Shoggoth sourceHD: d8
Level BAB Fort Ref Will Special1st +1 +2 +0 +2 Horrific Body, Resilient Skin, Extended Senses, All-Around Vision, +1 STR, +1 CON
2nd +2 +3 +0 +3 Ciliate Locomotion, Unspeakable Whispers, Damage Reduction 1/cold iron and magic
3rd +3 +3 +1 +3 Spell Resistance 14, +1 STR, +1 CON
4th +4 +4 +1 +4 Elder Builder, Extend Pseudopod, DR 2/cold iron and magic, SR 15
5th +5 +4 +1 +4 Amorphous Form, Deep Lurker, Unspeakable Cry, SR 16, +1 STR, +1 CON
6th +6 +5 +2 +5 Deflate Self, Size Increase, DR 3/cold iron and magic, SR 17
7th +7 +5 +2 +5 Improved Grab, Multiattack, SR 18, +1 STR, +1 CON
8th +8 +6 +2 +6 Absorb, DR 5/cold iron and magic, SR 19
9th +9 +6 +3 +6 Tentacle Lash, Unspeakable Howl, SR 20, +1 STR, +1 CON
10th +10 +7 +3 +7 Deepwater Resilience, Elder Defiance, Fluid Form, DR 6/cold iron and magic, SR 21
11th +11 +7 +3 +7 Insidious Binding, Unutterable Truth, SR 22, +1 STR, +1 CON
12th +12 +8 +4 +8 Inflate Self, Size Increase, DR 7/cold iron and magic, SR 23
13th +13 +8 +4 +8 Terror of the Deeps, Unspeakable Shriek, SR 24, +1 STR, +1 CON
14th +14 +9 +4 +9 Engulf, DR 8/cold iron and magic, SR 25
15th +15 +9 +5 +9 Consume the Living, DR HD/cold iron and magic, SR HD + 11, +1 STR, +1 CON
Skill Points: The shoggoth gains 4 skill points per level (x4 at level 1).
Class Skills: The class skills for a shoggoth are Balance (Dex), Climb (Str), Disguise (Cha), Escape Artist (Dex), Hide (Dex), Intimidate (Cha), Jump (Str), Knowledge (nature) (Int), Listen (Wis), Move Silently (Dex), Search (Int), Spot (Wis), Survival (Wis), and Swim (Str).
Weapon & Armor Proficiency: Shoggoths are proficient with their natural attacks only. They are not proficient with any other weapons, or with any type of armor or shield.
Horrific Body (Ex): The shoggoth is a medium-sized creature at 1st level. It loses all existing racial traits and gains the ooze (aquatic) type and subtype, but is neither mindless nor blind. In addition, the shoggoth is susceptible (unlike other oozes) to poison, stunning, and paralysis effects. It does, however, gain a +4 racial bonus to saving throws against these effects and against all mind-affecting effects. The shoggoth has a 20 ft. base land speed, a 20 ft. base climb speed, and a 20 ft. base swim speed. The shoggoth gains a tentacle natural attack that deals 1d8 + STR mod damage. The shoggoth gains another tentacle attack for every three HD beyond its first, to a maximum of four tentacle attacks at 10th level. A shoggoth can use its tentacles for manipulation, including weapon use and somatic components for spells.
* Immunity to sleep effects and polymorph.
* Not subject to critical hits or flanking.
* Proficient with its natural weapons only.
* Proficient with no armor.
* Oozes eat and breathe, but do not sleep.
Oozes can use their body as either head+neck slot or body+belt slot. The ooze can wear more magic equipment by having it crafted in the form of orbs that float around him like ioun stones, but said custom equipment costs double the normal market price.
Resilient Skin (Ex): The shoggoth's hide is remarkably tough despite its flexibility and extensibility. At first level, the shoggoth gains natural armor equal to 2 + its CON modifier (if positive). At 8th level, this natural armor increases to 4 + its CON modifier (if positive), and at 15th level the shoggoth's natural armor increases to 6 + its CON modifier (if positive).
Extended Senses (Ex): In addition to regular vision, the shoggoth has darkvision out to 10 feet per HD (maximum 120 ft.). The shoggoth is also immune to blindness. At 4th level, the shoggoth develops blindsight out to 5 feet for every HD over 3 (maximum 60 ft.).
All-Around Vision (Ex): A shoggoth's many eyes and other sense organs grant a +4 racial bonus on Search and Spot checks and immunity to flanking.
Ability Score Bonuses: A shoggoth is strong and inexorable. The shoggoth gains a +1 bonus to each STR and CON at each odd-numbered level, for a total +8 STR, +8 CON at level 15.
Ciliate Locomotion (Ex): The shoggoth's land and swim speeds increase by 5 feet for every 2 HD, to a maximum of 50 ft. each at 12th level.
Unspeakable Whispers (Su): Starting at 2nd level, as a swift action, a shoggoth can give voice to sounds and words sane life was not meant to hear. All creatures in a 10-foot radius must make a Will save or be confused for 1d4 rounds. A creature that saves cannot be affected by this shoggoth's unspeakable whispers for 24 hours. This is a sonic mind-affecting effect. The save DC is 10 + 1/2 HD + shoggoth's CHA mod.
Damage Reduction (Ex) At 2nd level, the shoggoth gains the indicated magnitude of damage reduction, which is bypassed by enchanted weapons made of cold iron. This damage reduction increases at the indicated levels as the shoggoth's cunning improves, until at 15th level it is equal to the shoggoth's HD (but is still bypassed by enchanted weapons made of cold iron).
Spell Resistance (Ex): The unspeakable creation of the shoggoth imbued it with innate resistance to magic, but it takes some time for this resistance to manifest itself. Starting at 3rd level, a shoggoth gains spell resistance 14. For each class level the shoggoth gains, this spell resistance increases by one. At 15th level, this spell resistance becomes equal to 11 + HD.
Elder Builder (Ex): Originally created as servants of the Elder Things to build their cities, shoggoths mutated and developed a degree of free will. They never stopped building, however. At level 4, the shoggoth's carrying capacity doubles and it receives a racial bonus to Profession and Craft checks equal to its class level for all checks related to construction and building.
Extend Psuedopod (Ex): At 4th level, the shoggoth can take advantage of its malleable form to increase its mobility. By extending a pseudopod toward its destination and then following with its bulk, the shoggoth can bypass difficult terrain. The shoggoth's movement is unaffected by ground-based difficult terrain. Moreover, the shoggoth can shape its body either to ignore or to take advantage of underwater currents. Such currents do not affect the shoggoth's movement unless the shoggoth so chooses.
Amorphous Form (Ex): Due to its amorphous physiology, the shoggoth takes no penalties for squeezing and gains a +4 racial bonus to Escape Artist checks. It still loses its dexterity bonus to AC (if any) while squeezing. Also, the shoggoth can shape its body into any number of different forms, but this effect is not a polymorph effect. For example, the shoggoth can take on the general form of a quadruped or a humanoid, but it gains no extraordinary abilities when it does so.
Deep Lurker (Ex): Because of its ability to shape itself to resemble terrain features, the shoggoth gains a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks when mimicking its environment. Also, creatures with blindsight must make the appropriate Spot or Listen check to detect a shoggoth who is hiding in this manner. Moreover, the shoggoth's tarry black skin adds an additional +4 racial bonus to Hide in areas of darkness or shadow. These bonuses stack with each other, when applicable, but do not stack with other racial bonuses to Hide (if any).
Unspeakable Cry (Su): The shoggoth's unspeakable utterances have grown more powerful. Starting at 5th level, as a move action, a shoggoth can give voice to sounds and words sane life was not meant to hear. All creatures in a 60-foot radius must make a Will save or be confused for 1d6 rounds, and each round a creature is affected it takes 1 point of Wisdom damage. Once a shoggoth uses its unspeakable cry, it cannot use its unspeakable whispers for one minute. A creature that saves cannot be affected by this shoggoth's unspeakable whispers or cry for 24 hours. This is a sonic mind-affecting effect. The save DC is 10 + 1/2 HD + shoggoth's CHA mod.
Deflate Self (Ex): Starting at 6th level, the shoggoth can take a move action to compress its body by one size category. When it does so, its space decreases accordingly, but it maintains its reach. Its speed is halved while deflated. Another full-round action returns the shoggoth to its original size. The shoggoth cannot deflate itself further while already deflated.
Size Increase (Ex): At 6th level, the shoggoth grows from being a medium creature to being a large creature. Its space increases to 10 ft. and its reach increases to 10 ft, but its ability scores, attack bonus, and AC remain unaffected by the size change. The damage of its natural attacks will increase as normal, however. At 12th level, the shoggoth grows from being a large creature to being a huge creature. Its space increases to 15 ft. and its reach increases to 15 ft, but its ability scores, attack bonus, and AC remain unaffected by the size change. The damage of its natural attacks will increase as normal, however.
Improved Grab (Ex): Starting at 7th level, the shoggoth uses its tentacles to bind other creatures. To use this ability, a shoggoth must hit a creature with a tentacle attack. It may then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking attacks of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold. A shoggoth has a +8 racial bonus on grapple checks.
Multiattack: At 7th level, the shoggoth receives Multiattack as a bonus feat.
Absorb (Ex): A shoggoth feeds by absorbing other creatures into its hideous amoeboid form. Starting at 8th level, a shoggoth can spend a full-round action to absorb the corpse of a dead creature within reach, restoring 1d6 HP for every HD possessed by the creature absorbed. A shoggoth expels the absorbed creature’s metal, wood, and other belongings from its body 1d3 rounds after absorption. Nothing short of a
wish or similar magic can restore an absorbed creature. This creature must be at least one size category smaller than the shoggoth.
Tentacle Lash (Ex): Starting at 9th level, the shoggoth can us a standard action to attack with two of its tentacle attacks at the creature's full attack bonus. However, the shoggoth can choose to increase its reach for one or both attacks by 10 ft. If it does so, each attack receives a -2 penalty to attack.
Unspeakable Howl (Su): The shoggoth's unspeakable utterances have grown more even powerful. Starting at 9th level, as a standard action, a shoggoth can give voice to sounds and words sane life was not meant to hear. All creatures in a 60-foot radius must make a Will save or be either shaken or confused (shoggoth's choice) for 1d6 rounds, and each round a creature is affected it takes 1d6 points of Wisdom damage. Once a shoggoth uses its unspeakable howl, it cannot use its unspeakable whispers or cry for one minute. A creature that saves cannot be affected by this shoggoth's unspeakable whispers, cry, or howl for 24 hours. This is a sonic mind-affecting effect. The save DC is 10 + 1/2 HD + shoggoth's CHA mod.
Deepwater Resilience (Ex): The shoggoth can survive exposure to the exotic conditions of the ocean floor. At level 10, the shoggoth gains fire resistance 20 and electrical resistance 10.
Elder Defiance (Ex): Far back in their history, the shoggoths demonstrated the surprising capacity to throw off even the control of the Elder Things. Starting at 10th level, the shoggoth's racial bonus to mind-affecting effects increases to +8.
Fluid Form (Ex): Starting at 10th level, the shoggoth retains its dexterity bonus to AC while squeezing and retains the benefits of feats like Evasion that are usually lost while squeezing.
Insidious Binding (Su): Starting at 11th level, the shoggoth has learned how to counteract the magical forces that would allow its prey to slip its grasp. The very texture of its tarry black skin changes to hold fast any creature it grabs. Creatures under the effect of a
freedom of movement spell or similar effects do not automatically succeed on a grapple check to resist a grapple or on grapple or Escape Artist checks to escape a grapple or pin. Such creatures do, however, receive a +4 bonus on such checks. The application of universal solvent (as a standard action) directly to the shoggoth's skin suppresses its insidious binding for 1d4 rounds, however.
Unutterable Truth (Su): Starting at 11th level, the shoggoth is able to pierce immunity to sonic effects or to mind-affecting effects. Creatures with such an immunity receives a +4 bonus to saves versus such effects.
Inflate Self (Ex): Starting at 12th level, the shoggoth can take a move action to inflate its body by one size category. When it does so, its space increases accordingly, but it maintains its reach. Its natural damage reduction is halved while inflated, and its natural armor decreases by 4. Another full-round action returns the shoggoth to its original size. The shoggoth cannot inflate itself further while already inflated.
Terror of the Deeps (Ex): Starting at 13th level, the shoggoth receives a +4 bonus to attack and damage rolls while in a body of water sufficiently large for swimming.
Unspeakable Shriek (Su): The shoggoth's unspeakable utterances are a deadly assault on any creature's sanity and proper functioning. Starting at 13th level, as a full-round action, a shoggoth can give voice to sounds and words sane life was not meant to hear. All creatures in a 60-foot radius must make a Will save or be either shaken or confused (shoggoth's choice) for 1d6 rounds, and each round a creature is affected it is subject to the effects of a
crushing despair spell and takes 1d6 points of Wisdom damage. The creature is also subject to an additional effect depending on the Will save, regardless of success or failure: if the roll was even, the creature is subject to the effects of a
rage spell as it is provoked to a sort of madness; if the roll was odd, the creature is subject to the effects of a
calm emotions spell as despair sets in. No Concentration check is necessary to sustain this
calm emotions effect, and it lasts for one round per each HD of the shoggoth. Once a shoggoth uses its unspeakable shriek, it cannot use its unspeakable whispers, cry, or howl for one minute. A creature that saves cannot be affected by this shoggoth's unspeakable whispers, cry, howl, or shriek for 24 hours. This is a sonic mind-affecting effect. The save DC is 10 + 1/2 HD + shoggoth's CHA mod.
Engulf (Ex): To use this ability, the shoggoth must begin its turn grappling a creature or must trample. A shoggoth may attempt to engulf as many creatures as it grapples or tramples in a round. This ability otherwise functions as swallow whole, save that a creature that cut its way out of a shoggoth leaves no hole in the protoplasmic creature's body. Each creature must be at least one size category smaller than the shoggoth.
Consume the Living (Ex): Any creature engulfed by the monster for 1 full round must succeed at a Fortitude save or be absorbed into the mass and die. (A shoggoth can refuse to absorb the creature, keeping it merely engulfed.) A successful save prevents absorption that round. Each absorbed creature heals a shoggoth 1d6 HP for every HD possessed by the creature absorbed in this manner. A shoggoth expels the absorbed creature’s metal, wood, and other belongings from its body 1d3 rounds after absorption. Nothing short of a wish or similar magic can restore an absorbed creature. The save DC is 10 + 1/2 HD + shoggoth's CON mod.
CommentsI'm creating this class at the request of a friend. I drew several elements from two versions of the shoggoth published by Paizo (one of which can be found
here), but added a number of original elements. I tried to capture some of the lovecraftian mythos; but I'm no horror fan, so it might need some tweaking in order to be truly sanity-threatening. As always, your comments and suggestions are welcome.
With its size and reach and racial bonuses to grapple, its bread-and-butter should be using its tentacles to reel in its opponents. It can snatch enemies out of the air even if they're 40ft. above the ground. Once it has something grabbed, it's not likely to escape; and once it's held something for a round, it's dinner time!