepare soulmelds in advance, but must have a good night’s rest and must meditate for 1 hour to shape your soulmelds for the day.
Star Charts: You do not gain the Star Charts class feature at 2nd level, and cannot attune yourself to Constellations.
Chakra Binds: Beginning at 2nd level, you can bind your soulmelds to your chakras, granting you new powers based on the soulmeld and the chakra chosen. Binding a soulmeld to a chakra closes the body slot associated with that chakra, so that you cannot also benefit from a magic item worn on the body slot associated with that chakra. The number of chakra binds that you can have active at any one time depends on your level, as shown in the table below.
At 2nd level, you can bind a soulmeld to your crown chakra. Beginning at 4th level, you can bind soulmelds to your feet or hands chakras. At 9th level, you can bind soulmelds to your arms, brow, or shoulders chakras. At 14th level, you can bind soulmelds to your throat or waist chakras. At 17th level, you can bind a soulmeld to your heart chakra, and at 20th level you can bind a soulmeld to your soul chakra.
Astrolabe Technique: You do not gain the Astrolabe Technique class feature at 3rd, 7th, 11th, 15th, or 19th level.
Antikythera (Su): At 7th level, you are inspired by the spirit of an ancient astronomer to construct a computation device to help you predict eclipses and phases of the moon. Increase the essentia capacity of any one soulmeld you have shaped by 1. Whenever you make a Spot check to alter the current Inferior Conjunctions, you may choose a different soulmeld to have increased capacity.
At 12th level, and again at 19th level, the number of soulmelds with expanded capacity increases by 1 (to 2 at 12th level, and 3 at 19th level). You may only change one selected soulmeld each time you alter the current Inferior Conjunctions.
Planisphere: You do not gain the Planisphere class feature at 12th level.
The Soul Refractor
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Chakra |
| Level | Phenomena | Soulmelds | Essentia | Binds |
| 1st | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 |
| 2nd | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 3rd | 4 | 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 4th | 5 | 2 | 2 | 1 |
| 5th | 6 | 3 | 2 | 1 |
| 6th | 6 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 7th | 7 | 3 | 3 | 1 |
| 8th | 8 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| 9th | 8 | 4 | 4 | 2 |
| 10th | 8 | 4 | 5 | 2 |
| 11th | 9 | 5 | 5 | 2 |
| 12th | 10 | 5 | 6 | 2 |
| 13th | 10 | 5 | 6 | 2 |
| 14th | 11 | 6 | 7 | 3 |
| 15th | 12 | 6 | 7 | 3 |
| 16th | 12 | 6 | 8 | 3 |
| 17th | 13 | 7 | 8 | 4 |
| 18th | 14 | 7 | 9 | 4 |
| 19th | 14 | 7 | 9 | 4 |
| 20th | 15 | 8 | 10 | 5 |
