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Sluagh Swarm

These tiny fey are deeply associated with shadow and darkness, becoming much more active during the winter with its longer nights. Individually they are pretty cowardly, avoiding attention and barely threatening, but in large groups they get much more bold by relying on others taking hits for them as they attack. Around the size of a weasel, they have no legs and instead their upper body tapers off into a worm-like tail, which provides no motor control on the ground. Instead, sluagh drag themselves along the ground by their small, clawed arms, or simply fly about with agile and sharp movements. Their small claws deal minor cuts and scrapes, but more dangerous especially en mass is their burning cold skin, freezing prey solid with enough contact. Sluagh will serve hags, devils, trollkin, and other fey who know of the blood rituals to summon the sluagh in large groups and can direct them toward favored targets. Sluagh vastly prefer to feed on elves or halflings, though they will accept any humanoid, or small animals if no humanoids are available.

Inspired by the Tome of Beasts 1. This post came out a week ago on my Patreon. If you want to get access to all my monster conversions early, as well as access to my premade adventures and other material I’m working on, consider backing me there!

Pathfinder 2e

Sluagh Swarm Creature 3 Large Fey Swarm Perception +9; darkvision Languages Fey Skills Acrobatics +10, Stealth +10 (+12 in dim light or darkness) Str -2, Dex +3, Con +0, Int -2, Wis +1, Cha +0 AC 18; Fort +5, Ref +10, Will +8 HP 44; Immunities grabbed, precision, prone, restrained, swarm mind; Resistances bludgeoning 5, cold 5, piercing 5, slashing 2; Weaknesses area damage 5, fire 5, splash damage 5 Speed 30 feet, fly 50 feet Chilling Touch [1 action] (cold) Each enemy in the swarm's space takes 2d8 cold damage (DC 20 basic Reflex save). An enemy that fails this save also can't regain hit points by any means for one round.

13th Age

Sluagh Swarm 3rd level spoiler [swarm of humanoids] Initiative: +6 Chilling Touch +8 vs. PD (all engaged enemies) – 6 cold damage. Natural 14+: The target can’t regain hit points by any means (easy save ends, 6+). Flyer: While sluaghs can drag themselves along the ground at a good speed, they can fly much faster. Resist Cold 16+: When a cold attack targets the swarm, the attacker must roll a natural 16+ on the attack roll or it only deals half damage. AC 17 PD 17 MD 14 HP 50

#pathfinder 2e #13th age #homebrew #my homebrew #monster #fey #humanoid #pathfinder level 3 #13th age level 3 #tome of beasts #long post

Prismatic Beetle Swarm

Prismatic beetles are a jungle dwelling species with exceptionally reflective scales within their shells. These scales are arranged in a variety of patterns and colors, and create sparkling patterns of light. These shells are often incorporated into jewellery or as components for illusion spells. An individual prismatic beetle uses this as a distraction to escape predators or confuse potential prey, but whole swarms of them cause the light to become blinding and can even overload viewers and cause unconsciousness or seizures. They also bear a poison that can cause euphoria and confusion even as it kills.

Pathfinder 2e

Prismatic Beetle Swarm Creature 3 Large Animal Swarm Perception +9; low-light vision Skills Acrobatics +8, Stealth +8 Str -4, Dex +3, Con +1, Int -5, Wis +1, Cha -4 AC 18; Fort +8, Ref +10, Will +6 HP 38; Immunities grapple, precision, prone, restrained, swarm mind; Resistances bludgeoning 3, piercing 6, slashing 6; Weaknesses area damage 5, splash damage 5 Glittering Carapace (aura, visual) 30 feet. The swarm only gains this aura while in bright light. When a creature ends its turn in the aura, it must attempt a DC 17 Will save. Critical Success The creature is unaffected. Success The creature is dazzled for one round. Failure The creature is blinded for one round. Critical Failure The creature falls unconscious for one round. Speed 20 feet, burrow 5 feet, fly 30 feet Euphoria Venom (poison); Saving Throw DC 18 Fortitude; Maximum Duration 4 rounds; Stage 1 off-guard (1 round); Stage 2 dazzled and off-guard (1 round); Stage 3 confused (1 round) Swarming Bites [1 action] Each enemy in the swarm's space takes 2d4 piercing damage and 1d4 poison damage (DC 20 basic Reflex save). Creatures that fail their save are also exposed to Euphoria Venom.

13th Age

Prismatic Beetle Swarm 2nd level spoiler [swarm of beasts] Initiative: +5 CQ: Swarming Beetles +8 vs. PD (1d3 nearby enemies) – 3 damage, and the swarm engages one of the targets Any Hit: Unless the target succeeds on an immediate normal save, they are shocked (easy save ends, 6+). First Failed Save: The target is confused instead (easy save ends, 6+). Flyer: The beetles swarm around in a great, glittering cloud of blinding colors. Glittering Carapace: Nearby enemies that have 15 hit points or fewer are dazed. Resist Single Target Damage 16+: When a Melee or Ranged attack that only hits one enemy targets the prismatic beetle swarm, the attacker must roll a natural 16+ on the attack roll or it only deals half damage. AC 16 PD 16 MD 12 HP 40

#pathfinder 2e #13th age #homebrew #my homebrew #monster #animal #beast #pathfinder level 3 #13th age level 2 #tome of beasts #long post

Manabane Scarab Swarm

A glance at these scarabs makes their slightly supernatural nature apparent as they bear a faintly glowing sigil on their backs. The closer they get to any sort of active magic, including magical items, the brighter the symbol glows, signalling the scarabs to where they should go to feed. Whether from eating the flesh of magical beings or nesting in magically radiated areas, these beetles have gained the capacity to devour magical energy of almost any sort, temporarily draining the energy of permanent magic items and stripping ongoing spells.

Pathfinder 2e

Manabane Scarab Swarm Creature 4 Large Beast Swarm Perception +11; low-light vision, magic scent 120 feet, tremorsense (imprecise) 30 feet Skills Acrobatics +11, Stealth +11 Str -4, Dex +3, Con +3, Int -5, Wis +1, Cha -4 Magic Scent The manabane scarab swarm can sense the presence of of magic creatures, items, or active spells or magical effects as a precise sense within the listed range. AC 19; Fort +11, Ref +11, Will +9; +2 status to all saves vs. magic HP 50; Immunities grabbed, precision, prone, restrained, swarm mind; Resistances bludgeoning 3, piercing 7, slashing 7; Weaknesses area damage 4, splash damage 4 Speed 20 feet, burrow 5 feet, climb 20 feet Mana Erosion [1 action] Frequency Once per round; Effect The manabane scarabs consume magic. They attempt to counteract each magic item or ongoing magic effect in their space (counteract rank 2, counteract modifier +13). A permanent magic item that is counteracted becomes a mundane item of its type for 10 minutes, and a consumable magic item is destroyed. Swarming Bites [1 action] Each enemy in the swarm's space takes 2d8 piercing damage (DC 21 basic Reflex save). A creature that fails this save has one random magic item they carry affected by Mana Erosion.

13th Age

Manabane Scarab Swarm 4th level spoiler [swarm of beasts] Initiative: +6 Vulnerability: area attacks CQ: Magic Devouring Swarm +9 vs. AC (1d4 nearby enemies) – 5 damage, and after the attack, the scarab swarm engages one of the targets. Natural Even Hit: Unless the target succeeds on an immediate normal save (11+), one magic item or ongoing spell on the target is suppressed. A magic item regains its powers after the battle, a spell just ends. Mana Erosion +9 vs. PD – 8 damage, and if the target has spells they lose the ability to cast one random spell (hard save ends, 16+). Burrower and Wall Climber: The scarabs can burrow slowly through the ground, and climb around on walls and ceilings easily. Resist Spell Damage 16+: When a spell attack targets the manabane scarab swarm, the attacker must roll a natural 16+ on the attack roll or it only deals half damage. AC 19 PD 19 MD 14 HP 58

#pathfinder 2e #13th age #homebrew #my homebrew #monster #beast #pathfinder level 4 #13th age level 4 #tome of beasts #long post

Fire Dancer Swarm

An individual fire dancer is a tiny blue flame that looks like a burning skull. The single fire dancer is not a significant threat to anyone but a child, as their heat is more likely to cause minor burns than life threatening injury, but when thousands join together that heat can ignite objects and creatures just from proximity. In groups they form almost a hive mind, sharing thoughts and direction. This makes them more effective in a swarm, able to stay united in purpose and focus, but actually leaves the swarm vulnerable to mental effects that would normally only target a single creature, sharing the effect across all the dancers.

Pathfinder 2e

Fire Dancer Swarm Creature 7 Large Elemental Fire Swarm Perception +15; darkvision, smoke vision Languages Pyric Skills Acrobatics +16 Str +0, Dex +5, Con +3, Int -2, Wis +1, Cha -2 Smoke Vision The fire dancer swarm ignores the concealed condition from smoke. AC 24; Fort +12, Ref +18, Will +12 HP 90; Immunities bleed, fire, grabbed, paralyzed, poison, precision, prone, restrained, sleep; Resistances physical 5; Weaknesses area damage 5, cold 5, splash damage 5, water 5 Speed fly 30 feet Dancing Sparks [1 action] Each enemy in the swarm's space takes 3d6 fire damage (DC 24 basic Reflex save). A creature that fails this save also takes 1d6 persistent fire damage.

13th Age

Fire Dancer Swarm 4th level elite wrecker [swarm of elementals] Initiative: +10 Vulnerability: area attacks Dozens of Fiery Bites +9 vs. PD (all engaged enemies) – 12 fire damage. Any Hit: Unless the target succeeds on an immediate normal save (11+) they take 5 ongoing fire damage. Flyer: Fire dancers are tiny, flying, flaming skulls that swarm around in great clouds. Ignore Fire 16 and Below: When a fire attack targets this creature, if the attacker rolls a natural 16 or below the swarm takes no damage. Resist Single Target Damage 16+: When a Melee or Ranged attack that only hits one enemy targets the fire dancer swarm, the attacker must roll a natural 16+ on the attack roll or it only deals half damage. Nastier Specials Ignite: If an enemy engaged with the fire dancer swarm misses the swarm with a natural odd attack roll, that enemy takes 5 ongoing fire damage. AC 21 PD 19 MD 14 HP 76

#pathfinder 2e #13th age #homebrew #my homebrew #monster #elemental #pathfinder level 7 #13th age level 4 #tome of beasts #long post

Suturefly

Sutureflies resemble large dragonflies with three pairs of gossamer wings and a body that resembles splintered wood. They dart through the woods, reacting to most threats by trying to sew loops of a creature's own skin through eyelids, mouths, or other facial orifices to seal them shut. Researching their habits and lives is difficult, both due to their isolated habitat and aggressive tendencies, so their general diet, living system, and reproductive tactics are unknown for the most part. Rumors say they are divinely created hunters of blasphemy, hearing all lies or blasphemes that occur near them and reacting to seal shut the mouths of the source. Suturefly homes are noteworthy for corpses left behind with their face sealed shut, humanoid, animal, and even fey.

Pathfinder 2e

Suturefly Creature -1 Tiny Beast Perception +4; low-light vision Skills Acrobatics +5, Stealth +5 Str -5, Dex +4, Con +0, Int -5, Wis +1, Cha -3 AC 15; Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +2 HP 7 Speed 10 feet, fly 40 feet Melee needle limb +7 (agile, finesse), Damage 1 piercing damage plus suture Suture [1 action] Requirements The suturefly's last action was a successful Strike with its needle limb; Effect The suturefly attempts an Acrobatics check against the target's Reflex DC. Critical Success As success, except the DC to open the sewn shut orifice is 15. Success The suturefly sews shut one of the target's eyes, nose, or mouth shut. The creature can't use the sewn orifice until the sutures are cut with a blade and an Interact action, which deals 2 slashing damage to the creature unless the creature removing the sutures succeeds on a DC 13 Medicine check. Failure The target takes 1 additional piercing damage. Critical Failure No effect.

13th Age

Suturefly 0th level weakling spoiler [tiny beast] Initiative: +4 Sew +5 vs. AC – 2 damage. Any Hit: Unless the target succeeds on an immediate normal save (11+), they are hindered (easy save ends, 6+). When the target saves, they take 4 damage unless they succeed with a natural 16+. Rapid Flyer: The suturefly is an exceptionally agile, fast flyer, like a large dragonfly. AC 15 PD 14 MD 10 HP 12

#pathfinder 2e #13th age #homebrew #my homebrew #monster #beast #pathfinder level -1 #13th age level 0 #tome of beasts #long post

blumineck

Some of you may already know the answer to this!

The throwing axe at the end is this thing, btw- you can get a discount with DAB-RAVEN if you like chucking things at stuff!

#video #autoplay #weapons

Subek

Subek are large crocodile-headed humanoids that live along the banks of great rivers. Tailless, standing about 9 feet tall with powerful but dexterous hands and tooth-filled jaws, they are actually thoughtful and clever scholars, historians, engineers, and architects. For most of the year they practice these intellectual skills, often taking up roles as teachers or performing their technical skills, but they are not truly safe to be around. During the flood season, a terrible rage descends upon them and they kill indiscriminately, discarding all trappings of intellect and civility until the waters recede again. Many subek seek to distance themselves from others during this time, warning locals away, or even going so far to trap themselves in underground prisons with jailers to feed them during this time of savagery. The source of this rage is unknown, some believing it to be a curse, a reminder of their bestial heritage, or a primal part of their souls coming forward to take control.

Pathfinder 2e

Subek primarily live along the Golden Road in northern Garund, on the banks of the Junira and Uta rivers. They exist in the history of Osirion, Thuvia, and Rahadoum, helping build the architectural styles of those nations.

Subek Creature 5 Large Humanoid Subek Perception +12; darkvision Languages Common Skills Athletics +13, Nature +12, Religion +12, Survival +12, Engineering Lore +13, History Lore +13 Str +4, Dex +0, Con +4, Int +2, Wis +1, Cha +1 Hold Breath The subek can hold their breath for about 15 minutes. AC 22; Fort +13, Ref +9, Will +12 HP 76 Speed 25 feet, swim 20 feet Melee jaws +13, Damage 2d8+6 piercing plus Grab Melee claw +13 (agile), Damage 2d4+6 slashing Blood Frenzy [2 actions] Requirement The subek is affected by their Flood Fever; Effect The subek makes two claw Strikes and one jaws Strike in any order. Flood Fever (primal) During the flood season, the subek is overcome by a bloodthirsty malice. For the season the subek loses the ability to speak any language, can't take any actions with the concentrate trait, increases the damage of its Strikes by 2, and gains a +2 status bonus to attack rolls against enemies they damaged since the start of their previous turn. Thrash [1 action] (attack); Requirement The subek must have a creature grabbed in their jaws. Effect The subek thrashes its head about violently. It makes a jaws Strike with a +2 circumstance bonus to the attack roll against the grabbed creature. If it hits, it also knocks the creature prone. If it fails, it releases the creature.

13th Age

Subeks live along the swampier territories of the Dragon Empire, existing in balance between the powers of civilization and primeval nature. Some helped establish whole cities in previous Ages and still may have some connections with scholars and researchers in the modern Age, though during the flood seasons they fall under the rage of nature and often can be directed by the High Druid (though typically only toward violence, not creative or intellectual processes).

Subek 4th level troop [large humanoid] Initiative: +5 Crushing Jaws +9 vs. AC – 15 damage. Any Hit: Unless the target succeeds on an immediate normal save (11+), the subek grabs them. Thrash +9 vs. PD (one grabbed enemy) – 20 damage. Natural Even Hit: The target is also dazed (save ends). Swimmer: The subek can hold its breath for up to 15 minutes at a time, and is able to swim extremely powerfully. Nastier Special Flood Fever: During the flood season, the subek enters a bloodthirsty frenzy. It can’t speak, and attacks almost any non-subek creature with almost mindless ferocity, gaining a +2 bonus to attack rolls and a +5 bonus to damage against staggered enemies. It also takes a -2 penalty to MD. This makes it into a wrecker. AC 20 PD 17 MD 16 HP 56

#pathfinder 2e #13th age #homebrew #my homebrew #monster #humanoid #pathfinder level 5 #13th age level 4 #tome of beasts #long post

prokopetz

The real reason your sapient dragon character needs a "rider":

Dragons on the wing are vulnerable to being mobbed by smaller, more agile flyers, particularly in your large rear blind spot, like a bird of prey being mobbed by crows. Having a human armed with a long spear perched on your back helps to dissuade anyone from getting any funny ideas.

Breath weapons are impressive enough on the ground, but in flight they're really only good for strafing stationary targets; trying to use your breath weapon in an aerial dogfight is a good way to get fire up your nose. A real fight calls for sterner measures – and, concomitantly, a crew to aim and reload the cannons.

In today's competitive world, it's not enough to devour a flock of sheep and call it a day if you want to keep your edge. You're accompanied at all times by a qualified personal alchemist tasked with carefully regulating your internal furnace to ensure peak performance, and sometimes you even listen to them.

No dragon of any quality would be caught dead without their valet. It's not as though you can announce your numerous long-winded titles yourself when introductions are called for, can you? You suppose next you'll be expected to pick up the spoils of your conquests yourself, like a common brigand. Perish the thought!

mikkeneko

prokopetz

Well, taking it all into consideration, what's your favorite version of D&D? Despite its complexity + "30 minutes of fun inside 3 hours", I still really like 3.5e (& Pathfinder 1e)

Probably a toss-up between post-Monster Manual 3, pre-Essentials 4E and Rules Cyclopedia era BD&D. I admire their purity of vision; I likely wouldn't make many of the same decisions myself if I had the task of designing an edition of D&D, but they know exactly what kind of games they want to be.

(Raise your hand if, knowing what you know of my work, these answers are in any way surprising!)

rosstmcd

If you don't mind answering, what did Monster Manual 3 make better and Essentials make worse, such that the inbetween-time was the peak of 4E goodness?

prokopetz

4E as initially published committed the classic game design blunder of tuning its numbers based on the feedback of playtesters who were really, really good at optimising. The most obvious consequence is that pre-Monster Manual 3 monster stat blocks are overtuned in a way that gives fights with elites and solos an unpleasantly high whiff factor and makes encounters take about 50% longer than intended when tackled by a more typically optimised group. MM3 rejigs some of the math to fix that.

As for Essentials, it has a few good ideas, but I feel like the game starts to lose some of its focus after that point, for reasons that largely boil down to Mike "I lowball dragon CRs on purpose because I believe that tricking novice GMs into unintentionally TPKing their players provides a positive learning experience" Mearls being a fucking hack.

#roleplaying games #TTRPG #D&D #Dungeons and Dragons

Stuhac

Traveling to isolated mountain passes may bring you into contact with a stuhac, a fiendish monster that disguises itself as an elderly person. They are agile and quick climbers, able to scramble over rough terrain and leap great distances without trouble. They magically shapeshift into an innocent seeming form and layer themselves in heavy furs to take the role of a lost or weakened traveler or hermit, luring others into vulnerable positions on difficult terrain before turning on them. The stuhac's hands curl into jagged claws, their clothing is revealed to be layers of yellowed and preserved ligaments and tendons, and they weave magic to strain and tear their victim's ligaments as well to hobble them and make it impossible to escape.

Pathfinder 2e

Stuhac's live around the north of Avistan, hunting isolated travelers in the Kodor and Tusk mountain ranges. Most live alone, though occasionally some will make arrangements with hags, lamia, or other malicious beings that they can share interests with.

Stuhac Creature 13 Medium Fiend Perception +22; darkvision Languages Common, Diabolic, telepathy 100 feet Skills Athletics +25, Diplomacy +23, Stealth +24 Str +6, Dex +4, Con +5, Int +1, Wis +3, Cha +2 AC 34; Fort +24, Ref +23, Will +20 HP 190; Immunities cold, poison; Resistances acid 10, fire 10, physical 10 (except silver) Speed 40 feet, fly 40 feet Melee jaws +25 (magical), Damage 3d8+14 piercing Melee claw +25 (agile, magical), Damage 3d6+14 slashing Change Shape [1 action] (concentrate, divine, polymorph) The stuhac takes on the appearance of an elderly humanoid male. This doesn't change their Speed or their attack and damage bonuses with their Strikes, but it might change the damage type their Strikes deal (typically to bludgeoning). Mountain Passage The stuhac ignores difficult terrain caused by mountain slopes and stone outcroppings. Powerful Leap [1 action] (move) The stuhac jumps up to 60 feet. Hobble [2 actions] (divine) The stuhac telekinetically tears at the tendons and ligaments of a creature within 100 feet. The target must attempt a DC 32 Fortitude save. Critical Success No effect. Success The target takes 1d8 force damage and takes a -5-foot status penalty to their Speed for 1 round. Failure The target takes 3d8 force damage and takes a -10-foot status penalty to their Speed for 1 minute or until they receive magical healing. Critical Failure The target takes 5d8 force damage and takes a -20-foot status penalty to their speed until they receive magical healing.

13th Age

Stuhac's mostly live in the region of the Frost Range, hiding among the mountain peaks and hunting isolated travelers and inhabitants. Larger groups will spur the stuhac to attempt to lure them into alternate threats where it can take advantage of the distraction to go for their preferred target. They will make deals with giants, hags, lamia, and other monstrous threats to help draw potential victims into traps for their temporary allies.

Stuhac 7th level spoiler [demon] Initiative: +10 Wicked Claws +12 vs. AC – 25 damage. Natural 14+: The stuhac recharges hobble if it’s expended. CQ: Hobble +12 vs. PD (one nearby enemy) – 5 damage. Any Hit: Unless the target succeeds on an immediate hard save (16+), they are stuck (save ends). Limited Use: 1/battle, as a quick action. Powerful Leap: The stuhac gains a +2 bonus to all defenses against opportunity attacks, and if an enemy tries to intercept their movement they must succeed on an immediate normal save (11+) or fail to intercept it. Resist Cold 16+: When a cold attack targets this creature, the attacker must roll a natural 16+ on the attack roll or it only deals half damage. AC 23 PD 21 MD 19 HP 100

#pathfinder 2e #13th age #homebrew #my homebrew #monster #demon #fiend #pathfinder level 13 #13th age level 7 #tome of beasts #long post

prokopetz

Wait, so...Why DID 4E underperform? Or is that outside your expertise here? (No shame if so, you're a game designer, not a market analyst. You can tell by the having a soul).

(With reference to this post here.)

There were a couple of major factors in play there.

First, a big chunk of Dungeons & Dragons 3rd Edition's popularity had come about due to robust third-party support, published under the auspices of Open Game License (OGL). Dungeons & Dragons 4th Edition, however, was not licensed under the OGL, being subject to a much more restrictive license imaginatively titled the Game System License, or GSL. Hasbro reportedly refused to negotiate with existing third-party publishers to get them on board with the GSL, or to offer transition support of any kind; instead, they simply demanded an immediate halt to the publication of all 3E material, and attempted to bludgeon publishers into compliance by threatening to yank their trademark authorisations (i.e., the agreements which allowed them to put the "D&D compatible" logo on the covers of their books).

Predictably, this approach was not well received. The largest of 3E's third-party supporters, Paizo Publishing (now Paizo Inc.), elected to produce their own game which was statblock-compatible with 3E in order to provide a venue for other publishers to continue producing OGL material; many of their peers decided to gamble on Paizo's plan rather than play ball with Hasbro, and this is how we got Pathfinder. Hasbro's behaviour thus caused D&D's third-party support to crater nearly to zero with the publication of 4E and created D&D's largest competitor.

Second, 4E was badly behind the curve on digital availability. Shortly before 4E was scheduled to drop, the digital masters (i.e., the files provided to printers in order to manufacture the books) were leaked on file sharing networks. Hasbro responded by panicking and ordering an immediate and indefinite halt to e-book publication of D&D material (in spite of the fact that the leak had demonstrably originated from their print production arm rather than their e-publishing arm), even going so far as to refuse to honour pre-orders for 4E's now cancelled e-book version.

Combined with a series of mismanagement-induced delays which caused 4E's virtual tabletop tools to miss the game's publication date entirely, and a decision to paywall what few first-party resources did manage to hit their target behind a monthly subscription, this resulted in 4E being available exclusively in print for the first two full years of its lifespan, at a time when D&D's competitors – including the aforementioned Pathfinder – were literally giving their core rules away in digital form for free.

As you say, I'm no market analyst, but I have a strong suspicion that "alienating practically all third-party publishers for a game line which was critically dependent on robust third-party support", "being the first edition of the game ever to face significant direct competition", and "making a game which dropped in the middle of the worst economic recession in thirty years available exclusively as an expensive printed set" resulted in the 4E stepping up to the plate with three strikes already against it. Add to that the almost comical ineptitude of Hasbro's advertising for 4E, and the usual drama of any major edition turnover, and... well.

prokopetz

"But what about the rules" sure, there were some issues with 4E's mechanics, but you need to understand that "4E underperformed because people hated the rules" isn't just a convenient narrative for edition-warring grognards; it's also a fiction which Hasbro itself has tacitly embraced, because the alternative is acknowledging that their publishing department repeatedly shit the bed on 4E's rollout.

Stryx

The Moonlit King, in his isolation and slipping sanity, has sought out many different ways to try and interact with the outside world. Imprisoned in his tower, he took shadowy owls and merged fragments of mortal souls to them, transforming them into stryx. He sent these new servants out to gather information on the world for him, as they are indistinguishable from regular owls until they open their unnervingly human mouths below their nonfunctional beak. They like attaching themselves to powerful beings, acting as familiars, advisors, and translators, though their true loyalty remains to their creators.

Pathfinder 2e

Despite (almost) sharing a name with them, the Moonlit King's creations are completely unrelated to the avian humanoids called the strix.

Stryx Creature -1 Rare Tiny Beast Perception +7; darkvision Languages Common, Elven Skills Acrobatics +4, Deception +3, Stealth +4 Str -4, Dex +3, Con +0, Int -1, Wis +2, Cha -2 AC 14; Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +5 HP 10 Speed 10 feet, fly 60 feet Melee talon +6 (agile, finesse), Damage 1d4-2 slashing Innate Occult Spells DC 13 ; 2nd translate (×3);

13th Age

Stryx 1st level weakling troop [beast] Initiative: +4 Talon Swipe +6 vs. AC – 4 damage. Natural Even Hit or Miss: The stryx can pop free from the target. Familiar: The stryx is bound to one enemy at the start of the battle (usually a caster or leader, though it doesn’t have to be). The bound enemy gains a +1 bonus to attack rolls against enemies engaged with the stryx, and can use spells or leadership type attacks originating from the stryx rather than themselves. As a quick action the bound enemy can teleport the stryx to themselves. Flyer: The stryx is a swift and silent flyer. AC 16 PD 14 MD 13 HP 14

#pathfinder 2e #13th age #homebrew #my homebrew #monster #beast #pathfinder level -1 #13th age level 1 #tome of beasts #long post

blumineck

This is why safety rules matter!

Don’t forget if you like my videos and want to see me test more stuff, I’m looking to commission a set of historically accurate fitted armour for testing!

You can pitch in here if that’s something you’d like to see:

Blumineck is raising money for a suit of fitted historical plate armour for both fun and serious historical and fantasy testing.

(If it doesn’t get funded nobody gets charged)

#video #autoplay #weapons

Star-Spawn of Cthulhu

In a far off world, dread Cthulhu lies dead but dreaming far below the ocean in the lost city of R'lyeh. Cthulhu will some day awaken and devour this entire world, but until then its spawn spread through the universe to bring word of it to all, and destroy those who would oppose it. Large, ocropoid creatures with clawed hands, powerful and distended brains, and wings and spines lining their backs, they can fly through the emptiness of space at immense speeds, crossing galaxies in weeks or months. This allows them to find worlds that have not yet accepted Cthulhu as their master above all, and force them to provide sacrifices of life and treasure in Cthulhu's name to ensure that once their progenitor returns the stars are in position.

Pathfinder 2e

Star-Spawn oppose mi-go in all cases, and seek to turn worlds to Cthulhu. Individually they are destructive, though one alone couldn't conquer Golarion, and so they must act in caution and find those who they can turn into slaves to Cthulhu to progress their plans.

Star-Spawn of Cthulhu Creature 15 Rare Large Aberration Perception +29; greater darkvision Languages Aklo, Common Skills Arcana +30, Athletics +28, Intimidation +27, Occultism +30 Str +7, Dex +2, Con +7, Int +9, Wis +4, Cha +6 AC 37; Fort +29, Ref +24, Will +26; +2 status to all saves vs. mental HP 265; Immunities cold No Breath The star-spawn of Cthulhu doesn't breathe and is immune to effects that require breathing (such as an inhaled poison). Psychic Tower (occult) When the star-spawn critically succeeds on a Will save against a mental effect, it reflects this effect back onto the creature that originated the effect. When reflected, the effect affects only the original creature, even if it's an area effect or would affect more than one creature. The original creature can attempt a save and use other defenses against the reflected effect as normal. Speed 30 feet, swim 30 feet, fly 50 feet Melee claw +30 (agile, magical, reach 10 feet), Damage 3d6+15 slashing Melee foot +30 (magical), Damage 3d10+15 bludgeoning Dimensional Stomp [2 actions] (occult, teleportation) The star-spawn makes a foot Strike. If it hits, the target must attempt a DC 37 Reflex save or be teleported to a location of the star-spawn's choice within 120 feet. Disintegrating Gaze [1 action] (occult, visual) The star-spawn gazes upon a creature within 60 feet, tearing at their body, dealing 7d12 damage (no type). The creature must attempt a DC 37 Fortitude save. The star-spawn can't use Disintegrating Gaze again for 1d4 rounds. Critical Success The target is unaffected. Success The target takes half damage. Failure The target takes full damage. If the creature is reduced to 0 HP, they are reduced to a fine powder as the disintegrate spell. Critical Failure The target takes double damage and their body is dissipated into vapor as if affected by the vapor form spell, except the target can't dismiss the spell. Instead, at the end of each of their turns, the target can attempt a new save at the end of each of their turns to end the effect. If the creature is reduced to 0 HP they are reduced to a fine power as the disintegrate spell. Interdimensional Movement [1 action] (move, occult, teleportation); Frequency Once per round; Effect The star-spawn teleports up to 25 feet to a location it can see.

13th Age

Do other worlds exist beyond the Overworld? Ones that can only be reached through far travel through empty voids that few creatures can cross even with great magic? For that is where the star-spawn of Cthulhu arrive from, descending from the sky to demand fealty for their progenitor and forcing those too weak to fight them into submission.

Star-Spawn of Cthulhu 9th level double-strength wrecker [large aberration] Initiative: +12 Crushing Claws +14 vs. AC (2 attacks) – 35 damage. Natural Even Hit: The target is grabbed – 20 automatic grab damage at the start of the star-spawn’s turn. The star-spawn can have up to three creatures grabbed at once; one in each arm, and one transferred into its maw. Miss: 10 damage. Dimensional Stomp +14 vs. AC – 20 damage. Natural Attack Roll Higher than Target’s Dexterity: The target is teleported to a nearby or far-away location of the star-spawn’s choice. Quick Use: 1/round, as a quick action, when the escalation die is even. Ranged: Disintegrating Gaze +14 vs. PD (one nearby enemy) – 80 necro damage. Any Hit: Unless the target succeeds on an immediate hard save (16+), their body is dissipated into vapor (save ends). While dissipated in this way, the target has resist all damage 12+, but can’t make any attacks and can only move. Limited Use: 1/battle. Recharges when the escalation die first reaches 6+. Flyer: The star-spawn is a powerful, immense and heavy flyer. Interdimensional Movement: The star-spawn can teleport to a nearby location as a move action. Reflect Psychic 12 or Below: When a psychic attack targets this creature and the attacker rolls a natural 12 or below, the attack automatically misses, the star-spawn takes no damage and suffers no effects from the attack, and the attacker takes 20 psychic damage. AC 24 PD 22 MD 22 HP 360

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Spire Walker

Tiny humanoid creatures that kick up ghostly, sparking fire as they jump and dance, formed when lightning storms form over areas with many high peaks. Also called corposanti, they frolic under thundery skies and try to keep company with beings such as blue dragons or storm giants (who largely dislike the spire walkers and try to drive them off). Standing no more than a foot tall, with blue-grey skin and long silvery or pale blue hair that stands in long shocks, they wear metallic colored clothing and stick small metal decorations all over everything they wear. Combat is more of a fun and rough game for them, and it often seems like they don't even really understand the concept of death, showing only mild disappointment if their friends or allies are killed in battle and happily looting the pockets of their best friends even mid fight. Spire walkers love copper and will treat it with more value than gold, as well as amber gemstones. The spire walker that can gather and hold the largest chunk of ember to wear prominently becomes the leader.

Pathfinder 2e

Spire Walker Creature 3 Uncommon Tiny Fey Perception +9 Languages Common, Fey Skills Acrobatics +9, Stealth +9 Str -4, Dex +4, Con +2, Int +0, Wis +0, Cha +2 Items dart (×10) AC 19; Fort +7, Ref +11, Will +7 HP 38; Immunities electricity, sonic; Resistances piercing 5; Weaknesses cold iron 3 Energized Body (electricity, primal) A creature that touches the spire walker or hits it with a melee Strike with a metal weapon takes 1d4 electricity damage (DC 17 basic Reflex save). Speed 20 feet Ranged lightning dart +11 (agile, electricity, magical, splash thrown 20 feet), Damage 1d4-2 piercing plus 1d8 electricity and 1d8 electricity splash damage Primal Innate Spells DC 17, attack +9 ; 2nd invisibility, revealing light, thunderstrike; 1st gentle landing (×3); cantrips (2nd) electric arc, light Spire Stance When the spire walker stands on the point of a steeple, mast, or other spire-like feature, it gains a +2 circumstance bonus to Acrobatics checks and Reflex saving throws. Steeple Step [1 action] (move, primal, teleportation) The spire walker teleports up to 30 feet to the point of a steeple, mast, or other spire-like feature it can see.

13th Age

Spire Walker 3rd level archer [tiny humanoid] Initiative: +9 Sparking Hand +8 vs. PD – 8 lightning damage. Ranged: Lightning Dart +8 vs. AC (one nearby enemy) – 2 damage plus 8 lightning damage. Natural Even Hit: 1d3 enemies nearby the target take 2 lightning damage. CQ: Sonic Burst +8 vs. PD (1d4 nearby enemies in a group) – 6 thunder damage. Natural 16+: The target is also vulnerable to all damage (easy save ends, 6+). Limited Use: 1/battle. Energized Body: When an enemy engaged with the spire walker attacks it, that enemy takes 2 lightning damage. Resist Lightning and Thunder 16+: When a lightning or thunder attack targets this creature, the attacker must roll a natural 16+ on the attack roll or it only deals half damage. Spire Step: 1/round as a move action, the spire walker can teleport to a nearby steeple, mast, or other spire-like feature. While perched on this location, the spire walker has a +1 bonus to AC and PD, and a character that wants to engage the spire walker must succeed on a normal skill check (usually DC 15). Whenever the spire walker takes damage, it must roll an immediate normal save (11+) or fall from the spire peak, losing these bonuses. AC 20 PD 18 MD 13 HP 40

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Spider Thief

These clockwork constructs look like mechanical spiders with razor sharp wire spoiled within its abdomen. This wire can be thrown out to loop around sturdy anchor points or even get embedded in soft material to provide a point for the spider thief to pull itself toward, or lash around a creature to tangle up and catch their limbs. They are capable combatants, though that is not their primary purpose. Instead they are designed for stealthy infiltration and (as its name suggests) theft. Professional thieves will occasionally have one as a partner, or a tool.

Pathfinder 2e

Spider Thief Creature 2 Uncommon Small Clockwork Construct Mindless Perception +8; darkvision Skills Acrobatics +7, Athletics +6, Stealth +17, Thievery +17 Str +0, Dex +3, Con +1, Int -5, Wis +0, Cha -5 Spin Up When the spider thief prepares for combat its gears must wind up faster and become more noisy. When the spider thief rolls Stealth for initiative or rolls a Stealth check to Hide or Sneak while in combat it takes a -8 status penalty to the rolls. Thievery Specialist For encounters involving thievery and stealthy infiltration, the spider thief is a 7th-level challenge Wind-Up 24 hours, DC 17, standby AC 16; Fort +7, Ref +9, Will +6 HP 38; Immunities bleed, death effects, disease, doomed, drained, fatigued, healing, mental, nonlethal attacks, paralyzed, poison, sickened, spirit, unconscious, vitality, void; Weaknesses electricity 2, orichalcum 2 Speed 25 feet, climb 20 feet Melee claw +7 (finesse), Damage 1d8+2 slashing Melee razor line +9 (finesse, reach 15 feet), Damage 1d4+2 slashing plus Grab Reel [1 action] (move); Requirement The spider thief has a Small or larger creature grabbed; Effect The spider thief pulls itself to a space adjacent to the creature. This movement' doesn't provoke reactions. Wire-Assisted Jump [1 action] (manipulate, move); Requirement The spider thief isn't grappling a creature; Effect The spider thief launches its wire to snag an object, wall, or ground within 20 feet, then reels it back to leap to that point. It can carry up to 10 bulk of additional objects as part of this movement.

13th Age

Spider Thief 2nd level troop [construct] Initiative: +6 Sickle Claw +6 vs. AC (2 attacks) – 5 damage. CQ: Razor Wire +6 vs. PD (one nearby enemy) – 5 damage. Any Hit: Unless they succeed at an immediate normal save (11+), the spider thief moves to engage the target and the target is grabbed – 2 automatic grab damage, and the spider thief has a +2 bonus to attack rolls against the grabbed target. Wire-Assisted Jump: As a move action, the spider thief can fling a wire to anchor to a nearby spot and pull itself to that spot. If a character attempts to intercept this movement, they must succeed on an immediate normal save (11+) or fail to intercept the spider thief. AC 17 PD 15 MD 12 HP 44

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Sand Spider

Sand spiders are carnivorous desert hunters that create large burrows and tunnels under the sand, using webbing to create sand caps to the tunnel entrances to launch ambushes against passing travelers. Lone creatures are pounced on, dragged underground and wrapped in webbing so they can be easily bitten multiple times to kill with the spider's potent venom. Their forelimbs have sharp tips under thick bristles which they can also use to quickly jab, which are used more in self defense if the spider's intended victim fights back effectively or it goes after a group of targets. Most sand spiders are lone hunters, but some will gather into small clusters containing one female and two or three males. They coordinate their hunts, one spider drawing attention while the rest jump from trapdoors behind the targets.

Pathfinder 2e

Sand Spider Creature 7 Large Animal Perception +14; darkvision, tremorsense (imprecise) 60 feet Skills Acrobatics +14, Athletics +16, Stealth +14 (+16 in deserts) Str +5, Dex +3, Con +2, Int -5, Wis +1, Cha -3 AC 23; Fort +13, Ref +16, Will +12 HP 105 Speed 30 feet, burrow 20 feet, climb 20 feet Melee fangs +16, Damage 2d10+9 piercing plus Grab and sand spider venom Melee leg +16 (deadly d12, reach 10 feet), Damage 1d12+9 piercing Impaling Limbs [3 actions] The spider makes two leg Strikes at the same target, using the same attack bonus as their highest melee attack. If both attacks deal damage, the target takes extra damage equal to one leg Strike. Sand Spider Venom (poison); Saving Throw DC 24 Fortitude save; Maximum Duration 6 rounds; Stage 1 1d6 poison damage (1 round); Stage 2 2d6 poison damage (1 round); Stage 3 3d6 poison damage (1 round) Trapdoor Lunge [reaction] Trigger A creature comes within 25 feet of the spider's lair while the spider is positioned just under the ajar trapdoor and the spider notices the creature; Requirements Initiative has not yet been rolled; Effect The spider Strides or Climbs before it rolls initiative. Web Wrap [1 action] (attack, manipulate); Requirements The sand spider has a creature grappled or restrained; Effect The sand spider attempts to wrap the creature up in webbing. The spider makes an Athletics check opposed by the target's Reflex DC. If it succeeds, it restrains the target in webbing. The sand spider can Stride at half its speed while it carries one creature restrained in webbing. The web uses the sand spider's Fortitude defense for its Escape DC.

13th Age

Sand Spider 4th level triple-strength troop [large beast] Initiative: +6 Impaling Limbs +9 vs. AC (2 attacks) – 15 damage. Dual Hits: If both attacks hit the same creature, the target takes an additional 15 damage. Toxic Painful Bite +9 vs. AC – 22 damage. Any Hit: Unless the target succeeds at an immediate hard save (16+), they take 15 ongoing poison damage. Burrower: As the standard monster ability. The Wisdom skill check to anticipate the sand spider’s emergence is hard instead of normal (usually 20). Trapdoor: Until the sand spider moves during combat, it has resist damage 16+ against any attacks from creatures, except one it attacked during its last turn. If it has no enemies engaged with it, it can retreat into its trap door and close the lid, preventing it from attacking or being attacked until a character or the spider open the trapdoor again. AC 19 PD 18 MD 14 HP 180

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