Shadow Mastiff: Difference between revisions

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m (Text replacement - "<!-- ROLE-BASED SPECIAL ABILITIES --> | HideRoleReminder1 = <!-- Roles only; Values: Y (for yes) or leave blank (to leave reminder (if any) displayed) --> | HideRoleReminder2 = <!-- Roles only; Values: Y (for yes) or lea...)
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| Description | A shadow mastiff is a creature that looks like a large dog, except that its coat is deep, supernatural black.  On a quick glance, a shadow mastiff may pass for an ordinary, if very large dog &mdash; 'man's best friend'. However, on closer examination, the horrendous evil lurking in this creature is obvious.
| Description | A shadow mastiff is a creature that looks like a large dog, except that its coat is deep, supernatural black.  On a quick glance, a shadow mastiff may pass for an ordinary, if very large dog &mdash; 'man's best friend'. However, on closer examination, the horrendous evil lurking in this creature is obvious.


: Shadow mastiffs come from some dark place, some place outside this world, a shadowy place where the world is a twisted reflection of our own.  This is the Plane of Shadows, where even the best things, like mankind's loyal companions, are twisted and evil.
Shadow mastiffs come from some dark place, some place outside this world, a shadowy place where the world is a twisted reflection of our own.  This is the Plane of Shadows, where even the best things, like mankind's loyal companions, are twisted and evil.


: Shadow mastiffs exude terrible menace at the best of times, and when they make even the smallest of threatening gestures, fear grips the heart of even the most hardened souls.
Shadow mastiffs exude terrible menace at the best of times, and when they make even the smallest of threatening gestures, fear grips the heart of even the most hardened souls.
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   <!-- Values: Sp, Su, Ex; can also include things like "disease", "poison" or "stance" -->
   <!-- Values: Sp, Su, Ex; can also include things like "disease", "poison" or "stance" -->


| Ability-1-Action-Required =  
| Ability-1-Action-Required = Always On
   <!-- Values: Full Round Action, Full Attack Action, Standard Action, Move Action, Swift Action, Free Action, Immediate Action
   <!-- Values: Full Round Action, Full Attack Action, Standard Action, Move Action, Swift Action, Free Action, Immediate Action
                 Free Action 1/Rnd, Free Action 1/Enc, Always On, Auto At Start of Encounter, Auto Upon Death, etc.        -->
                 Free Action 1/Rnd, Free Action 1/Enc, Always On, Auto At Start of Encounter, Auto Upon Death, etc.        -->
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   <!--Values: Sp, Su, Ex; can also include things like "disease", "poison" or "stance"-->
   <!--Values: Sp, Su, Ex; can also include things like "disease", "poison" or "stance"-->


| Ability-2-Action-Required =  
| Ability-2-Action-Required = Move Action 1/Enc, if Shadow Blend is working
   <!-- Values: Full Round Action, Full Attack Action, Standard Action, Move Action, Swift Action, Free Action, Immediate Action
   <!-- Values: Full Round Action, Full Attack Action, Standard Action, Move Action, Swift Action, Free Action, Immediate Action
                 Free Action 1/Rnd, Free Action 1/Enc, Always On, Auto At Start of Encounter, Auto Upon Death, etc.        -->
                 Free Action 1/Rnd, Free Action 1/Enc, Always On, Auto At Start of Encounter, Auto Upon Death, etc.        -->
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   <!--Values: Sp, Su, Ex; can also include things like "disease", "poison" or "stance"-->
   <!--Values: Sp, Su, Ex; can also include things like "disease", "poison" or "stance"-->


| Ability-3-Action-Required =  
| Ability-3-Action-Required = Swift Action
   <!-- Values: Full Round Action, Full Attack Action, Standard Action, Move Action, Swift Action, Free Action, Immediate Action
   <!-- Values: Full Round Action, Full Attack Action, Standard Action, Move Action, Swift Action, Free Action, Immediate Action
                 Free Action 1/Rnd, Free Action 1/Enc, Always On, Auto At Start of Encounter, Auto Upon Death, etc.        -->
                 Free Action 1/Rnd, Free Action 1/Enc, Always On, Auto At Start of Encounter, Auto Upon Death, etc.        -->
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   <!--Values: Sp, Su, Ex; can also include things like "disease", "poison" or "stance"-->
   <!--Values: Sp, Su, Ex; can also include things like "disease", "poison" or "stance"-->


| Ability-4-Action-Required =  
| Ability-4-Action-Required = Automatic after successful Shadow maw attack
   <!-- Values: Full Round Action, Full Attack Action, Standard Action, Move Action, Swift Action, Free Action, Immediate Action
   <!-- Values: Full Round Action, Full Attack Action, Standard Action, Move Action, Swift Action, Free Action, Immediate Action
                 Free Action 1/Rnd, Free Action 1/Enc, Always On, Auto At Start of Encounter, Auto Upon Death, etc.        -->
                 Free Action 1/Rnd, Free Action 1/Enc, Always On, Auto At Start of Encounter, Auto Upon Death, etc.        -->
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| CombatTactics = Shadow Mastiffs hunt in packs, and cooperate to efficiently bring down their enemies.  Because Menace cannot affect a foe more than once per round, only one Mastiff will use the Menace ability each round.
| CombatTactics = Shadow Mastiffs hunt in packs, and cooperate to efficiently bring down their enemies.  Because Menace cannot affect a foe more than once per round, only one Mastiff will use the Menace ability each round.


:Shadow Mastiffs also have Spring Attack, allowing them to use their excellent speed to run into a fight, make a bite attack, and run back out.  This forces enemies to move up to the Mastiff, possibly provoking attacks of opportunity from their startled allies. Even worse, if someone attacks the beasts from range, then the next round the offended Mastiff will use Shadowy Lunge to exact revenge.  More than one hapless Wizard has expired suddenly and terribly after hitting Shadow Mastiffs with a fireball, only to be buried under a swarm of enraged beasts that suddenly appeared adjacent to them...with flanks, and attacking against their flat-footed armor class.
Shadow Mastiffs also have Spring Attack, allowing them to use their excellent speed to run into a fight, make a bite attack, and run back out.  This forces enemies to move up to the Mastiff, possibly provoking attacks of opportunity from their startled allies. Even worse, if someone attacks the beasts from range, then the next round the offended Mastiff will use Shadowy Lunge to exact revenge.  More than one hapless Wizard has expired suddenly and terribly after hitting Shadow Mastiffs with a fireball, only to be buried under a swarm of enraged beasts that suddenly appeared adjacent to them...with flanks, and attacking against their flat-footed armor class.


:Once enemies move to engage, the Mastiff is usually pretty happy to take full attacks, but may use spring attack to find a flank or reposition themselves.  Shadow Mastiffs are not brilliant, but have animal cunning, and a solid understanding of pack tactics, and will use their 50 percent miss chance to try and set up flanks, attack prone foes, and generally be terribly dangerous.  
Once enemies move to engage, the Mastiff is usually pretty happy to take full attacks, but may use spring attack to find a flank or reposition themselves.  Shadow Mastiffs are not brilliant, but have animal cunning, and a solid understanding of pack tactics, and will use their 50 percent miss chance to try and set up flanks, attack prone foes, and generally be terribly dangerous.  


:Shadow Mastiffs will flee a combat if clearly outmatched by their enemies, and especially if their Shadow Blend power has been negated.
Shadow Mastiffs will flee a combat if clearly outmatched by their enemies, and especially if their Shadow Blend power has been negated.




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| OutOfCombat = Shadow Mastiffs are surprisingly not very popular as pets of other monster clans, mainly because they are nearly impossible to leash or control, thanks to their Shadowy Lunge power.  In addition, their temperament is bad in the extreme.   
| OutOfCombat = Shadow Mastiffs are surprisingly not very popular as pets of other monster clans, mainly because they are nearly impossible to leash or control, thanks to their Shadowy Lunge power.  In addition, their temperament is bad in the extreme.   


:Instead, if Shadow Mastiffs are found with other monsters, they are treated as working companions, not pets, typically housed separately from others and placed strategically in the way of invaders. Given how mean and aggressive a Shadow Mastiff is, they will perform their duty without prompting.
Instead, if Shadow Mastiffs are found with other monsters, they are treated as working companions, not pets, typically housed separately from others and placed strategically in the way of invaders. Given how mean and aggressive a Shadow Mastiff is, they will perform their duty without prompting.




Revision as of 09:47, 24 March 2021

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