Editing Ghost

[[File:Sheet ghost.jpg|right|200px|thumb|A typical ghost.]]
{{topquote|Sir, what you have there is what we refer to as a focused, non-terminal repeating phantasm, or a Class Five full roaming vapor. Real nasty one, too!|Ghostbusters}}
A '''Ghost''' (also known as spooks, [[specter]]s, and phantoms; known erroneously as geists, [[ghoul]]s, phantasms, or spooky bois), is the restless spirit of a deceased humanoid (or, rarely, animal) that returns from the grave to haunt the world of the living. The reason why varies immensely from ghost to ghost; common individual reasons include a need to achieve some task they failed in life, making amends for wrongs they committed, seeing to the protection of something or someone dear to them, pursuing vengeance, or simply failing to realize they are actually dead.

The standard form of a ghost is a pale, translucent figure, often seemingly obscured by mist or blurry, even when observed at conversational ranges. Ghosts are often cloaked in robes or sheets, reminiscent of depictions of angels in loose togas, but more eerie.  By the 20th Century the stereotypical ghost had evolved into a see-though figure cloaked entirely in a sheet.  They were capable of walking through walls and other solid objects, and their presence often made the immediate area unusually cold.  They could be antagonistic or helpful, ranging from bad omens, deceased loved ones coming back to check on their still-living family to vengeful spirits with legitimate grievances against their killers.  This depiction is a classic horror monster, and sets itself apart from the more Christianity-centric depictions of the spirits of the deceased which had come before in popular Western culture.

More modern depictions of ghosts are closer to ethereal monsters, having malleable or stretchy features and being capable of appearing and disappearing at will. These very recent depictions of ghosts follow more closely to the malevolent poltergeist depiction, acting maliciously, guarding locations, and performing jump-scares on unknowing victims. This may be due more to modern horror trends than the definition of "ghost" evolving to fit the times.

You most likely know all of this already.  Why did you even come to this article?

=General Biology and Weakness in various depiction=
Spiritualists theorized that ghosts were made out of a spiritual substance called '''Ectoplasm''' (In greek Ecto means "outside", and plasma means "something formed or molded"). This idea was never accept by science, but is widespread in pop culture.

Ghost are generally unharmed by any physical means (arrow, swords, bullets). In certain depiction they can be harmed by flame. To truly able to damage them, any kinds of magical enchanted weapon is needed. In a more modern science fiction setting, [[Psionics|psychic power]] from a person can harm them with their power.

To combat ghost without magic or psychic power, there are scientists in some modern setting that combats them with some sort of electrical devices that shoots lightning. Most notably in '''Ghostbusters''', a nuclear powered device called '''particle accelerator system''' (or Proton Pack) is used to create a charged particle beam that can restrain ghosts (also known as negatively charged ectoplasmic entities in the movie setting).

Ghost often roam in the wild at night, and will have to avoid burnt to a crisp by hiding in abandon houses or caves when the sun comes up. Some ghost prefer to stay beside their dead body and were unable to passed on into the afterlife (unless the Grim Reaper (aka the personification of death) would come and manually claim their souls).

=Dungeons & Dragons=
The ghost has been part of D&D since the 1970s, with the ability to hit enemies with aging rather than energy-drain. Just seeing one might inflict 10 years and also cause the viewer to flee in terror. The ghost was a 10 HD undead, to be Turned above vampire-level at 9 HD. As a result - for the early 1980s - the ghost could be encountered only in AD&D campaigns. In that other early-'80s branch, [[Tom Moldvay]]'s, the ghost was too powerful for Basic and Expert play. Jean Wells in 1981 tried nerfing one for ''[[B3: Palace of the Silver Princess]]'' (turned as a [[wight]]); but you know how THAT worked out.

<gallery>
Ghost 1e.jpg|1e
Ghost MCV1.jpg|2e
Ghost MM 2e.png
Ghost GH3.jpg
Ghost 3e.png|3e
Ghost DoDread.jpg
Ghost 4e.jpg|4e
Ghost 5e.png|5e
Ghost B1.png|Pathfinder
</gallery>

==Variants==
The lore had stuck [[Frank Mentzer]] with the problem of how to detail, and to assign, an undead even more powerful than the [[vampire]]. It wasn't about the HD, since Expert play allowed all manner of 10 HD beasties - it was all the other special abilities. Mentzer eventually buffed up the ghost enough for the "Haunt" subtype, [[Companion Set]]; and he took away the Fear effect, relocating that to the weaker "Phantom" subtype. Ghosts were the only undead as weren't all Chaotic (=evil). Note that the "Haunt" appears between Gargantua and [[Gremlin]] (also out of order); likely is that "Ghost" was at first the subset with "[[Banshee]]", "Poltergeist" and perhaps "Haunt" as the genera within it.

Ghost variants, subtypes and synonyms include:

*'''[[Akikage]]''': Ghost [[Ninja]]s!
<gallery>
akikage MCR3.png
akikage DoDread.jpg
</gallery>

*'''Aquatic Remnant''': The ghosts of people whose remains were thrown into bodies of water after they died. Their touch drains Dexterity. Just called '''Remnants''' when they originally appeared in ''RQ2: Thoughts of Darkness''.
<gallery>
remnant RQ2 1.png
remnant RQ2 2.jpg
aquatic remnant DoDread.jpg
</gallery>

*'''Arayashka''': The ghosts of people who froze to death. Their touch drains Strength.
<gallery>
arayashka Dark of the Moon.jpg
Arayashka DoDread.jpg
</gallery>

*'''[[Banshee]]''': Though considered a type of fey in mythology, in D&D, banshees are the ghosts of female elves.

*'''Bowlyn''': The ghosts of sailors who died at sea.
<gallery>
bowlyn MC Ravenloft 1.jpg
bowlyn DoDread.jpg
</gallery>

*'''Bussengeist''': The ghosts of those who died in great disasters or tragedies caused by their own hand. They are drawn to sites of future disasters, warning others of the coming catastrophe. They don't have any attacks, instead having an ''aura of despair'' that gives all Good creatures -4 to all rolls.
<gallery>
bussengeist MC Ravenloft 1.jpg
</gallery>

*'''Druj''': Ghosts that can only possess small body parts, like hands, skulls, or eyes. They can split themselves into four identical copies. They are also poisonous.
<gallery>
druj MC Mystara.jpg
</gallery>

*'''Geist''': A ghost NPC that can't attack. Remade into a template in 3e for a ghost with unique powers.
<gallery>
geist Realm of Terror.jpg
Geist MC Ravenloft3.png
Geist DoDread.jpg
</gallery>

*'''Ghostly Horde''': A whole army of ghosts from the losing side of a battle.
<gallery>
Ghostly horde MC Mystara.jpg
</gallery>

*'''Gossamer''': Ghosts that both drain Constitution and regenerate hitpoints with each attack. They are part of the Saugh, the undead army of the [[Shadow Fey]].
<gallery>
gossamer Shadow Rift.png
</gallery>

*'''Haunt''': They cannot be turned at all, and will relentlessly attempt to possess the nearest available humanoid and then make them strangle themselves.
<gallery>
Haunt A2.png
Haunt MM2 1e.jpg
Haunt MCV2.jpg
Haunt MM 2e.png
</gallery>

*'''Odem''': Ghosts specializing in possession.
<gallery>
odem Realm of Terror.jpg
odem MCR3.png
odem DoDread.jpg
</gallery>

*'''Odic''': Ghosts that can only possess plants. Anyone coming within 20 feet of them must save or lose a level every round.
<gallery>
odic MC Mystara.jpg
</gallery>

*'''Phantom''': Phantoms are not enemies but silent spiritual images perpetually re-enacting a traumatic death, like a looping hologram. They still cause the same Fear save as a ghost, though.
<gallery>
Phantom A2.png
Phantom MC11.png
Phantom MM 2e.png
</gallery>

*'''Poltergeist''': Poltergeists attack by throwing random objects, but none of their attacks can actually deal any damage. Instead, anyone hit by an attack makes a Fear save.
<gallery>
Poltergeist MCV2.jpg
Poltergeist MM 2e.png
</gallery>

*'''Psionic Spirit''': Ghosts that bend spoons with their mind.
<gallery>
psionic spirit MCR3.png
</gallery>

*'''Radiant Spirit''': The ghost of a Lawful Good [[paladin]] or [[cleric]].
<gallery>
Radiant spirit MCR3.png
radiant spirit DoDarkness.jpg
radiant spirit DoDread.jpg
</gallery>

*'''Rushlight''': The ghost of an evil person who was burned alive. They have fire powers because their soul has merged with the flames or whatever.
<gallery>
Rushlight MCR3.png
Rushlight DoDread.jpg
</gallery>

*'''Spectral Hag''': The ghost of a [[hag]].
<gallery>
spectral hag MCR3.png
spectral annis green sea hag DoDread.jpg
</gallery>

*'''Spectral Scion''': From [[Birthright]]. The ghost of a scion who was killed and bloodthefted with a tighmaevril weapon.
<gallery>
spectral scion Rjurik Highlands.jpg
spectral scion MCAV4.jpg
</gallery>

*'''Spectral Wizard''': The ghost of a spellcaster.
<gallery>
spectral wizard MCAV1.jpg
</gallery>

*'''[[Spectre]]''': Basically just a more powerful Wraith.

*'''Valpurgeist''' (renamed '''Valpurleiche''' in 3e): The ghost of someone who was hanged for a crime they did not commit. Poetically, it kills its victims by strangulation.
<gallery>
valpurgeist MC Ravenloft 1.jpg
Valpurgeist RQ3.jpg
valpurleiche DoDread.jpg
</gallery>

*'''[[Wraith]]''': Basically just an ethereal [[Wight]].

*'''Zhentarim Spirit''': The ghost of a [[Zhentarim]] wizard. Introduced in the ''Ruins of Zhentil Keep'' boxed set.
<gallery>
zhentarim spirit RoZK.png
zhentarim spirit MCAV3.jpg
</gallery>

==Pathfinder==
{{dnd-stub}}
===2e===
An archetype that any class can take.    

{{Pathfinder-2nd-Edition-Archetypes}}

=Ghost Women, and Lust Therefore=
[[File:MGE Ghost.jpg|thumb|right|250px|The MGE's Ghost is actually more ghost-like in her looks than some /a/ depictions of ghost-girls.]]
{{Monstergirls}}

Yeah, that figures. Not that we're judging.

Strangely, ghosts are the most likely of the [[undead]] to get the [[Monstergirls]] treatment, perhaps because it's easy to get away with just portraying them as attractive human women who happen to have unusual abilities, like walking through walls or flying. This is aided by the fact that there are many, ''many'' stories in real life folklore and mythology of women becoming ghosts out of love in some fashion, including the "ghost girl who wants to find love despite being undead". Ghostly romance stories are surprisingly in vogue over on /a/.

[[Category: Monsters]] [[Category: Undead]]