# Swarm, Cranium Rat Average Pack >[!rimg]+ > ![[Placeholder2.png]] > >[!debug]+ > >Melee/Ranged: +12/+19 > >Secondary: +7/+14 > >Multiattack: +10/+17 > >M/R_PA: +12/+19 > >2nd/PA: +7/+14 > >MA_PA: +10/+17 > >Itterative: 3 > > xDmg:: Str: -4; Str2: -6; StrOH: -2; StrPA: -4; StrPA2H: -6; StrPAOH: -2 > > xDCs:: Str: 12; Dex: 19; Con: 18; Int: 17; Wis: 18; Cha: 17 > > xFeat:: 5/6 (1) > > > > > > xLang:: 0/1 (1) <div class="grid-container"><div class="MON">Cranium Rat Average Pack Swarm</div> <div class="CR">CR 5 (1,600 XP)</div> <div class="SOU">Fiend Folio</div> <div class="SYS">Dungeons & Dragons 3.5</div></div> NE Diminutive Magical Beast (swarm) **Init** +7 **Senses** darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision; **Perception** +21 #### defense **AC** 18, 17 touch, 15 flat-footed (+3 Dex, +1 natural, +4 size) **hp** 84 (12d10+24) **Fort** +10, **Refl** +11, **Will** +8 **Feint** 28, **Demoralize** 24 **Defensive Abilities** swarm traits **Immune** weapon damage; **Resist** cold 10 #### offense **Speed** 40 ft., climb 20 ft. **Melee** swarm (5d6) **Space** 10 ft., **Reach** ft. **Special Attacks** hive mind, merge swarms, mind blast, swarm regeneration Sorcerer Spells Known (CL 4th, Concentration +5) > 0 (at-will)— 0 > 1st (7/Day)— 1 > 2nd (3/Day)— 2 #### statistics **Str** 2, **Dex** 17, **Con** 14, **Int** 13, **Wis** 14, **Cha** 13 **BAB** +12, **CMB** —, **CMD** —, **TA** +12, **RTA** +19 **Feats** [[Alertness]], [[Combat Casting]], [[Improved Initiative]], [[Iron Will]], [[Spell Penetration]] **Skills** Climb +19, Perception +21, Sense Motive +18 **Languages** #### special abilities ### Hive Mind (Ex) A cranium rat swarm has a hive mind, which makes it susceptible to mind-affecting spells. For purposes of such spells, the swarm is a single creature of the magical beast type. ### Merge Swarms (Ex) Two lesser cranium rat packs can move into the same space and merge into a single swarm, becoming an average pack. Likewise, two average packs can merge together into a greater pack. Merging in this fashion is a full-round action. ### Mind Blast (Su) This attack is a 60-foot cone. Anyone caught in this cone must succeed on a Will save (DC 17) or be stunned for 3d4 rounds. An average pack can use this ability at will. Spells (Sp): An average pack can cast arcane spells as a 4th-level sorcerer (spells/day 6/7/3; spells known 6/3/1; save DC 11 + spell level). A typical spells known list: 0 - daze, detect magic, flare, mage hand, open/close, prestidigitation; 1st - charm person, expeditious retreat, magic missile; 2nd - minor image. ### Swarm Regeneration (Ex) When an average pack is reduced to 0 hp, it becomes a lesser pack. When a lesser pack is reduced to 0 hp, it is destroyed. This transformation is instantaneous. #### ecology **Advancement** — "Like ten thousand eyes and ears dispatched to gather secrets for some dark deity of knowledge, cranium rats are every- where—seeing, hearing, and sharing what they learn in a bizarre hive mind. An individual cranium rat is almost indistinguishable from a normal rodent, except that a portion of its large brain is exposed and pulses with a soft glow. Singly, the creatures are also virtually identical to normal rats, but they are never encountered singly. A pack of cranium rats has a group mind—and the more rats, the more intelli- gent the group mind. An average pack of cra- nium rats consists of about 150 rats. Cranium rats do not speak, but average and greater packs can communicate telepathically. CRANIUM RATS AND THE PSIONICS HANDBOOK If you’re using the Psionics Handbook, an average or greater cranium rat pack should manifest powers as a psion rather than cast spells as a wizard. Since Intelligence is their best ability, they typically choose Metacreativity as their primary discipline. They gain the Combat Manifestation feat instead of Combat Casting, Power Penetration and Greater Power Penetration instead of the Spell Penetration and Greater Spell Penetration feats, and Psionic Focus (Metacreativity) and Greater Psionic Focus (Metacreativity) instead of the Spell Focus and Greater Spell Focus feats."