Dripping Creature

'Dripping Creature' is a pattern that can be added to any Creature, hereafter referred to as the base creature. A Dripping Creature is coated in or full of 'Something Bad'. They may have masses of ants swarming all over them, or be coated in a thick-slathered layer of offal. They might be oozing drops of lava that splatter all around, or be seething with void energy.

A Dripping Creature uses all of the base creature's statistics and abilities except as noted below.

CR (challenge rating)

Same as base creature +1.

Size and Type

The creature's Size and Type do not change.

Initiative Modifier

The creature's initiative modifier increases by +1.

Senses

No changes.

Armor Class

Dripping Creatures gain +2 AC.

Hit Dice

No changes.

Defensive Ability

A Dripping Creature gains the following abilities, which may be added to their Bestiary entry:

Aura: Once per round, when it is struck by a melee attack, a Dripping Creature emits a splatter of vile, juicy corruption in all directions. This is an energy damage aura that inflicts one of either acid (energy, common), necrotic (energy, uncommon), or tenebrous (energy, rare) damage. The DM should choose which type when this Pattern is applied, with an eye to the creature's environment and origin, and should generally use the most common sort of damage which matches their environment and origin.

This damage aura effects all enemy creatures within 1 square plus (adjusted Challenge Rating/10) squares (round down, minimum 2 squares, 3 squares at 21 to 29, 4 squares at 30+) of the Dripping Creature's space. This damage aura inflicts Special Swift Damage points of the chosen damage type. Affected characters may roll a Will save against an Average Save DC to only take half damage.

Speed

A Dripping Creature's base speed improves by ten feet in all movement categories it has.

Melee Attacks

A Dripping Creature retains all the base creature's attacks, and its weapon and armor proficiencies. After reaching an adjusted CR (challenge rating) of 9, a Dripping Creature adds 1d6 of energy damage (the same type as is inflicted by its aura, usually) to all its melee attacks.

Damage

The base damage of all attacks does not change.

Space and Reach

No Changes.

Offensive Ability

Aside from the changes above and below, no offensive abilities.

Ability Scores

No changes.

Maneuver Offense and Maneuver Defense

No changes.

Feats

No changes.

Skills

No changes.