Illus. by D. Griffith
haracters of any class can learn to use incarnum Essentia is primarily derived from class levels of meldthrough feats, racial substitution levels, spells, and shaping classes, but can also be gained from other sources. possibly other means. The true masters of incarnum, Essentia stacks, even if gained from multiple sources such however, are those who advance in one of the new as class levels, racial traits, or feats. A 6th-level duskling classes presented in this chapter. By taking levels incarnate with the Bonus Essentia feat has 9 points of in these classes, characters learn the art of meldshaping, haressentia (1 for his race, 6 for his class, and 2 for the feat) ness their essentia to invest into soulmelds or other powers, in his essentia pool. bind soulmelds to their chakras, and gain a variety of other capabilities from their use of incarnum. Essentia Capacity However large your essentia pool is, you can only invest a certain amount of essentia into any one soulmeld, feat, class feature, magic item, or other incarnum receptacle. The three meldshaping classes, in the order they are presented Your character level determines this essentia capacity, in this chapter, are as follows: as shown on the table below. Incarnate: A powerful meldshaper who embodies the precepts of good, evil, chaos, or law. Table 2–1: Essentia Capacity Character Level Essentia Capacity Soulborn: A meldshaper and a martial character who wields 1st–5th 1 incarnum in the cause of one of the four extreme alignments. 6th–11th 2 Totemist: A meldshaper who wields the energy of the 12th–17th 3 souls of nature, revering magical beasts as totem creatures 18th–20th 4 and mimicking their powers.
THE CLASSES
THE ESSENTIA POOL Incarnum-wielding characters, whether meldshapers or merely those with special abilities that harness incarnum, depend on their personal incarnum, called essentia, to power their abilities. A character’s store of personal incarnum is his essentia pool.
Incarnates and totemists both have class features that expand this capacity for all or certain soulmelds. See the class descriptions later in this chapter. Certain feats, prestige classes, and magic items can increase a meldshaper’s capacity as well.
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