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Second EditionPathfindermakes creating homebrew content incredibly accessible.
Concept
Template
Tweaks
Notes
Steam-Breathing Clockwork Dragon
Diabolic (fire) Dragon
Languages, Skills and Elemental types.
Steam would most closely resemble fire damage, meaning the breath attack would be unchanged.
The ability to ignore concealment from smoke also translates well to steam clouds.
Werebeaver
Wereboar
Replace the unarmed attacks (tusk) with a bite.
The asbestos elemental is guaranteed to be amore memorable encounter than an earth elementalwith identical stats.
Art via Paizo Inc.
A guy named Steve
Farmer
Replace the farmer’s thrown weapon (an apple) with a banana.
Not all farmers run apple orchards.
Several good tools are available that reference theCreature Building Rules from the GM Coreor theequivalent rulesin theGamemastery Guide.
Art via Paizo Inc.
Focus on havingone thing that a creature is goodandbadat.
Rather than filling in party roles, these are designed specifically towards encounter types.
Roadmap
Core Abilities
Description
Uses
Brute
Strength, constitution, and fortitude.Low AC and mental defenses.
Does what it says on the tin.This guy hits hardand don’t think too good.
Spellcaster
Spellcasting attribute, low HP, and attack bonus.High DCs on spells.
Functionally, it is an equivalent levelled casterwith fewer bells and whistles.
Sniper
Dexterity, reflex.
Low fortitude and HP.Either a high attack bonus or a high damage bonus.
This makes a good choice for creatingbeasts with innate spellcastingor spell-like effects.
Soldier
High AC, fortitude, and strength.Limited access to fighter feats like Reactive Strike.
Functionally, it is an equivalent leveled fighterwith fewer bells and whistles.
Use this roadmap for more tactical opponents,good at formation fighting and holding defensive positions.
Skirmisher
High dexterity, speed and reflex.
Slightly weaker than the brute in a slugfest but compensates withbetter mobility and access to agile attacks.
This is good for creatingambush predators, assassins and other mobile enemies.
Give this to non-combatant NPCsthat you don’t want to be completely helpless in a fight.
Here are some ways to do that, along with counterbalances to ensure they stay relatively balanced.
Remember: Everything should have at least one weak point.
Change
Example
Counterweight
Attribute Boost
A politician turned soldier would have ahigher-than-average charisma.
Decrease another attribute that has a similar importance in combat.
They would gain the weaknesses of an undead, such asdamage from positive energyand destruction on 0HP.
If it hasspecial activation effects, include these on the character sheet.
Circumstance Bonuses
A Gallium elemental might momentarily melt when struck with fire,increasing its AC for a round.
A creature with eight limbs might have a+2 modifier to grappling attempts.
Mostcircumstance bonuses do not need a strong downsideunless they appear regularly.
Alternate Movement Types
Birds can fly, and fish can swim.
The action cost of maintaining flightensures that flying enemies are broadly kept in line.
Damage Resistances
A demon can partiallyresist damage from non-magical weapons.
They might have aslightly reduced ACto prevent combat from dragging out too long.
Pathfinder has plenty of smaller adventures if you don’t want to keep at it for too long.
