Troops, Hobgoblin Phalanx TroopHobgoblin Phalanx Troop CR 10Source Pathfinder #117: Assault on Longshadow pg. 90
XP 9,600
LE Medium humanoid (goblinoid, troop)
Init +8; Senses darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +18DefenseAC 25, touch 14, flat-footed 21 (+9 armor, +4 Dex, +2 shield)
hp 126 (12d8+72)
Fort +13, Ref +8, Will +12
Defensive Abilities close ranks, troop traitsOffenseSpeed 20 ft.
Melee troop (3d6+5 plus trip)
Space 20 ft., Reach 10 ft.
Special Attacks tripping spears, volleyStatisticsStr 20, Dex 19, Con 20, Int 13, Wis 22, Cha 9
Base Atk +9; CMB +14 (+16 trip); CMD 28 (30 vs. trip)
Feats Combat Expertise, Deflect Arrows, Improved Initiative, Improved Trip, Improved Unarmed Strike, Toughness
Skills Intimidate +11, Perception +18, Stealth +20; Racial Modifiers +4 Stealth
Languages GoblinEcologyEnvironment any land
Organization solitary, pair, or legion (3–8)
Treasure standardSpecial AbilitiesClose Ranks (Ex) A hobgoblin phalanx troop can adopt a defensive position as a move action. This doubles the troop’s shield bonus to AC and grants it DR 5/— until the beginning of its next turn. While adopting this defensive posture, the hobgoblin phalanx troop’s speed is reduced to 5 feet.
Tripping Spears (Ex) Hobgoblin phalanx troops are adept at using their spears to knock creatures off their feet. The troop’s troop attack gains the trip weapon quality.
Volley (Ex) A hobgoblin phalanx troop can fire a volley of arrows as a standard action. This attack takes the form of up to four lines with a range of 100 feet. These lines can start from the corner of any square in the troop’s space. Each creature in any of these lines takes 4d6 points of piercing damage per line that hits it (Reflex DC 20 half). The save DC is Dexterity-based.DescriptionHobgoblin soldiers who excel in Ironfang Legion regiments are promoted to serve in the Ironfang Phalanx. These soldiers are in much better physical condition than typical Ironfang Legion soldiers and are trained in specialized shield and spear techniques, allowing them to erect a nearly impenetrable shield wall while still keeping their spears up and ready to strike.Creatures in "Troops" CategorySource Pathfinder #100: A Song of Silver pg. 122
The troop subtype represents an organized group of trained soldiers who act as a unit, rather than as individuals. A troop is something of an abstraction, in that the component creatures that make up the troop are mostly irrelevant; only the troop as a whole matters for the purposes of combat. A troop is similar to a swarm, but is normally composed of Small or Medium creatures. Large groups of Tiny or smaller creatures should use the normal swarm rules.
Troop Subtype: A troop is a collection of creatures that acts as a single creature, similar to a swarm, but typically as part of a military unit. A troop has the characteristics of its type, except as noted here. A troop has a single pool of Hit Dice and hit points, a single initiative modifier, a single speed, and a single Armor Class. A troop attempts saving throws as a single creature.
A single troop occupies a 20-foot-by-20-foot square, equal in size to a Gargantuan creature, though the actual size category of the troop is the same as that of the component creatures. The area occupied by a troop is completely shapable (as a similar spell effect), though the troop must remain in contiguous squares to accurately reflect the teamwork of trained military units. A troop has a reach equal to that of the component creatures based on size or armament. A troop can move through squares occupied by enemies and vice versa without impediment, although the troop provokes an attack of opportunity if it does so. A troop can move through any area large enough for its component creatures.
The exact number of a troop’s component creatures varies, but in general, a troop of Small or Medium creatures consists of approximately 12 to 30 creatures. Larger creatures can form troops, but the area occupied by such a troop should increase proportionally according to the size of the component creatures.
Troop Traits: A troop is not subject to flanking, but it is subject to critical hits and sneak attacks if its component creatures are subject to such attacks. Reducing a troop to 0 hit points or fewer causes it to break up, effectively destroying the troop, though the damage taken until that point does not degrade its ability to attack or resist attack. A troop is never staggered or reduced to a dying state by damage. Also, a troop cannot be subjected to the bull rush, dirty trickAPG, disarm, dragAPG, grapple, repositionAPG, or trip combat maneuvers, except by area effects that include such effects. A troop can grapple an opponent.
A troop is immune to any spell or effect that targets a specific number of creatures (including single-target spells such as disintegrate and multiple target spells such as haste), though it is affected by spells or effects that target an area or a nonspecific number of creatures (such as fireball or mass hold monster). A troop takes half again as much damage (+50%) from spells or effects that affect an area. If a troop is rendered unconscious by means of nonlethal damage, it disperses and does not reform until its hit points exceed its nonlethal damage.
Troop Attack: Creatures with the troop subtype don’t make standard melee attacks. Instead, they deal automatic damage to any creature within reach or whose space they occupy at the end of their move, with no attack roll needed. A troop’s stat block has “troop” in its Melee entry with no attack bonus given. The amount of damage a troop deals is based on its Hit Dice, as shown below, plus its Strength modifier.
| Troop HD | Troop Base Damage | | 1–5 | 1d6 | | 6–10 | 2d6 | | 11–15 | 3d6 | | 16–20 | 4d6 | | 21 or more | 5d6 |
Unless stated otherwise, a troop’s attacks are nonmagical. Damage reduction sufficient to reduce a troop attack’s damage to 0 or other special abilities can give a creature immunity (or at least resistance) to the troop’s attacks. Some troops also have other special attacks in addition to normal damage, or inflict more damage than their Hit Dice would normally suggest. Troops threaten all creatures within their reach or within their area, and resolve attacks of opportunity by inflicting automatic troop damage on any foe in reach who provokes such an attack of opportunity. Troops are still limited to making one such attack per round unless they have a feat or special ability that states otherwise.
Because of the chaos of combat, spellcasting or concentrating on spells within the area of a troop or within its reach requires a successful caster level check (DC = 20 + spell level). Using skills that involve patience and concentration requires a successful DC 20 Will save.
Looting Troops: Although troops are composed of a number of individual creatures, the chaos and destruction of battle means that not all of these creatures’ equipment survives the rigors of combat. As a result, parties who wish to claim usable gear or treasure from slain foes treat a troop as a single creature for the purposes of looting, and should be able to recover gear worth a total value equal to the troop’s expected treasure value (as determined by the troop’s CR).
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