Eberron - What are the base stats for the inspired?

[Creamsteak]

I'm trying to build some inspired NPCs, and failing.

I'm having trouble figuring out what the raw modifiers are for an inspired character (Eberron setting). I'm looking at both the entry on pages 290-291 of the Eberron Campaign Setting and pages 144-146 of the Magic of Eberron book.

The empty vessel seems like the starting point for building an inspired, but after that point I'm not sure how the quori gets integraged. There's obviously some significance on what kind of quori spirit you use (the difference between the Dream Master Quori being +2 cr and the Tsoreva Quori beign +1 cr).

They also note (word for word) that tsoreva quori vessels are slightly stronger and hardier stock than a typical inspired vessel. I'm somewhat confused about what the base stats going into the characters are, and such.

Does anyone know a source that clears up this information or otherwise can break down the components?

 

[Creamsteak]

Here's what I get after trying to strictly follow the rules (elite array starting ability scores were 15+1 for 4th, 13, 14, 12, 10, 8). Some of the mechanics (like stacking skill ranks) end up being over-the-top I think.

VIRAL (“Vee-ral”) CR 7
Male Tsoreva Quori Spirit Inspired Crusader 6
LE Medium Humanoid (Human, Psionic)
Senses: Listen +18, Spot +19
Init: +1 (+1 Dex)
Aura: stances
Languages: Common, Draconic, Quor, Riedran

AC: 18, touch 11, flat-footed 17 (+1 Dex, +4 inertial armor, +3 shield)
Hit Points: 55 HD: 6d10+12
Delayed Damage Pool: 10 (steely resolve)
Power Points: 6
Fort +7, Ref +3, Will +10; zealous surge 1/day; reroll any failed mind-affecting save

Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Attack: mw riedran crysteel longsword +10 slashing (1d8+4/19-20)
Ranged: heavy crossbow +8 (mw) or +7 piercing (1d10/19-20)
Full Attack: mw riedran crysteel longsword +10/+5 slashing (1d8+4/19-20)
Space: 5 ft. Reach: 5 ft.
Base Atk: +6 Grapple: +9
Atk Options: furious counterstrike, psi-like abilities, maneuvers, smite 1/day
Combat Feats: Instant Clarity, Psionic Weapon, Psychic Renewal, Stone Power
Combat Gear: potion of cure serious wounds, potion of invisibility, potion of pass without trace

Crusader Maneuvers Known (IL 6)
3rd – revitalizing strike (DS 3), white raven tactics (WR3)
2nd – battle leader's charge (WR2), mountain hammer (SD2)
1st – leading the attack (WR1), stone bones (SD1), vanguard strike (DS1)
Stances – iron guard’s glare (DS1), leading the charge (WR1)

Crusader Maneuvers Readied (IL 6)
3rd – revitalizing strike (DS 3), white raven tactics (WR3)
2nd – battle leader's charge (WR2), mountain hammer (SD2)
1st – stone bones (SD1)

Psi-Like Abilities (ML 4)
3/day – inertial armor
1/day – dissolving weapon

Str 16, Dex 13, Con 14, Int 15, Wis 17 Cha 21
Special Qualities: dual spirit, naturally psionic
Feats: Instant Clarity, Psionic Weapon, Psychic Renewal, Stone Power
Skills: Autohypnosis +10, Balance +10, Bluff +23, Concentration +18, Disguise +7, Diplomacy +16, Intimidate +23, Listen +18, Knowledge (psionics) +11, Knowledge (the planes) +9, Psicraft +11, Sense Motive +10, Spot +19
Possessions: combat gear plus heavy crossbow, 10 bolts, 2 mw bolts, mw riedran crysteel longsword (1815 gp); boots of stomping, +1 mithral heavy shield (2,020 gp)

 

[irdeggman]

I'd have to check Secrets of Sarlonna - maybe it has more.

Races of Eberron pg 98+ talks about Inspired culture (and how they are not a PC race).

They are essentially a "template" that gets added to a regular human (only humans serve as the base for Inspired and Empty Vessels).

Which is why they are classified as:

Humanoid (human, psionic). So no "special stat" modifiers.

They get the benefits spelled out in MoE or ECS. Since they are base humans - no ability modifiers apply, hence why none are listed.

The "Empty Vessel" is the special - it is part of the "template" - which yields a +1 LA. Pretty much they haven't added the "quori spirit quite yet". That would be why they are listed as a potential PC race - prior to adding the spirit.

 

[Creamsteak]

In case it wasn't clear, I'm not working on a PC. I'm working on various inspired NPCs to add to my game, and I'm finding the process a bit awkward (mostly because of the nature of dual spirits features). Some of the mechanics (like stacking skill ranks) result in some really awkward skill scores, and the ability scores do change (the mental ones) after-wich you apply a profane bonus to charisma.

The +1 LA isn't a concern (npcs here not pcs), it's the CR that I'm a bit miffed by. Apparently one of the quori (the mind one in MoE) is adding an additional +1 CR, while other quori are not adding any (if you count the "empty vessel" as having added 1).

 

[Hawking]

The simple way:
Start with an empty vessel.
From what I can tell, and my own judgement, an empty vessel has the same CR of an equivalent human. Their benefits don't seem like they'd bump that up anything significantly.

Add Class Levels:
Seems the empty vessels have all the class levels and stuff, pre-possessed.

Add Quori (Dual Spirit):
Replace Mental scores if better. Add charisma bonus. Add skill ranks. Add Psi-like abilities. Add Dual Mind.

That should be it. That statement about tsoreva inspired I think is a trend, not a rule. No physical ability scores are changed, but tsoreva's abilities seem to favor melee combatants, so most of their vessels would be psychic warriors.

Now about CR. I think the tsucora inspired from the ECS and the tsoreva inspired from MoE have the CR modification from the quori, not from the vessel. And I bet most of that is from the psi-like abilities (and the manifester level for them). The increased ability scores probably didn't change the important stats for them all that much. If it were a wilder, I'd maybe consider bumping the CR up another notch, due to the bonus.

The Dream Master Inspired most likely has the higher CR adjustment due to its more powerful psi-like abilities and higher manifester level for them, especially considering a few of them are at will.

The quori in Secrets of Sarlona are another story. The du'ulora seems to have a +1 CR trend in the NPCs but the others might be more. That is, if you can find an NPC with that high of a charisma of course.