Originally posted by oslecamo, though I've made a few minor edits.
PuppeteerHit Die:d4
Level BAB Fort Ref Will Features1 +0 +0 +0 +2 Puppeteer body, Enthrall, Parasite Brain, Hide Mind, Host Protection, Weak
Skills: 2+Int mod. Class skills are Bluff, Concentration, Diplomacy, Intimidate, Listen, Sense Motive, Spot, PsyCraft.
Abiltiy Scores: -8 Str, -4 Con, +2 Int, +2 Wis, +2 Cha
Proficiencies: A Puppeteer is proficient only with its natural weapons.
FeaturesPuppeteer Body: At 1st level, the Puppeteer loses all other racial bonus and gets magical beast traits (Darkvision 60ft and low-light vision). It’s a fine magical beast with a base speed of 5 ft. The Puppeteer has one natural bite attack dealing 1d2+Str mod damage.
Puppeteers do not speak, though they can speak indirectly using a host body’s vocal cords, in whatever language the host knows. They cannot perform fine manipulation with their own bodies.
Enthrall: If a puppeteer is in physical contact with a creature it has charmed (the puppeteer establishes a physical hold by means of slender infiltrating tendrils), the subject acts as if Dominated. (Puppeteers often seek to charm victims first and then “ask” to be picked up.) As usual, orders against the dominated creature's nature allow it creature to make a Will save DC (8+1/2HD+Cha mod) to break out from the domination, but if they succeed they only regain control of their vocal capacities, after which the puppeteer recovers control automatically. The creature gains no control over their bodily motions, but may speak or communicate telepathically, or take actions that do not require movement (like a spell with no somatic or material components); the enthralled creature cannot take an action which directly removes the puppeteer from its body, although they can ask for help. All other clauses from Domination apply, like self-destructive orders not being carried out and ability to receive full sensory input as a standard action.
A puppeteer may start the game enthralling a warrior/expert/commoner of its own level for free, with which it shares a common main goal.
Parasite Brain: The puppeteer has blindsense and telepathy 15 feet plus 5 feet per 2 HD, up to 60 feet at 18 HD. At 19 HD the blindsense becomes blindsight 60 feet.
In addition, the puppeteer may use Psionic charm and Detect Psionics as a PLA 3/day each, using Cha as its base stat, with a manifester level equal to its HD. At 5HD it may use mental barrier as a PLA 3/day as well.
Hide Mind:A puppeteer cannot be identified as psionic by divination spells or clairsentience powers.
Host Protection:A puppeteer in control of a host is treated as an attended magic item for the purpose of making saving throws, even if the puppeteer is specifically targeted. A puppeteer that is attached to its host is treated as a creature in a grapple for the purpose of striking at the puppeteer instead of the host (but the host is not considered grappled in turn).
In addition, the puppeteer doesn't receive a bonus feat at first level, neither can it take flaws or traits.
Comments
The Puppeteer was just one level long, but quite tricky. Fine size is really an essential part of the monster, so for the first time I allowed the monster to start at something smaller than small.
Then you get the quite powerful ability to dominate creatures right from lv1 as long as you can charm them and get near them. Then you're quite difficult to pull out. Also blindsense and telepathy, with the first eventually upgrading to blindsight (because blindsight 60 feet at 1st level without the puppeteer being blind itself was kinda ridiculous honestly). You're also hard to find out with divinations so hide behind some clothes and they may not even notice you're there!
In return you're taking a heavy penalty to ability scores, no starting feat, and really not much of a backup plan. Your special abilities don't scale as well as other monster classes.
Allowed to start with a minor NPC enthralled until you can get your hands in something nastier, probably with the help of the party. Unlike other charmer monsters the puppeteer doesn't get to bypass immunity to mind affecting since it's just one level long.
This is a very specialized monster, with powerful abilities and powerful drawbacks, but hopefully it all balances out. Opinions specially welcome here.
As for what to take with your other levels, anything psionic probably should be good. Warlock would a powerful synergy with the to-hit bonus of being fine sized.
So if you want to play the stereotypic dominating worm that attaches itself to other people's necks, the puppeteer's for you!
I would like to refluff the puppeteer into a spider of some sort, rather than a slug.