Creature Archetypes
A creature archetype is a template for the part a creature plays in a fight: how it moves, how it hits, how hard it is to bring down. Just as an Aethyrsparked archetype combines a domain, a source and a technique into a ready character concept, a creature archetype combines a role, a profile and a tier into a ready stat block. Use archetypes to stat a creature the Creatures compendium doesn’t have, or to turn a description into numbers at the table.
Geminaea’s wildshapes are already built this way, so this method borrows their tables.
The Eight Roles
Section titled “The Eight Roles”Each wildshape belongs to one of eight templates, each with two example forms. The features and profiles listed are those the wildshape tables give each role.
| Role | Plays as | Profiles | Typical features | Wildshapes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Ambusher | Strikes first from hiding, then slips away | Swift, Nimble | Ambush, Camouflage, Paralytic | Shadowsting, Nightstriker |
| Bruiser | Charges in and soaks punishment | Balanced, Sturdy | Charge, Intimidating, Roar | Ridgeback, Ironhide |
| Defender | Holds ground and is hard to hurt | Sturdy, Hulking | Defensive, Hardened, Spiny | Bristleback, Stoneshell |
| Disruptor | Hinders and harries rather than kills | Balanced, Nimble | Sticky, Sting, Fling | Skitterlash, Guilegrip |
| Grappler | Seizes a target and won’t let go | Balanced, Nimble | Grappler, Constrict, Swallow | Snapgrabber, Lockbinder |
| Mauler | Deals heavy damage in a frenzy | Swift, Nimble | Rampage, Rending, Blood Frenzy | Springclaw, Razorclaw |
| Packhunter | Fights best beside others of its kind | Balanced, Sturdy | Pack Tactics, Tracker, Support | Packstalker, Bloodtracker |
| Skirmisher | Moves constantly, striking and leaping clear | Balanced, Sturdy | Pounce, Leaper, Acrobatic | Fleetfoot, Courser |
Building a Creature
Section titled “Building a Creature”- Choose a role from the table above.
- Choose a profile. The five profiles trade toughness for damage and speed: a Swift creature hits hard and moves fast but is fragile, a Hulking one is the reverse.
- Choose a tier. Wildshapes come in five tiers, first available at Aethyrflame Intensity level 2, 5, 9, 13 and 16. Start with the highest tier at or below the party’s intensity level.
- Take the baseline. The Wildshapes table row for that role, profile and tier gives hit points, ability scores, attack bonus, damage dice and attacks per action. Those numbers are the creature’s stat block.
- Make it yours. Give it a type, size, senses and movement to fit the description. Swap or add features from the wildshape features or the wider creature abilities library. A creature that casts spells or has a breath weapon can take those from a similar compendium creature.
- Check the difficulty. Wildshapes are balanced as forms for player characters, not as opponents. Judge the finished creature with Encounter Building and adjust its hit points or damage if it plays too easy or too hard.
Profiles
Section titled “Profiles”| Profile Name | Physical Stature | Damage Potency | Hit Die Size | Damage Die Size | Movement Speed | Base Armor Class | Base Constitution |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Swift | Fragile | Devastating | 4 | 12 | 50 | 8 | 6 |
| Nimble | Light | Severe | 6 | 10 | 45 | 9 | 8 |
| Balanced | Normal | Potent | 8 | 8 | 40 | 10 | 10 |
| Sturdy | Robust | Moderate | 10 | 6 | 35 | 11 | 12 |
| Hulking | Stalwart | Minor | 12 | 4 | 30 | 12 | 14 |
Beyond Beasts
Section titled “Beyond Beasts”The wildshape tiers each favor a kind of creature, from land animals at the first tier to elementals at the fifth, but the roles fit anything. A Bruiser can be an ogre, a war construct or a charging bull; a Disruptor can be a hedge mage or a swarm of stinging sprites. Pick the role from what the creature does in a fight, not from what it is.