Drider (CR +2)[3pp]

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Driders are usually associated with the drow, but there is no reason they have to be. Whether their origin is a curse of a god, an alchemical process, or the result of some other mad magical process, driders are horrors that combine the lower-half of a spider and the torso of another creature. Infused with the predatory instincts of a spider, they desire to inflict as much pain and suffering as possible. They also have spellcasting capabilities.

Creating a Drider

Drider” is an acquired template that can be added to any living corporeal humanoid, monstrous humanoid, giant, or creature with a generally humanoid form (referred to hereafter as the base creature). A drider uses all the base creature’s statistics and special abilities except as noted here.

Challenge Rating: As base creature +2

Alignment: Any evil.

Size: The base creature’s size increases by one step.

Type: The base creature’s type changes to aberration with the appropriate augmented subtype. Do not recalculate base attack bonus, saves, or skill points.

Armor Class: The base creature’s natural armor class increases by +5 plus an additional natural armor class bonus due to its size change.

Hit Dice: Change all of the base creature’s racial HD to d8s.

Speed: The drider gains a climb speed equal to one-half the base creature’s land speed. If the base creature has no land speed, the drider gains a land speed equal to the base creature’s highest speed and a climb speed equal to one-half that. If the base creature already has a climb speed, it either retains that or it replaces it with a climb speed equal to one-half the base creature’s land speed, whichever is faster.

Attacks: If the base creature does not have a bite attack, the drider gains one with which it delivers its poison. If it does have a bite attack, then the bite delivers the drider’s poison and keeps the base creature’s damage value. The damage on a bite attack gained by application of this template is based on the base creature’s original size. This attack is primary if the base creature has no other natural attacks; otherwise, it is secondary.

If the base creature has natural attacks that rely on its lower body parts, such as a tail attack or a rake attack, the drider retains those attacks, which originate from perverted extra limbs extending from the back of its abdomen.

Space/Reach: The drider’s space and reach are normal for its new size and uses the “long” entry for driders that are Large size or greater.

Special Attacks: A drider gains the web universal monster ability and the following.

Poison (Ex)

Bite—injury; save Fortitude; frequency 1/round for 6 rounds; effect 1d2 Str; cure 1 save. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Spell-like Abilities: A drider gains the following spell-like abilities. Its caster level is equal to its total Hit Dice. The DCs are Charisma-based.

Constantdetect chaos (if not chaotic), detect good, detect law (if not lawful), detect magic
At willdancing lights, darkness, faerie fire
1/dayclairaudience/clairvoyance, deeper darkness, dispel magic, levitate, suggestion

Spellcasting: A drider casts spells as a cleric, sorcerer, or wizard with a caster level equal to 6 or three less than its racial HD, whichever is higher. It does not gain any other class abilities. If the base creature can already cast spells as a racial ability (not from any class), it can cast spells from one of the above classes in addition to spells it already knows but does not gain any of its class abilities.

Abilities: Dex +6, Con +2, Int +4, Wis +6, Cha +6

CMD: A drider gains a bonus on its CMD vs. trip as for an eight-legged creature.

Skills: A drider has a +4 racial bonus to Stealth.

Special Qualities: A drider gains the following.

Undersized Weapons (Ex)

A drider uses manufactured weapons as if it was one size category smaller.

Environment: As base creature plus underground.

Variant Driders

The classic drider of half drow elf and spider is all well and good, but with this template, a GM can make for some interesting combinations. Here are some ideas.

Centi-Drider: Instead of half-spider, have the drider be half centipede or other vermin. Change the drider’s poison to that of the vermin as well as exchanging its abilities (web, bonus to CMD vs. trip, etc. ) with those of the chosen vermin. You may need to adjust the CR if the new poison is particularly virulent.

Hunter Drider: Make the drider vary with different spider species. Change the drider’s poison to that of the spider it is patterned after. If the spider is a hunting spider, replace the web ability with a +8 racial modifier to Acrobatics. You may need to adjust the CR if the new poison is particularly virulent.

Mythic Drider Oracle: The drider is a unique and dangerous oracle in the center of its web. Change its alignment to neutral, add mythic ranks, and give the drider oracle levels. Adjust CR for the added levels and the mythic ranks.

Section 15: Copyright Notice

Advanced Bestiary, Copyright 2014, Green Ronin Publishing, LLC; Author Jeff Hersh, Developer Owen K.C. Stephens

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