New Monster: Blistering Beast

My brother Jorrit and I decided to start a new project together. Over the coming weeks, we’ll be creating some new monsters; I’m writing them up for old-school games (as well as drawing them), and Jorrit does Pathfinder stats. Here’s the first one.

Blistering Beast

Armor Class: 3

Hit Dice: 7

Move: 90’ (30’)

Swimming: 90’ (30)

Attacks: 1 bite + special

Damage: 2d8

No. Appearing: 1 (1d3)

Save As: F3

Morale: 7

Treasure Type: See below

Intelligence: 2

Alignment: Neutral

XP Value: 1,250

The blistering beast, also known as the river boiler, is a magical monster most commonly found in subtropical rivers. It is about 20’ long, and has a hard, stony shell both for protection as well as camouflage.

When hunting, the beast lies in waiting just below the surface, the numerous humps on its back showing above the water. To passersby, the beast’s back looks exactly like convenient stepping stones to cross the river. When a potential meal uses it as such, the blistering beast will wait patiently until the victim reaches the middle of the river. Then it attacks.

The blistering beast can cause its Shell to become extremely hot, burning any creature touching it for 1d6 fire damage, and boiling the water within a 10’ radius. Creatures in the boiling water take 1d6 damage each round until they reach safer waters.

Blistering beasts normally don’t have treasure, but the possessions of previous victims might be found in the water.

BLISTERING BEAST              CR 7

XP 3,200

N Huge magical beast (aquatic, fire)

Init +3; Senses low-light vision, darkvision 60ft.; Perception +4

DEFENSE

AC 20, touch 7, flat-footed 20 (+13 natural, -2 size, -1 dex)

hp 85 (9d10 + 36)

Fort  +9, Ref +4, Will +3

Immune fire

Weaknesses cold

OFFENSE

Speed 20 ft., swim 30 ft., sprint

Melee bite +14 (4d8 + 10) plus burn, grab

Space 10 ft.; Reach 5 ft.

Special Attacks Boil Water, Burn (2d6, DC 18), Heat

STATISTICS

Str 24, Dex 8, Con 18, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6

Base Atk +3; CMB +18; CMD 27

Feats Improved Initiative, Improved Natural Weapon, Run, Skill Focus (Perception, Stealth)

Skills Perception +4, Stealth +6 (+14 in water); Racial Modifiers +8 Stealth in water

SQ Water Dependency

ECOLOGY

Environment subtropical rivers

Organization solitary or pair

Treasure none

SPECIAL ABILITIES

Boil Water (Ex) The blistering beast’s heat boils the water within a 10’ radius. Creatures in the boiling water take 1d6 fire damage each round until they reach safer waters.

Heat (Ex) Merely touching or being touched by a blistering beast automatically deals 2d6 fire damage.

Sprint (Ex) Once per minute a crocodile may sprint, increasing its land speed to 40 feet for 1 round.

Water Dependency (Ex) Blistering beasts can survive out of the water for 1 minute per point of Constitution. Beyond this limit, a blistering beast runs the risk of suffocation, as if it were drowning.