Not all corpses risen as undead are shambling, slow-moving zombies. Some retain their intellect and abilities. Surrounded by the stench of death, the flesh of these creatures hardens and becomes brittle but retains great strength. Corpse clerics still pay homage to their dark gods. Corpse warriors heft mighty weapons with skill. Corpse beholders still spray deadly rays from shriveled eyestalks.
Corpse creatures cannot be the result of a simple
Animate Dead spell, but could arise from a
Create Undead or create greater undead spell, as undead of their equivalent Hit Dice.
Creating a Corpse Creature
"Corpse" is a template that can be added to any non
Undead, non
Construct, non
Plant corporeal creature (referred to hereafter as the base creature). The creature's type changes to Undead. It retains all type modifiers and subtypes, if applicable.
The corpse creature uses all the base creature's statistics and special abilities except as noted here.
Hit Dice: All current and future Hit Dice become d12s.
Speed: Winged corpse creatures retain the ability to fly. However, their fly speed is halved, to a minimum of 10 feet.
AC: Natural armor bonus changes to a number based on the bone creature's size.
| Size | Bonus |
|---|
| Tiny or Smaller | +0 |
| Small or Medium | +1 |
| Large | +2 |
| Huge | +3 |
| Gargantuan | +4 |
| Colossal | +5 |
The corpse creature keeps the natural armor bonus of the base creature if it's better.
Attacks: The corpse creature retains all the natural attacks and weapon proficiencies of the base creature. A corpse creature also gains a slam attack.
Damage: Natural and manufactured weapons deal normal damage. A slam attack deals damage depending on the corpse creature's size.
| Size | Damage |
|---|
| Diminutive or Fine | 1d2 |
| Tiny | 1d3 |
| Small | 1d4 |
| Medium | 1d6 |
| Large | 1d8 |
| Huge | 2d6 |
| Gargantuan | 2d8 |
| Colossal | 4d6 |
Use the base creature's slam damage if it is greater.
Special Qualities: Same as the base creature. In addition, all corpse creatures gain
Darkvision,
Lifesense to a range of 30 feet, and undead traits.
Proficiencies: Same as the base creature.
Abilities: Modify the base creature as follows: Strength +4, Dexterity -2. As an Undead creature, Corpse creatures have no Constitution score.
Challenge Rating: Same as the base creature +1.
