Another bug based on the 'Starship Troopers' universe. Think of a living, walking flame-thrower.

People in the Pact Worlds wonder if these little creatures were originally used as pets by the Vesk. Of course some brilliant bio-engineer or cyberneticist decided that it would be a good idea to give the little creatures titanium claws and teeth.

The end result is that even if the little creatures are not exactly sturdy, they are fast and their bites and claws can inflict surprisingly dangerous wounds, and often these wounds will bleed rather profusely due to their cybernetic modifications.

A handful of these creatures is not exactly difficult to dispatch, but when they are used against enemy troops or even enemy encampments or fortifications. The little creatures are able to dodge and weave their way out of harm’s grasp, and even area effect weapons are often of little use when dealing with these creatures.

To make matters worse, they can use their teeth to chew through wire mesh and even walls or doors – given enough time – unless the features are made out of pure metal. Wire mesh covering exhaust vents, shafts and the like are completely at the little dino’s mercy!

As is the case with many of the genetically modified dinosaurs used by the Vesk, these creatures are slightly more intelligent than their original ancestors, and even these little creatures are fully capable of learning how to open doors, drawers, and even fiddle with simple latches or other such mechanisms.

When they are not being used to harass enemy soldiers, these creatures are often left to their own devices on the bases and installations used by the Vesk. After all, they keep small vermin and other pests down to a minimum… and the Vesk consider them a tasty snack!

Starfinder Creature Index

Chris Van Deelen is the creator and contributor to over half of the Wisdom from the Wastelands series, contributor to the Swords of Kos: Hekaton anthology. He also wrote Creatures of the Tropical Wastelands, and 100 Oddities found in a Car. As prolific as he is, Chris Van Deelen continues to write and produce material which will be in publication soon. Not only is he a prolific content creator, he also has a wide selection of fiction and stories! If you like his work, please follow his personal author page on Facebook and on Twitter to keep up with his latest news and game content.

Compsognathus Combatant CR 1/3 XP 135

Neutral small animal (technological)

Init +3; Senses: Low light vision ; Perception +3

Defense                                                             HP 6

EAC: 10; KAC: 12

Fort: +3; Ref: +5; Will: +0

Defensive Abilities: Evasion

Offense

Speed: 30 ft.

Melee: Bite +4 (1d3+1 P C Bleed 1 point), or claw +4 (1d4+1 S Crit bleed 1d2)

Space: 2.5 ft., Reach: 5 ft.

Offensive Abilities: Titanium Claws and Teeth

Statistics

Str +0; Dex +3; Con +1; Int -3; Wis +0; Cha +0

Skills: Acrobatics +3, athletics +7, stealth +7

Feats: Lightning reflexes

Languages: None

Ecology

Environment: Any warm

Organization: Small hunting pack (1d4+1), Medium hunting packs (2d6+2), large hunting packs (4d6+4) or massive hunting packs (10d10+10)

Special Abilities

Evasion (Ex): Whenever the Compsognathus is subjected to a reflex save to avoid half damage; it will automatically avoid all damage upon a successful save.

Titanium Claws and teeth (Ex): The little beasts have had their natural weapons augmented with titanium, and as a result, they tend to inflict more damage than a creature of their size and weight. This makes the little monsters even more fearsome – as the damage inflicted by their natural weapons tend to cause the wounds to bleed profusely.

Defensive Regurgitation

Type: Physical

Frequency:  Uncommon

Power Score: Yes

Range: 2 times the power score (round to nearest 5 feet).

Duration: 4d4 hours

AI Recognition: None

Damage: See description

Uses: Power score modifier times per day (minimum of once)

Uneven Growth (drawback)

Type: Plant

Frequency: Uncommon

Power Score: No

Range: Personal

Duration: Permanent

AI Recognition: None

Damage: None

Uses: Constant

Flyer Arachnid Combatant CR 2 XP 600

Neutral medium vermin

Init +9; Senses: Darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +7

Defense                                                             HP 30

EAC: 17; KAC: 19

Fort: +6; Ref: +6; Will: +1

Defensive Abilities: DR 2 / -, evasion; Immunities: fire, poison, radiation

Offense

Speed: 20 ft., 80 ft. (fly – good)

Melee: Two claws +7 (1d6+4 S) or bite +11 (1d4+4 P)

Offensive Abilities: Explosive Egg

Statistics

Str +2; Dex +5; Con +0; Int -; Wis +0; Cha +0

Skills: Acrobatics +12

Feats:  Improved initiative, lightning reflexes

Other Abilities: Hardened survivor

Languages: None

Ecology

Environment: Any

Organization: Squads (2d4+4), or flocks (6d4+6)

Special Abilities

Diving slash (Ex): The Flyer can dive at any target, and can move up to twice its normal movement rate. The creature cannot make any turns while attempting this maneuver. The creature will gain a +2 to hit with its claws and the damage is increased to 2d6+4 if the slash succeeds. This requires a full round action to complete.

Evasion (Ex): Whenever the Flyer is subjected to a reflex save to avoid half damage, it will automatically avoid all damage upon a successful save.

Explosive Egg (Ex): Occasionally the flyer will carry a pair of ‘eggs’ into combat with them. These can be dropped from any height and once they impact the ground, the eggs will explode in a 20 foot radius. The area of effect will suffer 2d6+3 points of flame damage, with a Ref save (DC 13 for half damage, as the area is coated in the napalm-like chemical used by the Spewer Arachnid. After the ‘egg’ detonates, the flame will continue to burn for 1d3+1 rounds, unless the victim is able to somehow smother the flames (rolling in dirt, dousing in chemical fire-extinguishing foam, jumping into a river or large body of water). Also the napalm-like fire will remain on whatever terrain it coated when the arachnid used this ability and will last for 1d3+1 rounds before burning out. The Flyer can use this ability only twice, and then it needs to ‘reload’ back at its base.

Hardened Survivor (Ex): The warrior is completely immune to poisons and radiation, and it is able to withstand extreme conditions, even utter vacuum. Whenever the beast must make a saving Fortitude saving throw when dealing with environmental conditions, it gains a +10.

Pterodactyl - Augmented Combatant CR 3 XP 800

Neutral large animal (technological)

Init +9; Senses: darkvision 60 ft., low light vision; Perception +8

Defense                                                             HP 40

EAC: 18; KAC: 20

Fort: +7; Ref: +9; Will: +2

Weakness: Ground vulnerability

Offense

Speed: 10 feet, fly 80 feet (good)

Melee: Bite +11 (1d8+4 P), or two claws +7 (1d6+4 s, crit bleed 1d3)

Ranged: Turreted tactical railgun +8 (1d8+3 P)

Space: 10 ft., Reach: 5 ft.

Offensive Abilities: Diving slash, turreted weapon

Statistics

Str +2; Dex +5; Con +0; Int -3; Wis +0; Cha +0

Skills: Acrobatics +13, Stealth +8

Feats: Improved initiative

Gear: Darkvision capacitors, Tactical railgun

Languages: None

Ecology

Environment: Any warm forests, hills or mountains.

Organization: Solitary, pairs, small flocks (2d3+2), large flocks (4d8+6)

Special Abilities

Diving slash (Ex): The Pterodactyl can dive at any target, and can move up to twice its normal movement rate. The creature cannot make any turns while attempting this maneuver. The creature will gain a +2 to hit with its claws and the damage is increased to 2d6+4 if the slash succeeds. This requires a full round action to complete.

Ground Vulnerability (Ex): If the creature is ever forced to fight on the ground, it loses its Dexterity bonus and as such its EAC and KAC both drop by 5.

Turreted Weapon (Ex): Mounted on the shoulder of the creature is a specialized turret. It is controlled by a simple computer program and allows the Pterodactyl to target anything around it, even if it is directly behind it and fire. This is a free action and does not count as an attack by the creature. Furthermore, the Pterodactyl cannot be flanked as long as the weapon has ammunition (12 rounds), as the software will track and automatically attack.

Spewer, Arachnid Combatant CR 3 XP 800

Neutral large vermin

Init +8; Senses: Darkvision 60 ft.; Perception +8

Defense                                                             HP 40

EAC: 14; KAC: 16

Fort: +9 (+19); Ref: +5; Will: +2

Defensive Abilities: DR 3 / -; Immunities: Fire, poison, radiation

Offense

Speed: 50 ft.

Melee: Two claws +7 (1d6+4 S) or one bite +7 (1d6+4 Crit burn 1d6)

Space: 10 ft., Reach: 5 ft.

Offensive Abilities: Stream of fire

Statistics

Str +1; Dex +4; Con +2; Int -; Wis +0; Cha +0

Skills: Athletics +13, stealth +8

Feats: Great fortitude, improved initiative

Other Abilities: Hardened Survivor

Languages: None

Ecology

Environment: Any

Organization: Solitary, small groups (1d3+1)

Special Abilities

Hardened Survivor (Ex): The warrior is completely immune to poisons and radiation, and it is able to withstand extreme conditions, even utter vacuum. Whenever the beast must make a saving Fortitude saving throw when dealing with environmental conditions, it gains a +10.

Stream of Fire (Ex): The creature, as a full round action, can spray a stream of napalm-like chemical fire. The stream is 10 feet wide and can reach out to a maximum of 50 feet. Anyone caught in the stream area of effect is allowed a Ref save (DC 14) or take 3d6+7 flame damage. A successful save cuts the damage in half.  To make matters worse, the flame will continue to burn for 1d3+1 rounds, unless the victim is able to somehow smother the flames (rolling in dirt, dousing in chemical fire-extinguishing foam, jumping into a river or large body of water). Also the napalm-like fire will remain on whatever terrain it coated when the arachnid used this ability and will last for 1d3+1 rounds before burning out. The arachnid is able to use this ability once every third round.