User:ThunderGod Cid/Hivemaster

Help Wanted

Someone thinks this page needs a bit of help... Looking for feedback concerning these potential revisions to the following abilities of the hivemaster. This is a much more simplified (and IMO, also more player-friendly) version of the hivemind that provides similar benefits and lacks the potential abusiveness of granting sorcerer spells as well as the trickiness of calculating a Charisma score for the creatures in the hive mind. Also, any suggestions for Aspect of the Vermin feats would be cool, too. This template was placed here to direct user suggestions to the page. It may be removed at any time.

Revisions

Hive Mind (Ex): All friendly vermin within a radius of 20 feet per class level around the hivemaster become part of a hive mind that he creates upon reaching 12th level. His swarms, vermin companion, and the companion’s summoned swarms can all be included in this hive mind. Any participant in the hive mind is in constant communication with the whole. If one is aware of a particular danger, they all are. Unless all are flanked or caught flat-footed, none are. As the hive’s leader, the hivemaster reaps the full benefits of the hive mind, gaining a +1 insight bonus to her Armor Class per two other creatures in the hive mind (note that each 5-foot section of a swarm counts as one creature for the purposes of this ability).

Lord of the Flies (Ex): The speed and clarity of communication between the hivemaster and his hive mind are greatly increased. Her insight bonus to AC is now a +1 bonus for each creature within the hive (following the same rules as before).

The Hivemaster’s Vermin Companion

Class Level	Bonus Speed	Natural Armor Adj.	Special
1st–2nd	+0 ft.	+0	Empathic Link, Share Saving Throws
3rd–5th	+0 ft.	+0	Virulence, Evasion
6th–8th	+10 ft.	+2	Summon Swarm
9th–11th	+10 ft.	+4	Multiattack
12th–14th	+20 ft.	+6	Battle Vermin
15th–17th	+20 ft.	+8	Improved Evasion
18th–20th	+30 ft.	+10	Insect Plague

Natural Armor Adj.: The number noted here is an improvement to the steed’s existing natural armor bonus.

Str/Dex Adj.: Add this value to the steed's Strength and Dexterity scores.

Empathic Link: The hivemaster can detect the presence of her vermin companion out to a distance of 1 mile. This bond also allows the hivemaster and the vermin companion to share Constitution scores.

Share Saving Throws: The hivemaster and her vermin companion both use whichever of their individual saves are superior.

Virulence: The vermin companion gains Ability Focus with whatever poison it possesses.

Evasion (Ex): The vermin companion takes no damage on a successful Reflex save.

Summon Swarm (Ex): At 6th level, the hivemaster's vermin is recognized as a powerful vermin, and other vermin will respond accordingly. It may now use summon swarm as an extraordinary ability once per encounter.

Multiattack: The vermin companion gains Multiattack as a bonus feat.

Battle Vermin (Ex): At 12th level, the vermin companion gains Improved Natural Attack as a bonus feat with its primary natural weapon. In addition, the hivemaster may now ride the vermin as a mount without any penalties for the vermin being untrained or for not having a saddle.

Improved Evasion (Ex): The vermin companion only takes half damage even on a failed Reflex save.

Insect Plague (Ex): At 18th level, the hivemaster's vermin can now replicate the effects of insect plague (with a caster level equal to the hivemaster's level) once per encounter. This ability replaces the previous summon swarm ability; although the lesser effect may be used, it still counts as the one ue of this ability per encounter.

Hivemaster Feats

• Cicada:

• Stinkbug: When disturbed, the stinkbug releases a malodorous gas that debilitates would-be predators.

3: You may release of noxious cloud of vapors as a standard action that does not provoke an attack of opportunity. This cloud extends out to 30 feet around you. All creatures within it must succeed on a Fortitude save (DC 10 + ½ your hivemaster level + your Constitution modifier) or be sickened for the duration of the cloud’s presence. The cloud lasts 1 round per hivemaster level. It also carries the effects of an obscuring mist spell, and can be dispersed in the same manner as that spell. After you use this ability, you must wait 1d4+1 rounds before using it again. You are immune to any and all effects of your own fog.

7: The cloud of vapors you exude thickens, and now acts in the same fashion as a solid fog spell. As such, it can only be dispersed by a wind that would disperse solid fog.

11: Your stench is now practically palpable even when you have not released your cloud. Any creature within the normal distance of your cloud must succeed on a Fortitude save (using the same DC as before) or be sickened. You may suppress this ability as a free action. In addition, the distance of your cloud of vapor is doubled to 60 feet.

15: Your vapors are now highly acidic, replicating the effects of an acid fog spell.

• Spittlebug:

3: As a standard action, you may unleash a ranged touch attack in which you spit a vile froth secreted from your insectoid digestive tract. The range of this attack is 50 feet + 5 feet per hivemaster level. This froth saps moisture from living creatures that it strikes, dealing 1d6 damage per two hivemaster levels you possess. Particularly deadly to plants and elementals, the froth deals double damage to any creature with those types. It is, however, ineffectual against undead or constructs (which do not depend on moisture for their continued existence), dealing only half damage to them.

7: Your froth can now be secreted from almost every pore of your body. Any creature that successfully hits you with a natural weapon must succeed at a Reflex save (DC 10 + ½ your hivemaster level + your Constitution modifier) or take damage from the froth.

11: You can now release a massive gout of froth, which attacks in a line equal to the range of the touch attack. Each creature within the area of effect is entitled to a Reflex save for half damage. In addition, your froth damage dice are increased to d8’s.

15: Your froth now lines every inch of your maw, and is automatically transferred without a save whenever you hit with a bite attack (if you possess one).

Table: Hivemaster Natural Attacks

Type	Size
	Fine	Diminutive	Tiny	Small	Medium	Large	Huge	Gargantuan	Colossal
Proboscis	—	1	1d2	1d3	1d4	1d6	1d8	2d6	3d6
Pincers/Claw	1	1d2	1d3	1d4	1d6	1d8	2d6	3d6	4d6
Gore	1	1d2	1d3	1d4	1d6	1d8	2d6	3d6	4d6
Bite	1	1d2	1d3	1d4	1d6	1d8	2d6	3d6	4d6
Stinger	1d2	1d3	1d4	1d6	1d8	2d6	3d6	4d6	6d6