Wednesday, December 21, 2011

VG Meet DnD: The Pack from the Dead Space Series

Give baby a kiss
[Necromorphs are the reanimated corpses of the dead, reshaped into horrifying new forms by a mysterious curse.]



Pack

They come in swarms, dozens of gray childlike bodies rushing forth from the darkness, a shrieking choir of the damned. Oversized claws glisten with the blood of fresh kills.

Like the lurkers, pack members are created from the bodies of children or small sized humanoids. They serve as shock troopers for the necromorphs, attacking in droves in a hope to overwhelm their foes through strength of numbers.

Unlike most necromorphs members of The Pack are not resilient to damage, and have no regenerative abilities.

Strategies and Tactics

The Pack attack in large numbers, rushing forward on all fours and using teamwork to overcome their opponents. They usually begin combat by charging one foe en masse (to take advantage of their pounce ability), then use their tumble skill to withdraw, spreading out in different directions before wheeling back around and assaulting the target again. Occasionally a pack member or two will stay behind to engage opponents as a sort of living sacrifice, allowing the others precious seconds to prepare for another assault.

Ecology

Environment: The Pack can be found anywhere, but tend to prefer wide open spaces which allow them freedom of movement.

Typical Physical Characteristics: Members of The Pack appear as they did in life, the wounds which slew them still visible upon their form. Still the curse has made some notable mutations, fusing fingers together on each hand to create a set of claws and adding muscle mass to the upper body.

Alignment: Members of the Pack are always evil.

Typical Treasure

For reasons unknown the pack seems to carry around a modest sum of wealth taken from slain victims. They have half standard treasure.

For Player Characters
A player may create a pack member with the animate dead spell, but must have an additional material component consisting of half a pound of corruption, which must be applied to the corpse before the spell is cast.

Pack Member CR ½
Always NE Small undead
Init +2 Senses Darkvision 60ft; Listen +2, Spot +2
Languages understands creator’s orders; understands telepathic commands


AC 13, touch 13, flat-footed 11
(+1 Size, +2 Dex )
hp 4 (1/2 HD)
Immune undead immunities
Fort +0, Ref +2, Will +4


Speed 40ft
Melee 2 claws +1 (1d3+1)
Space 5ft; Reach 5ft
Base Atk +0; Grp -3


Abilities Str 13, Dex 14, Con -, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 10
SA Pounce
SQ Undead Qualities
Feats Skill Focus (tumble)
Skills Hide +6, Listen +2, Move Silently +2, Spot +2, Tumble +9
Advancement none

2 comments:

Cotlone said...

Thanks very much for creating these necromorph creatures, they are proving as great templates for my current Pathfinder campaign!
The cocky wizard, isn't sure what to think, ha!

Francis Bousho said...

No worries Cotlone. Creating them has gone a bit slower since my favorite playtester graduated last spring. I've got the puker laying around here in a notebook somewhere, but just haven't had the fortune to find it.

If you want I'd love to hear how you're using them, and whether that poor wizard has figured out the dismemberment thing yet.