I've been working on this, for quite a while, and I think I have it operable... However, it still needs tweaking, so any helpful little bits would be nice!
Ghosts are, primarily, the remnants, both astrally and spiritually, of someone who has died, but somehow managed to either resist, or avoid, traveling out of this realm entirely. Ghosts have no normal physical form, and exist primarily in the astral plane, just as living beings live primarily in the physical world. On the astral plane ghosts appear as white, transparent images of their former selves, degrading into a wispy funnel-cloud like from the waist down.
Philsys Info: Being as ghosts have no physical body, they have no physical stats either. Ghosts have no HP, no Str, no Stm, no Cou, no Agi, and no Dex, they are completely mental constructs. A ghost is no longer subject to critical hits, and, unless actively interacting with the physical world, are considered Ethereal. Ghosts are more attuned to the astral plane (being as they exist on it) and, because of this, gain a few more MP than normal beings. If a ghost ever reaches 0 MP, it dies. To become a ghost one must either have a special spell cast upon them, be killed in a particularly nasty way, or die with some part of their purpose incomplete. The stronger the individual, the more likely they are to return as a ghost (As it is easier to ward of the Reaper for stronger people). Ghosts are technically NOT undead.
Number Stuff: Ghosts only start with 12 stat points, rather than 21, because they have less stats to put them into. The stats they have are: Int, Wis, Mag, Cou, and Cha. Note that all ghosts must have an Mag of 3 or more, and are normally considered blind unless the number exceeds 4 (By concentrating, a ghost with a Mag of 3 can scan the astral plane as a wizard does, and in that way see other beings).
Becoming a ghost: Follows a relatively simple formula, as follows:
Base Chance = 1% + Level/4
This base is changed if any of the following are true instead:
Violent Death = 1% + Level/2
Dies pursuing personally important quest/goal = 3% + Level
After the base chance is established the following multipliers adjust it (in this order):
Death during/right after intense physical anguish = x1.5
Death through Soul Removal = x1.5 + 3%
Death during/right after intense mental anguish = x2
Death by old age = x.5
Death from other natural cause (Such as sickness, natural disaster, etc., not caused by a spell, and not including old age) = x.75
Death from astral attack died = x0
0 MP or 0 MA when died = x.25
Ex: 4th level fighter is killed in combat: Violent death: 1%+ 4/2 = 3% chance to become a ghost.
BUT if the same fighter died fighting the orcs that had just killed his family… (Violent death: 1%+ 4/2) x 2 for mental anguish = 6% chance to become a ghost. If he survived that, and later died in a fight against someone else trying to get to the orcs: Dies pursuing personally important quest/goal = 3% + 4 = 7% And so on. When someone becomes a ghost, they spend about 1 day completely forming their astral body. During this time they can take no actions, but at the same time, are totally ethereal. At the end of this time they are a full ghost, with all previous skills (However, some may be generally inoperable due to their lack of physical form). They also gain 1 point in each of the two "Ghost Skills." All ghosts are reduced to first level when first formed, they also have their Mag increased to 3 if it is less than 3, as well as having all skills that are above 4 halved.
Ghost MP formula: 15+ (12 x Mag) + (6 x Int) + (6 x Wis)
Ghost Skills:
Appirate: This allows the ghost to assume a physical form temporarily at the cost of its MP/round. Higher levels in this allow the ghost to assume higher physical abilities, and appear more solidly.
Project: This is allows the ghost to create a powerful illusion of it’s death. The higher the level the stronger the illusion, until it can, temporarily, warp the area around it to match the setting of the scene (But only if the place is at least somewhat similar to begin with). Most of these scenes cause fear to some degree. Also, a ghost with 4 or more points in Project can also use it to make itself visible (Although still ethereal), and one with 2 or more points can attempt to communicate with sleeping people.
<p>The worst nightmares are those we create ourselves... And then ignore.</p>