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Looking for Undead Templates

Mordane76

First Post
Are there any templates in print that can be applied to a creature to make them into a zombie or skeleton? I seem to remember seeing some, but I can't find them anywhere - I seem to remember them being in a Dragon magazine.


Thanks!
 

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Voadam

Legend
Skeleton
Skeletons are the animated bones of the dead, mindless automatons that obey the orders of their evil masters.

A skeleton is seldom garbed in anything more than the rotting remnants of any clothing or armor it was wearing when slain. A skeleton does only what it is ordered to do. It can draw no conclusions of its own and takes no initiative. Because of this limitation, its instructions must always be simple. A skeleton attacks until destroyed.

Creating A Skeleton
"Skeleton" is an acquired template that can be added to any corporeal creature (other than an undead) that has a skeletal system (referred to hereafter as the base creature).

Size and Type
The creature’s type changes to undead. It retains any subtype except for alignment subtypes (such as good) and subtypes that indicate kind. It does not gain the augmented subtype. It uses all the base creature’s statistics and special abilities except as noted here.

Hit Dice
Drop any Hit Dice gained from class levels (to a minimum of 1) and raise remaining Hit Dice to d12s. If the creature has more than 20 Hit Dice, it can’t be made into a skeleton by the animate dead spell.

Speed
Winged skeletons can’t use their wings to fly. If the base creature flew magically, so can the skeleton.

Skeleton Size Natural Armor Bonus
Tiny or smaller +0
Small +1
Medium or Large +2
Huge +3
Gargantuan +6
Colossal +10
Armor Class
Natural armor bonus changes to a number based on the skeleton’s size:

Attacks
A skeleton retains all the natural weapons, manufactured weapon attacks, and weapon proficiencies of the base creature, except for attacks that can’t work without flesh. A creature with hands gains one claw attack per hand; the skeleton can strike with each of its claw attacks at its full attack bonus. A skeleton’s base attack bonus is equal to ½ its Hit Dice.

Skeleton Size Claw Damage
Diminutive or Fine 1
Tiny 1d2
Small 1d3
Medium 1d4
Large 1d6
Huge 1d8
Gargantuan 2d6
Colossal 2d8
Hit Dice Challenge Rating
½ 1/6
1 1/3
2-3 1
4-5 2
6-7 3
8-9 4
10-11 5
12-14 6
15-17 7
18-20 8
Damage
Natural and manufactured weapons deal damage normally. A claw attack deals damage depending on the skeleton’s size. (If the base creature already had claw attacks with its hands, use the skeleton claw damage only if it’s better.)

Special Attacks
A skeleton retains none of the base creature’s special attacks.

Special Qualities
A skeleton loses most special qualities of the base creature. It retains any extraordinary special qualities that improve its melee or ranged attacks. A skeleton gains the following special qualities.

Immunity to Cold (Ex)
Skeletons are not affected by cold.

Damage Reduction (Ex)
A skeleton has damage deduction 5/bludgeoning. Skeletons lack flesh or internal organs.

Saves
Base save bonuses are Fort +1/3 HD, Ref +1/3 HD, and Will +½ HD + 2.

Abilities
A skeleton’s Dexterity increases by +2, it has no Constitution or Intelligence score, its Wisdom changes to 10, and its Charisma changes to 1.

Skills
A skeleton has no skills.

Feats
A skeleton loses all feats of the base creature and gains Improved Initiative.

Environment
Any, usually same as base creature.

Organization
Any.

Challenge Rating
Depends on Hit Dice. See table.

Treasure
None.

Alignment
Always neutral evil.

Advancement
As base creature (or — if the base creature advances by character class).

Level Adjustment
None.



Zombie
Zombies are corpses reanimated through dark and sinister magic.

Because of their utter lack of intelligence, the instructions given to a newly created zombie must be very simple.

Creating A Zombie
"Zombie" is an acquired template that can be added to any corporeal creature (other than an undead) that has a skeletal system (referred to hereafter as the base creature).

Size and Type
The creature’s type changes to undead. It retains any subtypes except alignment subtypes and subtypes that indicate kind. It does not gain the augmented subtype. It uses all the base creature’s statistics and special abilities except as noted here.

Hit Dice
Drop any Hit Dice from class levels (to a minimum of 1), double the number of Hit Dice left, and raise them to d12s. If the base creature has more than 10 Hit Dice (not counting those gained with experience), it can’t be made into a zombie with the animate dead spell.

Speed
If the base creature can fly, its maneuverability rating drops to clumsy.

Zombie Size Natural Armor Bonus
Tiny or smaller +0
Small +1
Medium +2
Large +3
Huge +4
Gargantuan +7
Colossal +11
Armor Class
Natural armor bonus increases by a number based on the zombie’s size:

Base Attack
A zombie has a base attack bonus equal to ½ its Hit Dice.

Attacks
A zombie retains all the natural weapons, manufactured weapon attacks, and weapon proficiencies of the base creature. A zombie also gains a slam attack.

Zombie Size Slam Damage
Fine 1
Diminutive 1d2
Tiny 1d3
Small 1d4
Medium 1d6
Large 1d8
Huge 2d6
Gargantuan 2d8
Colossal 4d6
Damage
Natural and manufactured weapons deal damage normally. A slam attack deals damage depending on the zombie’s size. (Use the base creature’s slam damage if it’s better.)

Special Attacks
A zombie retains none of the base creature’s special attacks.

Special Qualities
A zombie loses most special qualities of the base creature. It retains any extraordinary special qualities that improve its melee or ranged attacks. A zombie gains the following special quality.

Damage Reduction (Ex)
A zombie has damage reduction 5/slashing. Zombies are lumbering masses of flesh.

Single Actions Only (Ex)
Zombies have poor reflexes and can perform only a single move action or attack action each round. A zombie can move up to its speed and attack in the same round, but only if it attempts a charge.

Saves
Base save bonuses are Fort +1/3 HD, Ref +1/3 HD, and Will +½ HD + 2.

Abilities
A zombie’s Strength increases by +2, its Dexterity decreases by 2, it has no Constitution or Intelligence score, its Wisdom changes to 10, and its Charisma changes to 1.

Skills
A zombie has no skills.

Feats
A zombie loses all feats of the base creature and gains Toughness.

Environment
Any land and underground.

Organization
Any.

Hit Dice Challenge Rating
½ 1/8
1 ¼
2 ½
4 1
6 2
8-10 3
12-14 4
15-16 5
18-20 6
Challenge Rating
Depends on Hit Dice, as follows:

Treasure
None.

Alignment
Always neutral evil.

Advancement
As base creature, but double Hit Dice (maximum 20), or — if the base creature advances by character class.

Level Adjustment
—.
 


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