Umbravex, the Black Hearted Wyrm


Homebrew and House Rules


So some kobolds worship dragons or Dahak directly right? They are meager minions claiming kinship to dragons and worshipping them for power. In PF mechanics all it really takes to use divine spells and powers is a high Wis.

Imagine another draconic kin with decent Wis. It sees kobolds gaining power from this worship and learns to mimic their prayers and devotions. Unlike others of its kin this creature is willing to add these devotions to its daily routines of nesting, trapping meat and sleeping.

Enter: Umbravex, the Black Hearted Wyrm

This would be nothing more than a tatzlwyrm with levels in some kind of divine casting class. Right off the bat I'm thinking of advancing him with the NPC class Adept. I'm wondering if folks have other ideas though. I'm looking for an epic challenge for a group of optimized level 1 PCs. Despite their optimization they are all level 1, so they're APL 1. For this reason I'm thinking of advancing the tatzlwyrm no higher than CR 4.


Black blood Oracle could do the trick.


I don't understand Azten: a Black-Blooded Oracle is a vaguely necromantic curse that reverses healing and gives a couple interesting revelations. Otherwise we're talking a cha-based divine caster. Tatzlwyrms' casting stat should be Wis-based since they have a Wis of 14.

Per the Beastiary 3 these creatures are primarily combat focused. Under the Monster Advancement rules this means the first 2 levels of a spell-casting PC class count as 1 towards the final CR. I could either add Adept 4 or PC Spellcasting Class 3.

If I go Tatzlwyrm Adept 4 the final creature has an additional 4d6 HP, +2 BAB, +1 Fort and Ref, +4 Will, 3 level 0 spells, 3 level 1 spells, and 1 level 2 spell. He'd also get some simple weapons, maybe a club or sickle. Lastly he'd get a familiar and 2 feats; maybe Boon Companion and Improved Familiar to give him a Level 8 familiar

What if I go druid though? Three levels of Druid grants the same BAB and Saves as Adept, an Animal Companion, 2 feats, and 3d8 HP. He'd also get a couple more spells, Wild Empathy, better spell selection, and he could trade out the Nimble Moves feat since he'd have Woodland Stride. He'd even get Trackless Step helping him remain a recurring villain.

What do you folks think?

Dark Archive

You could check out the class templates from the Monster Codex, though that would only add 1 to its CR.

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I'm assuming this is meant as a single boss-encounter with no kobold minions?

Looking at the tatzlwyrm, this monster could be quite challenging for a 1st-level party. It probably gains a surprise charge attack against a flat-footed (maybe even trapped) opponent with a bite and two rake attacks--enough to put even a barbarian into the negatives.

Keep in mind that adding class levels to a creature also gives it bonuses to its ability scores (+4, +4, +2, +2, +0, and –2). I think 4 levels of adept would make this a very challenging encounter. Choose spells that support the whole predator/skirmisher role. Touch of fatigue or Reach Spell + cause fear make for some nice debuffs that can be combined with natural attacks (since you can hold the charge for a touch attack and use your natural melee attack to deliver the spell). If things go bad, use obscuring mist to retreat and heal.


Black Blood from a Black Heart just sounded Thematic, and BB Oracle is just a nice, nasty surprise sometimes.

To elaborate, Black Blood Spray can be easily reflavored to be a retaliatory breath weapon. Two levels gives a feat, and that can be taken for Extra Revelation.

Dark Tapestry: Cloak of Darkness.
Bones: Bleeding Wounds and Death's Touch, if you don't take BB Spray, is pretty good for a hit and run tactic.


If you are considering druid - perhaps the dragon shaman archetype would be a good fit? http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/ultimateMagic/spellcastingClassOptions/d ruid.html#dragon-shaman-(archetype)

I'd also consider giving the TW 1 trait from the (kobold) list

Given the party level I'd either go 2 levels of druid + one 2nd level spell
OR go three levels of druid for the spells, hit points, saves but not advance the TW's BAB +2.

Either Crocodile or monitor lizard animal companion OR Destruction Domain (for destructive smite) or Fire Domain (for a ranged attack) would fit.

Use totem transformation for: natural weapons (bite [1d6] and 2 claws [1d4] for a Medium shaman, +2 bonus on CMB on grapple checks) (it already has a (better) bite - but getting two claw attacks (in addition to the rake it already has) are nice as is the additional bonus on grapple)

Spells:
0: Chameleon Scales (nice if you want to throw the party on energy type - a white wyrm with the fire domain & firebelly prepared).
1:
If you have the animal companion: Acid Maw
Ice Armor - I think this would make the TW too hard for the PCs to hit - but if it escapes and faces the PCs at a higher level - look at this spell.

2:
Iron Skin (see Ice Armor above)
Pernicious Poison
Scale Spikes (if you want to play up the TWs grappling)
Wilderness Soldiers - with Undergrowth

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