Deflecting Creature
'Deflecting Creature' is a pattern that can be added to any creature to give them considerable defensive durability. Their Incredible Evasion power might indicate they create mirror images of themselves to harmlessly absorb attacks, or they simply are able to contort out of the way of a few blows, or they luckily parry the occasional attack, or they perform some acrobatic maneuver to dodge, or they have an ablative shell that cracks away as they are struck, or any of a thousand other effects.
The GM may state that they possess a device which is allowing this ability, or they have a 'buff' cast by some Mage, or a terrible, repulsive gift from some dark source. GM's may use this to signify membership in some cult, military, tribe, or secret society, and use this Pattern as a story element. The possiblities are manyfold!
Deflecting Creatures are quite durable, and can make for interesting battles in which the players must adapt to their foes going toe-to-toe with them for much longer than they expect them to. Keep those players alert!
A Deflecting Creature uses all of the base creature's statistics and abilities except as noted below.
CR (challenge rating)
Same as base creature +2.
Size and Type
The creature's Size does not change. Its Type remains the same but it gains the subtype Deflecting.
Initiative Modifier
The creature's initiative modifier increases by +1.
Senses
All senses such as scent, tremorsense, keen hearing, etc are unchanged. A Deflecting Creature gains +3 on Perception skill rolls.
Armor Class
Deflecting Creatures gain +2 AC.
Hit Dice
Deflecting Creatures gain +2 hp per Hit Die of their adjusted CR.
Defensive Ability
Incredible Evasion (Su): A Deflecting Creature may choose one or more melee or ranged attacks targeted against their AC, which has already struck them, and automatically negate all effects, as if that attack never hit. They may use this power once per encounter per ten CR (challenge rating) they possess after the pattern adjustment (round up, 1 to 5 uses). This is a free action per attack negated, and as such, can be used against attacks of opportunity and against attacks outside their turn. This may be described as illusory images being destroyed, or an actual physical effect where the creature is simply dodging the attacks invisbly quickly, or armor plates are being broken off, or any other affect that works well with the creature or as the GM decides.
The Deflecting Creature also gains the following abilities, which may be added to their Bestiary entry:
Aura: - Same as Base Creature
SR: - Same as Base Creature
Special Defenses: Same as Base Creature
- Deflecting Creatures gain a +3 untyped bonus on all Saving Throws.
Immunities: Same as Base Creature.
Weaknesses: Same as Base Creature
Out of Combat
Same as Base Creature.
Speed
A Deflecting Creatures base speed improves by ten feet in all movement categories it has.
Melee Attacks
The Deflecting Creature retains all the base creature's attacks . It gains a +2 untyped bonus to-hit with all attacks.
Damage
The Deflecting Creature does the same damage and effects as the base creature. It gains a +2 untyped bonus to all damage it inflicts, and all DC's are raised by +1.
Space and Reach
No Changes.
Offensive Ability
No Changes.
Ability Scores
No Changes.
Maneuver Offense and Maneuver Defense
The Deflecting Creature gains a +1 untyped bonus to Maneuver Offense and Maneuver Defense rolls.
Feats
Optionally, add one non-combat oriented feat, for flavor. Or just wing it! DM fiat is a wonderful thing.
Skills
Optionally, add one skill at CR+10.