Troops, Ironfang Siege Alchemist TroopA wild-eyed band of hobgoblins cluster tightly around fortified carts containing hoses and reservoirs brimming with strange fluids.Ironfang Siege Alchemist Troop CR 16Source Pathfinder #120: Vault of the Onyx Citadel pg. 88
XP 76,800
LE Medium humanoid (goblinoid, troop)
Init +10; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +22DefenseAC 29, touch 15, flat-footed 24 (+4 armor, +4 Dex, +1 dodge, +10 natural)
hp 241 (21d8+147)
Fort +20, Ref +15, Will +10
Defensive Abilities troop traits; Immune poisonOffenseSpeed 30 ft.
Melee troop (5d6+4 plus 3d6 fire)
Space 20 ft., Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks alchemical bombardment, firedrake spoutStatisticsStr 18, Dex 22, Con 23, Int 16, Wis 13, Cha 9
Base Atk +15; CMB +19; CMD 36
Feats Dodge, Endurance, Exotic Weapon Proficiency (firedrake), Great Fortitude, Improved Initiative, Improved Iron Will, Iron Will, Lightning Reflexes, Siege Engineer, Throw Anything, Toughness
Skills Craft (alchemy) +27, Craft (siege engines) +17, Heal +14, Knowledge (engineering) +24, Perception +22, Stealth +8, Survival +25; Racial Modifiers +4 Stealth
Languages Common, Draconic, Giant, Goblin, Orc
SQ alchemical revitalizationEcologyEnvironment any
Organization solitary or pair
Treasure standardSpecial AbilitiesAlchemical Bombardment (Ex) As a standard action, a siege alchemist troop can target up to 3 squares within 40 feet with a barrage of alchemical bombs. This attack deals 10d4 points of acid or fire damage (as selected by the troop) to all creatures in a 10-foot-radius burst (Reflex DC 26 half). A creature within the area of more than one burst must attempt separate saves against each. The save DC is Dexterity-based.
Alchemical Revitalization (Su) Three times per day as a swift action, this troop can grant itself fast healing 15 for 3 rounds.
Firedrake Spout (Ex) As a standard action, the siege alchemist troop spews forth large gouts of fire from its incendiary siege engines. This attack takes the form of a 120-foot line or a 60-foot cone (as selected by the troop). Targets in the area take 20d6 points of fire damage (Reflex DC 26 half); those who fail their saves also catch on fire. A siege alchemist troop produces enough alchemical ammunition to use this ability 10 times each day. The save DC is Dexterity-based.DescriptionMost members of this troop are supplied with chain shirts, longswords, and bandoliers of acid and alchemist’s fire. As their creations are jury-rigged spontaneously, capturing a usable firedrake (Pathfinder RPG Ultimate Combat 163) after defeating one of these troops is rare.Creatures in "Troops" CategorySource Pathfinder #100: A Song of Silver pg. 122
The troop subtype represents an organized group of trained soldiers who act as a unit, rather than as individuals. A troop is something of an abstraction, in that the component creatures that make up the troop are mostly irrelevant; only the troop as a whole matters for the purposes of combat. A troop is similar to a swarm, but is normally composed of Small or Medium creatures. Large groups of Tiny or smaller creatures should use the normal swarm rules.
Troop Subtype: A troop is a collection of creatures that acts as a single creature, similar to a swarm, but typically as part of a military unit. A troop has the characteristics of its type, except as noted here. A troop has a single pool of Hit Dice and hit points, a single initiative modifier, a single speed, and a single Armor Class. A troop attempts saving throws as a single creature.
A single troop occupies a 20-foot-by-20-foot square, equal in size to a Gargantuan creature, though the actual size category of the troop is the same as that of the component creatures. The area occupied by a troop is completely shapable (as a similar spell effect), though the troop must remain in contiguous squares to accurately reflect the teamwork of trained military units. A troop has a reach equal to that of the component creatures based on size or armament. A troop can move through squares occupied by enemies and vice versa without impediment, although the troop provokes an attack of opportunity if it does so. A troop can move through any area large enough for its component creatures.
The exact number of a troop’s component creatures varies, but in general, a troop of Small or Medium creatures consists of approximately 12 to 30 creatures. Larger creatures can form troops, but the area occupied by such a troop should increase proportionally according to the size of the component creatures.
Troop Traits: A troop is not subject to flanking, but it is subject to critical hits and sneak attacks if its component creatures are subject to such attacks. Reducing a troop to 0 hit points or fewer causes it to break up, effectively destroying the troop, though the damage taken until that point does not degrade its ability to attack or resist attack. A troop is never staggered or reduced to a dying state by damage. Also, a troop cannot be subjected to the bull rush, dirty trickAPG, disarm, dragAPG, grapple, repositionAPG, or trip combat maneuvers, except by area effects that include such effects. A troop can grapple an opponent.
A troop is immune to any spell or effect that targets a specific number of creatures (including single-target spells such as disintegrate and multiple target spells such as haste), though it is affected by spells or effects that target an area or a nonspecific number of creatures (such as fireball or mass hold monster). A troop takes half again as much damage (+50%) from spells or effects that affect an area. If a troop is rendered unconscious by means of nonlethal damage, it disperses and does not reform until its hit points exceed its nonlethal damage.
Troop Attack: Creatures with the troop subtype don’t make standard melee attacks. Instead, they deal automatic damage to any creature within reach or whose space they occupy at the end of their move, with no attack roll needed. A troop’s stat block has “troop” in its Melee entry with no attack bonus given. The amount of damage a troop deals is based on its Hit Dice, as shown below, plus its Strength modifier.
| Troop HD | Troop Base Damage | | 1–5 | 1d6 | | 6–10 | 2d6 | | 11–15 | 3d6 | | 16–20 | 4d6 | | 21 or more | 5d6 |
Unless stated otherwise, a troop’s attacks are nonmagical. Damage reduction sufficient to reduce a troop attack’s damage to 0 or other special abilities can give a creature immunity (or at least resistance) to the troop’s attacks. Some troops also have other special attacks in addition to normal damage, or inflict more damage than their Hit Dice would normally suggest. Troops threaten all creatures within their reach or within their area, and resolve attacks of opportunity by inflicting automatic troop damage on any foe in reach who provokes such an attack of opportunity. Troops are still limited to making one such attack per round unless they have a feat or special ability that states otherwise.
Because of the chaos of combat, spellcasting or concentrating on spells within the area of a troop or within its reach requires a successful caster level check (DC = 20 + spell level). Using skills that involve patience and concentration requires a successful DC 20 Will save.
Looting Troops: Although troops are composed of a number of individual creatures, the chaos and destruction of battle means that not all of these creatures’ equipment survives the rigors of combat. As a result, parties who wish to claim usable gear or treasure from slain foes treat a troop as a single creature for the purposes of looting, and should be able to recover gear worth a total value equal to the troop’s expected treasure value (as determined by the troop’s CR).
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