Attacker Mage

Attacker Mage Pattern (+2 CR)

Subtype: add Mage to subtypes

Attacker Mage is a pattern that can be added to any creature that is a capable user of Arcane Magic. During a combat, an Attacker Mage creature only has access to the monster abilities listed below, and no Attacker Mage may ever begin combat with any sort of boost or buff that they added to themselves.

In combat, Attacker Mage monsters are highly effective, blasting away furiously with their huge and deadly Fiery Blast power. If the battle is muddled and mixed, they can switch to their equally dangerous Destroying Bolt power, to thread ravening bolts of shattering energy through a messy battle while breaking everything they hit. If the battle is long ranged or extremely complicated, they can switch to their Force Darts power, which always, always, hits. If you can see an Attacker Mage monster, it can hurt you. Lastly, they can resort to placing their Deadly Mists in front of any player ranged attackers to block their line of sight and line of effect, forcing them to move.

Now, OUT of combat, like all monsters with a Spell-like ability, it is assumed that an Attacker Mage monster is a full-fledged caster of Arcane Magics, and if given a little time to prepare, can be assumed to have all sorts of magical things happening. Monster Mages are always doing such nuisance things as sending familiars to spy, using wards and alarms, using dispel magics to strip away magical effects the PC's or friendly NPC's were relying on, and generally adding all kinds of excitement to the GM's story line. Indeed, Mages are even more likely than other Spell-like enabled monsters to have such activities as part of their lexicon. On top of that, GM's frequently have their Mage Monsters wear wizardly accoutrements, such as robes and pointy hats, just to play it up a bit.

In addition to the direct effects of a Mage pattern, if the GM wishes to simulate the effects of a monstrous Mage casting spells on their allies, this can easily be emulated through the use of various Patterns. Invisible Creature, Aerial Creature, Searing Creature, all these patterns and more can be applied to the other creatures in an encounter and explained as the effects of the buffs being cast out of combat by the Mage. Note, however, that all these effects will add to the Challenge Rating of the monsters, to properly capture the added difficulty of such fights. Be sure to keep an eye on your difficulty! And have fun! It is entirely possible to design hundreds of interesting 'roleplay' encounters with various Patterns. If that's your notion of fun, go to town!

This creature affects the robes of a wizard, and appears aggressive and dangerous.

General

Senses:

Movement Types:

Defense

Special Defenses:

Strong Against:

Weak Against:

Offense

Space / Reach: - / -

Save DC's: +3 CRs greater than base creature.

Statistics

Str:     Dex:     Con:     Int: 6    Wis:     Cha:

Feats:

Skills:

• creature adds +2 CRs to all of its existing skills.
• creature adds +3 CRs to its Spellcraft skill.

Languages:

Special Abilities

Attacker's Monstrous Magic (Sp; Attacker Mage Pattern)

Once per round as a standard action, an Attacker Mage may choose one of the effects listed below. Note that this is a spell-like ability, and thus, will provoke attacks of opportunity if performed while threatened, and requires a caster check to succeed.

Force Darts (Sp)

The Attacker Mage chooses up to two enemy creatures within 500 feet of themselves, to whom they have both line of sight and line of effect. As a standard action that provokes, they may unerringly hurl one glowing dart of force energy at each of those creatures. Only one Force Dart can be created per enemy creature chosen. Each of these enemies suffers 1d3 points of damage as force (energy, uncommon) damage. This ability always hits and does not allow a saving throw. If the Mage cannot legally target their maximum number of creatures, any extra effect is lost. They may NOT target multiple Darts at a single creature.

Fiery Blast (Sp)

The Attacker Mage may use this ability as a standard once per round, that provokes attacks of opportunity unless they make a successful Caster Check. The Mage chooses a square within 20 feet of their space. If they have line of sight and line of effect to that square, a fiery explosion of colorful flames bursts into existence there and explodes outwards, damaging all creatures caught wholly or partially within the area. The Fiery Blast fills a space 3x3x3 squares in size from adjusted CR 3 to 10, a space 5x5x5 squares from CR's 11 to 20, a space 7x7x7 squares from CR's 21 to 30, and a space 9x9x9 squares from CR 31 and higher. This fiery-looking blast inflicts 1d4 points of damage as fire (energy, common) damage, although at the GM's discretion, any Common Energy Damage type may be substituted. This ability allows a Reflex save versus a DC of 14 to take half damage.

Destroying Bolt (Sp)

The Attacker Mage may, as a standard action that provokes attacks of opportunity, trace a line from their space outwards. Each square of this line must be adjacent to the prior space, and further from the Mage's space. This line is a maximum of 3 squares long. All creatures who are wholly or partially inside any of these squares suffers 1d4 points of damage as thundercrash (energy, rare) damage, although at the GM's discretion, any Rare Energy Damage type may be substituted. This ability allows a Fortitude save versus a DC of 14 to take half damage.

In addition, all creatures struck, and any unattended objects or obstacles, receive a free Sunder attempt when struck by this bolt of destruction. Roll the Mage's Maneuver Offense (d20+3) once and compare it to the Maneuver Defense or Sunder DC of all affected things. This is considered to be an undirected Sunder attempt. This Sunder occurs whether the save is made or not.

Deadly Mist (Sp)

The Attacker Mage may use this ability as a Standard action. They may choose one unoccupied, unblocked, square, plus an additional 0 square(s) (drop fractions), all of which must be within 50 feet of their space, and fill all those spaces with roiling, filthy vapors. Each square is filled to a height of ten feet, and the Mage may arrange these squares any way the GM see's fit. These vapors block line of sight and line of effect against all creatures, and persist until the beginning of the Mages next turn.

These mists do not impede movement at all, but any creature (friend or foe) who enters them suffers 1d6 points of damage as poison (physical, uncommon) damage, a maximum of once per round per creature. Deadly Mist does not allow a saving throw.

These mists are subject to removal by Dispersing effects, to include:

Dispersing (Aggressive Thundercloud, Greater (Druid Spell),  Aggressive Thundercloud, Greater (Sorcerer/Wizard Spell),  Aggressive Thundercloud (Druid Spell),  Aggressive Thundercloud (Sorcerer/Wizard Spell),  Air Step (Alchemist Extract),  Air Step (Bard Spell),  Air Step (Cleric Spell),  Air Step (Druid Spell),  Air Step (Paladin Spell),  Air Step (Ranger Poultice),  Air Step (Sorcerer/Wizard Spell),  Calm Air (Druid Spell),  Calm Air (Sorcerer/Wizard Spell),  Cloak of Winds (Druid Spell),  Cloak of Winds (Ranger Poultice),  Cloak of Winds (Sorcerer/Wizard Spell),  Freedom (Sorcerer/Wizard Spell),  Gust of Wind (Druid Spell),  Gust of Wind (Sorcerer/Wizard Spell),  Hurricane Blast (Druid Spell),  Hurricane Blast (Sorcerer/Wizard Spell),  Pillar of Fire (Druid Spell),  Pillar of Fire (Sorcerer/Wizard Spell),  Resilient Sphere (Sorcerer/Wizard Spell),  Scouring Winds (Druid Spell),  Scouring Winds (Sorcerer/Wizard Spell),  Telekinetic Sphere (Sorcerer/Wizard Spell),  Wind Wall (Cleric Spell),  Wind Wall (Druid Spell),  Wind Wall (Sorcerer/Wizard Spell))

At the GM's discretion, other effects may strengthen or remove these effects as well.