This is a work in progress. I will post more later
The Fiend of Possession (FoP) PrC is the ultimate puppet master allowing you to possess both the living and the inanimate. Through you subtle movements and manipulations, you may be able to accomplish your goals without ever being detected or even known to exist by even your own party. I believe this class provides tremendous role playing potential, but the stiff entry requirements make it an unlikely class in most games. Here I thought I would construct a handbook focus on gaining entry into the class and what to do once you get there.
FoP AbilitiesBase ClassesThere a large number of base classes that can help with entry into the FoP. The main consideration at this point is to select classes with a high will save and the necessary skills to gain entry into the class. It is also important to note that to reach the base Will save of +5 as earlier as possible, at least 2 different classes should be taken.
Prime ClassesSecondary ClassesThird Tier ClassesOther ClassesRacesThe most obvious choice of race is an outsider with the evil subtype. This grants a quick fulfillment of FoP requirements, but is not always an option in low level campaigns. Here is a list of races that can make it into the FoP PrC one way or another.
LA+0Human: For all the standard reasons: bonus feat, extra skills, and any favored class. This also opens up the option of human paragon. The Champions of Valor book have also made the Otherworldly feat available to humans, converting them to outsiders (more on this later).
Deep Imaskari, Elf, Spirit Folk (Faerun Races): These races are useful only in that they qualify for the otherworldly feat transforming them into outsiders. Note though, that otherworldly is available to other races by DM approval.
Illumian (Races of Destiny): This human subtype race losses the bonus feat and skill points, but gains power sigils in exchange. The most useful of which is the +2 bonus to caster level, but cannot go over your character level. This paired with Practiced spell caster can cover all 6 levels of FoP. Additionally they can gain a word of power that functions like divine metamagic and can be used with heighten spell for other PrC entry requirements.
Neraphim: (Planar manual) No level adjust and an outsider, enough said.
LA+1http://brilliantgameologists.com/boards/index.php?topic=3364.0LA+2ECL 3 (1HD + 2LA)ECL 4 (2HD +2 LA) ECL over 4Unholy Scion LA+5: This template grants the outsider type and evil subtype to humanoids and animals (Thanks Trickydevl). It also grants charm person as a spell-like-ability for easy entry into Mindbender for telepathy. If all else fails, this can be added to your favorite humanoid to bypass the need for any tricks.
Phaerimm, Juvenile ECL 7: The next age category for the above hatchling. The main advantage the juvenile gives is telepathy of 100ft at the cost of another +1LA. The HD will be good outsider HD by the time we are done with him, and grant more spell casting so it can be worth it if not going mindbender.
Legion Devils ECL 8 (Fiendish Codex II): Outsiders with the evil and baatezu subtype (grants telepathy) that have 3HD and a +5LA. The key feature is the bonuses they get when other legion devils are near by. This trick gets interesting with planar binding, leadership, or the thrallherd PrC to start stacking up your bonuses.
Sharn ECL 9 (Anauroch: Empire of Shade): These aberrations have 4HD and +5 LA and a whole lot more. They have perfect flight, 3 heads, 9 arms, 6 levels of sorcerer and favored soul casting, and +8 to +10 to each stat. They are very impressive creatures. Oh, and with the update in Empire of Shade, all their spells are cast as if still, silent, and without materials like the phaerimm.
Dwarf, Midguard ECL 12 (Frostburn): This is your crafting outsider. This dwarf looks fairly normal compared to the other outsiders, plus has the ability to craft any armor, ring, weapon, or wondrous item without prerequisites.
Succubus ECL 12: The evil outsider that first comes first to my mind with all the Fiend classes. The Succubus has 6HD with a +6 LA. She comes with a number of useful spell-like abilities and an energy draining kiss (great with necrotic focus to use the drain ability through the possessed weapon).
Special mentionFoP ENTRY TACTICSCleric EntriesCleric 5 or 7/ Divine Disciple 5 (Players guide to Faerun)
The 5th level of Divine disciple transforms the character into an outsider with the alignment subtype matching their deity. The most difficult requirement is you need access to 4th level divine spells. These can be acquired at level 7, or at level 5 with early entry tricks like sanctuary spell or divine heighten magic. The skill requirement of 8 prevents even earlier entry.
Cleric 5/ Dweomerkeeper 4
http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/we/20040522aMelee EntryDivine Minion 1/Full BAB Class 7/ Scourage of Chaos 3 (Bestiary of Krynn, Thanks Nunkuruji)
The scourage of chaos grants you a chaos subtype and outsider status on the third and final level of the class. The pairing with divine minion can convert that to an evil subtype. Just add you favorite full BAB class with a good will save.
Wizard EntryIllurian 1 half-fiend template class/ Dread necromancer 1/ Wizard 7
Versatile spell caster, Extend Spell, Persistent Spell
Versatile spell caster allows use to use two spells of one level to cast a higher level spell. The FAQ has cleared this for casting spells of a level higher than you currently have access to. The requirements include the ability to cast spontaneously which is covered by the dread necromancer level. The wizard can therefore use two level 4 spell slots to memorize draconic polymorph (level 5) which can be made persistent. Persistent spell can be applied using the Illurian word of power with dread necromancer rebuke undead. Polymorph will grant you the type and more importantly the subtype of your new form. The otherworldly feat can be used in play of the half-fiend level if it is available. The outsider type cannot be gained through use of a low LA outsider race, unless you can find one that has wizard as a favored casting class. There are regional feats to add one arcane spell casting class to your list of favored classes, but if you have access to these you can probably access otherworldly.
