Bestiary 4 Preview #2

This looks like a creature that is perfect for a mid to high level character with the Improved Familiar feat. Otherwise it is pretty much a despicably cute plot device.

...

I will have to annoy my party with one next session! :)

Can't resist...must build shrine to pipefox...

Brynn was definitely inspired by Firefox.

I am going to have to throw these at one of my players. Her paladin suffers from an extreme case of cuteness proximity.

Brynn was definitely inspired by Firefox.

Now we just need a Chrome modron that looks like a colorful beach ball, an Opera nobody notices, and a rotten Explorer that keeps destroying everything he touches when out on Safari. :-)

??? Where is this from?

I'm a little bit riddled, but that probably because i'm not really into cute pokemon either.

??? Where is this from?

I'm a little bit riddled, but that probably because i'm not really into cute pokemon either.

Japanese kuda-gitsune, or pipe fox.

I hope it's a possible improved familiar...

Pipe kitsune are Japanese. I learned about them from XXXHOLIC years ago.

Gancanagh wrote:

??? Where is this from?

I'm a little bit riddled, but that probably because i'm not really into cute pokemon either.

Japanese kuda-gitsune, or pipe fox.

Funnily enough, I don't think there's been a Pokemon based off this one yet. They've snagged plenty of Japanese mythical creatures but I don't recall seeing a serpentine fox/fox-headed snake among them.

A witch better be careful if they have a pipefox familiar.
Fighter: Hey Witch why aren't you casting anything
Witch: I can't, I couldn't prep my spells
Fighter: Why the heck did ya not prep anything
Witch: My pipefox was too high!

A witch better be careful if they have a pipefox familiar.

Fighter: Hey Witch why aren't you casting anything
Witch: I can't, I couldn't prep my spells
Fighter: Why the heck did ya not prep anything
Witch: My pipefox was too high!

Ba dum tish.

I want this as a familiar almost too much. It is far too cute and it plays on my love of foxes. I hope they are an Improved Familiar as well as it seems perfect for at least one mage concept.

Out of curiosity, how is this thing CR 2? While it would be extremely obnoxious to try to kill one at low levels with its greater invisibility, I'm trying to figure out how its 1d2-5 bite attack constitutes a serious threat to, well, anything, even at 1st level. 6 free points of nonlethal damage is kind of annoying, but beyond that...?

Well if this creature has a chance, than the Akaname should have one too.

Calling that next weeks spoiler is the tooth fairy.

neat...This is the first sneak peak of I think a creature we didn't know about yet.

Out of curiosity, how is this thing CR 2? While it would be extremely obnoxious to try to kill one at low levels with its greater invisibility, I'm trying to figure out how its 1d2-5 bite attack constitutes a serious threat to, well, anything, even at 1st level. 6 free points of nonlethal damage is kind of annoying, but beyond that...?

Its higher cr than the Almiraj... How could theY!

Something I have wondered for a while, what does a 1d2-5 damage mean? That isn't 1d2 minus 5, is it?

Yes it is. It can't do less than 1 damage (unless reduced so by defenses like DR), but the negative being present also lets you know how much to adjust to account for damage changes due to strength buffs or feats like Improved Natural Weapon, and other alterations as necessary.

I hope this is a improved familiar option. But how is this a CR2?

I'm actually quite familiar with the pipefox. It had nothing to do with pipes (for smoking), and were fox spirits contained in tubes that were worn on the belt (pipes, as in piping). A kitsune-tsuki would call on the powers of the fox in question, and was effectively a magician.

This is an... interesting... interpretation.

actually it does less then 1 dmg. The rules state that it would do 1 nonlethal damage if it's modifier would leave it doing damage less then one.

This would be a great Improved Familiar!

I've had it with all these mythic monsters. I'm trying to run a gritty, 5-point-buy, 1st-level commoner game, and all I'm seeing in this week's preview is an overpowered CR 2 monstrosity.

And if the pipe fox is CR 2, how powerful is the guy who killed the pipe fox's mother? He'd have to be, like, 3rd level or something. This power creep is appalling. The pipe fox from literature could just as easily have been an ordinary fox wearing a Naugahyde belt.

How am I even supposed to run this monster? I mean, it has an ability called compression. Sure, compression is described in full in the Universal Monster Rules, but then I have to actually read Bestiary 4 to run a monster from Bestiary 4.

If all of the monsters in this bestiary are like this, I'm going to have to burn an effigy of SKR on a pyre made from all my Pathfinder books and never again buy anything published by Paizo until at least the end of next month.

Improved Familiar? Or Animal Companion?

Considering it's a magical beast then I would say no for an animal companion option.

Improved Familiar? Or Animal Companion?

Improved Familiar. For an Animal Companion, use the Dire Pipefox.

Improved Familiar? Or Animal Companion?

Only an Improved Familiar, if we are lucky. Since being a magical beast, it wouldn't be able to be an animal companion.

This thing is absurdly cute. This would make a really nice Improved Familiar, especially for a kitsune wizard/witch/sorcerer.

Pipe kitsune are Japanese. I learned about them from XXXHOLIC years ago.

Ha! YUP! Awesome. That was definitely the first place I saw them as well and a HUGE reason I put them on the initial hit list for Bestiary 4. :D

If you're really digging on pipefoxes, let me suggest going to Google image search and typing the following "pipefox etsy."

Also, it's worth noting that the pipefox comprises the far less @#$&ed-up half of my favorite spread in Bestiary 4. So just wait and see the creepy "P" monster he's sharing a bunk with. ;)

Shisumo wrote:

Out of curiosity, how is this thing CR 2? While it would be extremely obnoxious to try to kill one at low levels with its greater invisibility, I'm trying to figure out how its 1d2-5 bite attack constitutes a serious threat to, well, anything, even at 1st level. 6 free points of nonlethal damage is kind of annoying, but beyond that...?

Its higher cr than the Almiraj... How could theY!

Probably because the creature has a wide multitude of ways to cast divination spells and screw over your party. Also, to make it an option as a familiar.

Also, it's worth noting that the pipefox comprises the far less @#$&ed-up half of my favorite spread in Bestiary 4. So just wait and see the creepy "P" monster he's sharing a bunk with. ;)

Heh. That pipefox pal Wes is hinting at ends up being a pretty awesome base for a mythic foe in a certain Adventure Path though.

F. Wesley Schneider wrote:

Also, it's worth noting that the pipefox comprises the far less @#$&ed-up half of my favorite spread in Bestiary 4. So just wait and see the creepy "P" monster he's sharing a bunk with. ;)

Heh. That pipefox pal Wes is hinting at ends up being a pretty awesome base for a mythic foe in a certain Adventure Path though.

Researching the monster you two are alluding to gave me some wonderfully frightening fuel for a creature I hope to make one day. Mmmm...*shudder*.

Every character will want to cuddle with it?!?

Screw that, I want to cuddle it.

Oh, this is so getting stuck into my Blighted Fey area of Kingmaker!

Please tell me I can get one with Improved Familiar!

This...this is relevant to my interests.

More importantly... is this going to be a LEGAL PFS Improved Familiar!! :) I want it for my Kitsune Witch!!! :)

James Jacobs wrote:

F. Wesley Schneider wrote:

Also, it's worth noting that the pipefox comprises the far less @#$&ed-up half of my favorite spread in Bestiary 4. So just wait and see the creepy "P" monster he's sharing a bunk with. ;)

Heh. That pipefox pal Wes is hinting at ends up being a pretty awesome base for a mythic foe in a certain Adventure Path though.

Researching the monster you two are alluding to gave me some wonderfully frightening fuel for a creature I hope to make one day. Mmmm...*shudder*.

I read this as a monster you are going to try to create in real life, mad scientist style.

They also have been known to eat cookies, prevent those that pay them homage from getting viruses, keep tabs on things, aggressively attack creatures that pop-up, and are a known enemy of Trojan Horses and malicious robots.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SNLJDR-XbVY

So going to cuddle!

LONGFOX!

:D

Oh God please let there be a Nyan Cat analogue eventually

James Jacobs wrote:

F. Wesley Schneider wrote:

Also, it's worth noting that the pipefox comprises the far less @#$&ed-up half of my favorite spread in Bestiary 4. So just wait and see the creepy "P" monster he's sharing a bunk with. ;)

Heh. That pipefox pal Wes is hinting at ends up being a pretty awesome base for a mythic foe in a certain Adventure Path though.

Researching the monster you two are alluding to gave me some wonderfully frightening fuel for a creature I hope to make one day. Mmmm...*shudder*.

I present to you, ladies and gentlemen, the Tease Squad!

Ceci n'est pas une pipe renard.

Also it loves fried tofu but shouldn't it too often because its bad for it.

Adam Daigle wrote:

James Jacobs wrote:

F. Wesley Schneider wrote:

Also, it's worth noting that the pipefox comprises the far less @#$&ed-up half of my favorite spread in Bestiary 4. So just wait and see the creepy "P" monster he's sharing a bunk with. ;)

Heh. That pipefox pal Wes is hinting at ends up being a pretty awesome base for a mythic foe in a certain Adventure Path though.

Researching the monster you two are alluding to gave me some wonderfully frightening fuel for a creature I hope to make one day. Mmmm...*shudder*.

I read this as a monster you are going to try to create in real life, mad scientist style.

Well, there *is* a long weekend coming up!

The hell?

Ceci n'est pas une pipe renard.

Bravo, Dudemeister. Now everyone in the house is wondering why I'm laughing so hard, and they'll never understand...

DM_aka_Dudemeister wrote:

Ceci n'est pas une pipe renard.

Bravo, Dudemeister. Now everyone in the house is wondering why I'm laughing so hard, and they'll never understand...

Finally, those years studying Fine Arts paid off! I'm telling my parents I DIDN'T waste those years in college.

There are so many asian monsters I know about that aren't in the bestiary yet.

Hyakume, Onryo, Kamaitachi, Jubokko, Akaname, Enenra, Amikiri, Gaki, Harionna, Heikegani, Kekkai, Namazu, Nekomata, Bakeneko, Omukade and I probably forget a dozen more.

And out of all Japanese/Asian monsters this monsters comes into bestiary 4, the only one it seems I don't know about :-p

I really hope this isn't the only asian monster tho.