Mana Bug (3.5e Monster)

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Author: the bluez in the dungeon (talk)
Date Created: 25/04/2022
Status: Complete
Editing: Clarity edits only please
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Mana Bug[edit]

A skittish yet adorable vermin - original art by Alekzander Zagorulko at Artstation


Mana Bug

CR 1/3

N Tiny Vermin
Init/Senses +2/Darkvision 60 ft; Listen +3, Spot +4
Aura Faint Universal
Languages None
AC 15, touch 14, flat-footed 13
(+2 Dex, +1 Natural Armor, +2 Deflection)
hp 9 (1d8 HD)
Fort/Ref/Will +3/+2/+0
Speed 20 ft (6 meters), climb 10 ft (3 meters)
Melee bite+2 (1d4-3 +1 force damage)
Space/Reach 2-1/2 ft./0 ft.
Base Atk/Grp +0/-11
Atk Options Mana Mandibles
Abilities Str 5, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 15, Wis 10, Cha 6
SQ Spell Dampening 1
Feats AnklebiterB, Weapon Finesse
Skills Climb +5, Hide +5, Listen +3, Move Silently +5, Spellcraft +5 (+7 to identify spells), Spot +4
Advancement
Magic Aura (Ex) A mana bug emanates a magical faint universal aura, which can be picked up by the detect magic spell. It also gives it a deflection bonus to AC equal to its Intelligence modifier.
Mana Mandibles (Ex) Mana bugs channel a small flow of mana into their bite, allowing them to inflict an extra point of force damage. This makes it possibile to hit incorporeal or ethereal creatures with no chance of failure due to their incorporeality. All the damage from the bite is affected by this ability.
Mana Scent (Ex) A mana bugs has a special scent ability that allows it to locate magical auras. They can use the Spellcraft skill to track magic.
Racial Skills Mana bugs obtain a +8 to Climb checks due to their climb speed and a +2 to Spellcraft checks to identify spells, as their mana-storing abdomen resonates with magic auras.
Spell Dampening (Ex) A mana bug has a small resistance to magic, due to the concentration of mana in its body that disrupts spells that target it. Every spell targeting a mana bugs count as if it was cast at a lower caster level, subtracting a number of caster levels as indicated on the table. This ability works only on the mana bug and has a value equal to 1/3 of its HD (min 1).

Strategies and Tactics[edit]

Small and skittish, these vermins prefer to avoid combat if possible, hiding away and using their climb speed to escape the reach of their predators and enemies. If forced to fight they bite and flee. If possible they prefer to target spellcasters, as their natural defenses work best against them, especially as their magical abilities attract them.

Ecology[edit]

Mana bugs are naturally attracted to places with high concentration of magic, as they feed on leftover magical energy. They act as normal bugs, avoiding to show themselves and feeding only when unobserved. Apparently they absorb magical residue through the air and also by drinking potions and munching on soft organic material infused with magic. In rare cases mana bugs have been observed performing cannibalism on smaller specimens of their species, but only when starved. This is probably due to the faint magical aura they emanate, which identify them as a source of magic to their mana scent. Corpses of wizards and sorcerers, who died alone in their homes, have been seen being used as feeding and nesting points by these little pests. Casters that choose to have these creatures as familiars provide them with enough residual mana to feed themselves on a daily basis.

Environment:

Any place, natural or not, with high concentration of stable or volatile magic (especially arcane magic).

Typical Physical Characteristics:

Mana bugs are little scarab-like vermins, with four long legs, four eyes and two antennas. Their most notable feature is the the orb-like structure protruding from their abdomen, which looks like a crystal ball filled with magical energy, especially when they are well fed. They are usually blue in color, but other colorations exist as well, though less common.

Alignment:

Mana bugs are usually neutral, but familiars tend to gravitate towards their master alignment.

Society[edit]

They aren't social creatures, but their intelligence allows them to live together in relative harmony, as long as the magical energy is enough to sustain their group. When the balance needed to feed in peace is tipped weaker specimens usually go aways to build a new colony somewhere else or scatter by themselves. Some individuals don't survive this event and the general population dwindles.

Typical Treasure[edit]

They don't carry around anything of value, but their abdomen may be harvested and are valuable alchemic materials (though they don't have the pearl of power-like ability that familar mana bugs give to their masters), which sell at 50 gp. They can be used, at market value, in place of gold when creating magic or alchemical items.

Familiar[edit]

Mana bugs make for popular familiars, thank to their unique utility. A character needs the Improved FamiliarCS feat and a caster level of at least 3rd to obtain it as a familiar. The master of the mana bug familiar may use it similarly to a pearl of power (1st level): once per day the master may regain one prepared spell or spell slot of 1st level that it can cast. Its Spell Dampening ability doesn't apply to spells cast by its master.



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the bluez in the dungeon's Homebrew (739 Articles)
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Authorthe bluez in the dungeon +
BenefitThe master of the mana bug familiar may us
The master of the mana bug familiar may use it similarly to a pearl of power (1st level): once per day the master may regain one prepared spell or spell slot of 1st level that it can cast. Its Spell Dampening ability doesn't apply to spells cast by its master.
oesn't apply to spells cast by its master. +
Challenge Rating1/3 +
Identifier3.5e Monster +
NameMana Bug +
PrerequisiteImproved FamiliarCS, Caster Level 3rd +
RatingUnrated +
SizeTiny +
SummaryA small vermin with an abdomen filled with magical energy +
TitleMana Bug +
TypeVermin +