Powerful Mage

'Spellcasting Creature' is a pattern that can be added to any creature that has the ability to use magic. Hobgoblin Wizards, Ogrish Witches, Troll Mumblers, Kobold Shamans, even, horribly, Dragon Sorcerors, all these and many more can be emulated with this pattern. If the GM wants their monsters to have the ability to use magic as fluidly and capably as the players do, then this is the ticket!

However, a word of caution to GM's. Spellcasting Creature gives a monster the ability to use all sorts of spells...out of combat. This allows the GM to have magically capable foes who can cast or remove wards, sneak around invisibly, and all manner of cool, challenging, interesting things. But in COMBAT, none of those magical effects exist! In combat, monsters always, ALWAYS, fight only with their base stats! The GM may not buff the monsters 'for free'. That breaks the balance of play, and may lead to unexpected effects.

Now, if the GM wishes to simulate the effects of a monstrous Wizard casting spells on their allies, this can easily be emulated through the use of various Patterns. Invisible Creature, Advanced Creature, Aerial Creature, Searing Creature, all these patterns and more can be applied to the other creatures in an encounter and explained as the effects of the buffs being cast out of combat by the Spellcasting Creature. Note, however, that all these effects will add to the Challenge Rating of the monsters, to properly capture the added difficulty of such fights. Be sure to keep an eye on your difficulty! And have fun! It is entirely possible to design hundreds of interesting 'roleplay' encounters with various Patterns. If that's your notion of fun, go to town!

Whatever the circumstances of their existence, a Spellcasting Creature uses all of the base creature's statistics and abilities except as noted below.

CR (challenge rating)

Same as base creature +3.

Size and Type

The creature's Size remains the same. Its Type remains the same but it gains the subtype Spellcasting.

Initiative Modifier

Same as Base Creature.

Senses

Same as Base Creature.

Armor Class

Same as Base Creature.

Hit Dice

Same as Base Creature.

Defensive Ability

The Spellcasting Creature gains the following abilities, which may be added to their Bestiary entry:

Aura: - Same as Base Creature

SR: - Same as Base Creature

Special Defenses: Same as Base Creature.

Immunities: Same as Base Creature.

Weaknesses: Same as Base Creature

Out of Combat

Same as Base Creature.

Speed

A Spellcasting Creature's base speed does not change.

Melee Attacks

The Spellcasting Creature retains all the base creature's attacks.

Damage

The Spellcasting Creature does the same damage and effects as the base creature.

Space and Reach

A Spellcasting creature's space and reach do not change.

Offensive Ability

Monstrous Magic

Out of combat, a Spellcasting Creature is assumed to be a competent spell caster for its adjusted Challenge Rating. GM's may use non-combat effects of spellcasting in any way they see fit, in order to advance their stories and present players with fun and interesting situations. Note that neither the Spellcasting Creature or any of its allies ever gain 'free buffs' placed out of combat. If the GM wishes to simulate this, they are encouraged to give the other monsters in an encounter Patterns to emulate what those buffs might be. Hasted creatures, for example, can be effectively modeled by using the Agile Creature Pattern.

The Spellcasting Creature itself, during battle, will not cast any spell they wish, willy-nilly. Instead, they will default to a few 'tried and true' magical effects that they are comfortable with and that perform reliably. These various attacks form their Monstrous Magic power.

Each use of Monstrous Magic is a Spell-like ability that requires a Standard Action to perform, and provokes attacks of opportunity. They may use any ability they wish once each round. If they spend an Action Point, they may use Monstrous Magic twice in one round. The GM may choose which ability from their Monstrous Magic they use each round, or, they roll a random die each round to determine what effect the Spellcasting Monster uses.

• Blast of Flames (Sp)

Once per round, as a standard action, a Spellcasting Creature may shoot forth a blast of flames. This is an area of effect attack with a range of their Adjusted Challenge Rating times ten feet. They must choose a square within that range to which they have line of sight and line of effect. A Blast of Flames erupts from that square, filling the target square and all squares around that square to a radius of their adjusted CR divided by ten, dropping fractions. This power inflicts Special Standard Damage for the monster's adjusted CR. Check the Monster Pattern Damage Chart to calculate this value. Blast of Flames allows a Fort save versus an Average DC for the monster's adjusted CR (challenge rating) taken from the Save DC chart, or, the same DC as the monster's adjusted save DC, to take half damage.

• Bolt of Evil (Sp)

Once per round, as a standard action, a Spellcasting Creature may call down one or more shimmering, awful bolts of pure Evil. This is a Ray attack made as a ranged touch attack against one creature they choose, plus one more creature for every ten levels of their adjusted CR, dropping fractions. No creature may be targeted by more than one bolt. This power inflicts Special Standard Damage for the monster's adjusted CR to any and all creatures struck. Check the Monster Pattern Damage Chart to calculate this value.

• Destroy Magic (Sp)

Once per round, as a standard action, a Spellcasting Creature may attempt to destroy any spell effects on a single creature or object within 50 feet of their space, to which they have line of sight. Line of effect is not required. If the affected creature or object fails a Will save, any spell effects ongoing on the target creature or within that space are ended immediately. This is often used to remove buff spells on players, or to destroy terrain emitters such as inconvenient Pillars, or to get rid of Summoned Monsters, or open holes in Walls, etc. If used against Spell effects for players, the player who placed the effect may make a Will save to resist. Destroy Magic allows a Will save versus a Hard DC for the monster's adjusted CR (challenge rating) taken from the Save DC chart. If the save is made, the magic remains.

• Turn Invisible (Sp)

Once per round, as a standard action, a Spellcasting Creature may turn one allied creature Invisible, as if they used Greater Invisibility. They may use this ability upon themselves, or upon any ally creature they wish, as long as they are within 50 feet and have line of sight and line of effect to that creature.

Ability Scores

A Spellcasting Creature adds +4 Intelligence and/or Charisma, and has a minimum of one stat, Int or Cha, of 10

Maneuver Offense and Maneuver Defense

Same as Base Creature.

Feats

Same as Base Creature.

Skills

Optionally, add one or two skills at new CR+10.