Shadow Creature

Not just anybody can do this, you know. Well, okay, they can if they have this pattern. But otherwise...

Shadow Creature Pattern (+3 CR)

Subtype: add Shadow to subtypes

Shadow Creature is a pattern that can be added to any creature that is a 'Shadowy' variant of a base creature. The 'classic' origin of a Shadow Creature has them brought from the Plane of Shadows or other dark, insubstantial realm. But that's just the beginning of the ways this eerie Pattern can be used. Perhaps there is a dark mirror, somewhere, that make a Shadow duplicate of every creature that looks into it. Perhaps a formless Thing from the Outer Madness is stealing every shadow cast at noontide on a certain street, and sending them all over the city to murder and terrorize the following night.

Darkness cults are always a favorite, as are maddened Lunar worshippers, and minions of some mighty Necromancer clawing his way back from death are often warped things like this Pattern creates. Shadow Vampires are always a hit, and entire campaigns can be made of Shadowed Undead. Shadesteel Golems, Darknight Orcs, half the tings that live in the Unterwelt, Shadow Drow, the possibilities are endless.

Shadowy creatures look like their base creature, except they are vague and undefined, shrouded in clinging wisps of shadow-stuff, and even sort of translucent in direct light.

The appearance, demeanor, and actions of this creature are very, very wrong. Everything about is off: too fast, to jerky, steeped in darkness and danger. You should be very careful.

General

Init: +2 CRs greater than base creature.

Ambush Chance: -2 (better at ambushes)

Senses:

• Blindsense 30 ft.

Perception: +3 CRs greater than base creature.

Movement Types:

Defense

AC: +2 CRs greater than base creature.

Maneuver Defense: +2 CRs greater than base creature.

Hit Points: +2 CRs greater than base creature.

Fort: +1 CRs greater than base creature.

Refl: +2 CRs greater than base creature.

Will: +3 CRs greater than base creature.

Special Defenses:

Strong Against:

Weak Against:

Offense

Space / Reach: - / -

To-Hits: +3 CRs greater than base creature.

Damage: +2 CRs greater than base creature.

Maneuver Offense: +2 CRs greater than base creature.

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

Statistics

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

Feats:

Skills:

• creature adds +3 CRs to all of its existing skills.
• creature adds +4 CRs to its Stealth skill.

Languages:

Special Abilities

Shadowy Attacks (Su; Shadow Creature Pattern)

A Shadow Creature makes all of their Melee and Ranged attacks as touch attacks (but this has no effect on their special abilities). Touch attacks grant a +4 circumstance bonus to-hit, and always hit on a natural die roll of 17-20. If they already had a touch attack for a melee or ranged attack, that touch attack instead gains a +2 circumstance bonus to-hit. Their damage type is unchanged, because their attacks act the same, they are just...uncertain and fluid, and occasionally just pop straight through any defenses in their way.

Shadowy Form (Su; Shadow Creature Pattern)

Shadow creatures are Immune to critical hits, as the shadow-stuff of their bodies has no special places to exploit vulnerabilities. They still take normal damage from such attacks.

Umbra and Penumbra (Su; Shadow Creature Pattern)

Shadow creatures in full darkness create dim light within ten feet of their space. Shadow creatures in normal light lower lighting conditions to dim light within ten feet of their space. No natural or magical source of light or darkness overcomes this effect. This means that a Shadow Creature can always initiate a Stealth stance, and although figuring out that they are inside that blot of dimness often isn't difficult, working out their exact square can be much harder. Shadow Creatures in anything but dim light are oddly easy to be alert against, but very difficult to pinpoint.