Still Not Done With PF1: Arcanimals -- Haste Bear (Patreon)

A week ago I posted a list of ideas for what I call "arcanimals," which are monsters that combine an animal with an arcane spell of ability. The classic examples are blink dogs (and cats-that-displace), and I have long included Mirror Rats (rats with a natural mirror image ability, also sometimes called Swarm Rats because there seem to be so many of them) in my own games.

But Jacob Blackmon took those ideas, and is actually writing them up for 5e, along with new art for them. So, okay, THAT game system is covered.

I thought I'd do some for PF1. And, if there's demand, it's science-fantasy cousin.

To make this as useful as possible, I decided to make each Arcanimal a template, so rather than just have haste Bears this week, GMs could do Haste Snakes, Speed Dogs, or Alacritous Ostriches if they wanted to.

Each arcanimal template tells you what CR range of animal to add it to, and what other template to add to the animal along with it. For example, the Haste Arcanimal template should be added to creatures of the Animal or Vermin type with a beginning CR of 3-7. In addition to the Haste Arcanimal template, you should apply the Advanced template, so the final creature is CR +2.

HASTE ARCANIMAL (CR +1)

Add to: Animals or vermin of CR 3-7.Additional Template: Advanced (total for both templates is CR +2). Use rebuild rules, and apply the +4 to Int even for creatures of 1 or 2 Int (but not those with no Int score).Type: Changes to magical beast. Increase HD to d10, but do not recalculate any other statistics.

Magic Abilities

Haste (Sp): A haste arcanimal has a constant haste effect, with a caster level equal to its HD +4. This effects only the arcanimal itself.Slow (Sp): If the haste effect of a magic arcanimal is somehow dispelled or otherwise neutralized, as a free action the haste arcaninal immediately casts slow, with a caster level equal to its HD +4. The slow targets a number of creatures within 30 feet equal to the haste arcanimal's HD, targeting those closest to the haste arcanimal first. Haste arcanimals are immune to the slow effect from themselves and other arcanimals. The save DC is Con-based.

Haste Bear

(Bear, Grizzly Bear)(Advanced +1 CR)(Haste Arcanimal CR +1) CR 6

This massive bear’s pointed, wolflike ears flick rapidly toward any sound it hears, and its rippling muscles promise both speed and lethal force.

XP 2,400

N Large magical beast

Init +3; Senses low-light vision, scent ; Perception +8

Defense

AC 21, touch 13, flat-footed 17 (+3 Dex, +8 natural, –1 size, +1 dodge)

hp 57 (5d10+30)

Fort +10, Ref +8, Will +4

Offense

Speed 70 ft. (40 ft without haste)

Melee 2 claws +10 (1d6+7 plus grab), 2 bites +10 (1d6+7)

Spell-Like Abilities (CL 9th; concentration +9)

Constant—haste (self only, +30 ft. +1 dodge to AC and Reflex, +1 to attack rolls and +1 bite on full attack action already added in to stat block)

At will—slow (free action, personal immunity, DC 19, see text)

Space 10 ft., Reach 5 ft.

Statistics

Str 25, Dex 17, Con 23, Int 6, Wis 16, Cha 10

Base Atk +3; CMB +11 (+15 grapple); CMD 24 (28 vs. trip)

Feats Endurance, Run, Skill Focus (Survival)

Skills Perception +8, Survival +7, Swim +16; Racial Modifiers +4 Swim

Ecology

Environment cold forests

Organization solitary or pair

Treasure none

Haste bears are among the most dangerous predators in the wildernesses they roam. Nearly anything a haste bear can't outfight, it can outrun. This leads them to charge into combat with little provocation, but if reduced to less than 1/3 their HP haste bears generally flee--unless defending an injured mate, their den, or their young.