Greater Skeleton (3.5e Template)

Greater Skeleton

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A skeleton that is no mindless undead, but retains their former strength.

GREATER SKELETON

Like their lesser versions, Greater Skeletons are the animated bones of the dead, however, while they obey the orders of their evil masters, they are not mindless automatons.

Because of the resources required in their creation, and their greater mental faculties, a geater skeleton often wears clothes and armor similar to those it wore in life.

Greater Skeletons can be created with the Create Undead spell.

Creating a Greater Skeleton

“Greater Skeleton” is an acquired template that can be added to any corporeal creature (other than an undead) that has a skeletal system (referred to hereafter as the base creature).

Size and Type

The creature’s type changes to undead. It retains any subtype except for alignment subtypes (such as good) and subtypes that indicate kind. It does not gain the augmented subtype. It uses all the base creature’s statistics and special abilities except as noted here.

Hit Dice

Raise all current and future hit dice to d12s.

Speed

Winged skeletons can’t use their wings to fly. If the base creature flew magically, so can the skeleton.

Armor Class

Natural armor bonus changes to a number based on the skeleton’s size: Tiny or smaller: +0 Small: +1 Medium or Large: +2 Huge: +3 Gargantuan: +6 Colossal: +10

Attack

A greater skeleton retains all the natural weapons, manufactured weapon attacks, and weapon proficiencies of the base creature, except for attacks that can’t work without flesh. A creature with hands gains one claw attack per hand; the greater skeleton can strike with each of its claw attacks at its full attack bonus. A greater skeleton’s base attack bonus is equal to 1/2 its Hit Dice, or its normal base attack bonus, whichever is higher.

Damage: Natural and manufactured weapons deal damage normally. A claw attack deals damage depending on the greater skeleton’s size. (If the base creature already had claw attacks with its hands, use the greater skeleton claw damage only if it’s better.) Diminutive or Fine: 1 Tiny: 1d2 Small: 1d3 Medium: 1d4 Large: 1d6 Huge: 1d8 Gargantuan: 2d6 Colossal: 2d8

Full Attack

A greater skeleton that is not using weapons may make two claw attacks as a full attack, rather than their normal weapon attacks. The claw attacks use their full BAB

Special Attacks

A greater skeleton retains all of the base creature's special attacks, except for those that can't work without flesh.

Special Qualities

A greater skeleton retains the base creature's special qualities. A greater skeleton gains the following special qualities.

Immunity to Cold (Ex): Greater Skeletons are not affected by cold.

Damage Reduction 5/Bludgeoning: Greater Skeletons lack flesh or internal organs.

Turn Resistance 2: A greater skeleton has +2 turn resistance.

Abilities

A greater skeleton’s Strength and Dexterity increases by +2, and it has no Constitution score.

Saves

Base save bonuses are Fort +1/3 HD, Ref +1/3 HD, and Will +1/2 HD + 2, or their normal saves, whichever is higher. A greater skeleton gains a +2 Profane bonus to resist Control Undead.

Skills

A greater skeleton retains the skills it had in life.

Feats

A greater skeleton retains all feats of the base creature and gains a bonus feat as well as Improved Initiative.

Environment

Any, usually same as base creature.

Organization

Any

Challenge Rating

Same as base creature +1

Treasure

Same as base creature

Alignment

Usually neutral evil

Advancement

As base creature or by character class

Level Adjustment

+1

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