Troops, Morlock Swarmer TroopMorlock Swarmer Troop CR 7Source Pathfinder #117: Assault on Longshadow pg. 90
XP 3,200
CE Medium monstrous humanoid (troop)
Init +5; Senses darkvision 120 ft.; Perception +2DefenseAC 18, touch 16, flat-footed 12 (+5 Dex, +1 dodge, +2 natural)
hp 85 (9d10+36)
Fort +6, Ref +11, Will +10
Defensive Abilities troop traits
Weaknesses light blindnessOffenseSpeed 40 ft., climb 30 ft.
Melee troop (4d6+3)
Space 15 ft., Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks leap attack, swarmingStatisticsStr 17, Dex 21, Con 16, Int 5, Wis 14, Cha 6
Base Atk +9; CMB +12; CMD 28
Feats Acrobatic, Dodge, Iron Will, Mobility, Toughness
Skills Acrobatics +18 (+22 when jumping), Climb +25, Stealth +11 (+15 in caverns); Racial Modifiers +8 Acrobatics, +16 Climb, +4 Stealth in caverns
Languages Undercommon
SQ expert climberEcologyEnvironment any underground
Organization solitary, pair, or tribe (3–6)
Treasure standardSpecial AbilitiesExpert Climber (Ex) A morlock swarmer troop can cling to cave walls and even ceilings as long as the surface has hand- and footholds. In effect, the troop is treated as constantly being under a nonmagical version of the spell spider climb, save that it cannot cling to smooth surfaces. This ability doubles the +8 racial bonus on Climb checks normally afforded creatures that have a climb speed.
Leap Attack (Ex) As a standard action, a morlock swarmer troop that succeeds at an Acrobatics check can move as per the results of that check, making either a long jump or a high jump as normal. The troop must move horizontally in a straight line during its jump. This movement does not provoke attacks of opportunity. When using this ability, the morlock swarmer troop can deal troop damage to any creature it is adjacent to over the course of the jump. This does not allow the morlock swarmer troop to deal troop damage to a creature more than once per round.
Swarming (Ex) Much of the morlock swarmer troop’s damage comes from sneak attacks made by its constituent members as they climb over one another, confusing their prey. Against creatures that cannot be flanked or that are immune to critical hits, sneak attacks, or precision-based damage, the morlock swarmer troop’s attack damage is reduced to 2d6.DescriptionWhile all morlocks are adept at fighting as a group and swarming against enemies, Kosseruk’s training has whipped these morlocks into a cohesive troop, making them particularly deadly. It is unlikely the morlock troops would function were it not for Zanathura’s influence.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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