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Template Grafts | Universal Monster Rules

Swarm Altipheron Source Starfinder #21: Huskworld pg. 56 Swarm Altipheron Tier 3 CE Medium starship monstrous humanoid Speed 10; Maneuverability average (turn 2); Drift — AC 16; TL 14 HP 70; DT —; CT 14 Shields basic shields 30 (forward 9, port 7, starboard 7, aft 7) Attack (Forward) particle beam (8d6; 20 hexes) Attack (Aft) micromissile battery (2d6; 20 hexes) Attack (Turret) light particle beam (3d6; 10 hexes), light particle beam (3d6; 10 hexes) Power Core Pulse Red (175 PCU); Drift Engine none; Systems budget short-range sensors, mk 1 defenses, mk 1 trinode computer, mk 3 armor; Expansion Bays cargo holds (5) Other Abilities fleet mind, living starship, void adaptation Crew Engineer (1 action) Engineering +8 (3 ranks) Gunners (2 actions) gunnery +7 (3rd level) Pilot Piloting +10 (3 ranks) Ecology Environment any vacuum Organization solitary, pair, or clutch (3–8) Special Abilities Fleet Mind (Ex) Like individual Swarm components, Swarm starships are bound together into a singular hive mind through a blend of radio, quantum, and telepathic communication. All Swarm starships within 10 hexes of each other are in constant communication; if one is aware of a threat, all are. (Such awareness can spread along a “chain” of Swarm starships under appropriate circumstances, potentially alerting distant Swarm vessels.) Swarm vessels can also communicate telepathically with all Swarm creatures within 10 hexes. Living Starship (Ex) An altipheron is a colony of symbiotic creatures so immense that it functions as a starship (and thus engages in only starship combat). Three central brains (represented as a trinode computer) command a host of bioengineered Swarm components that act as a unified organism. These brains allow the altipheron to take crew actions using the skill bonuses, ranks, and level listed in Crew Actions above. Modifiers for the altipheron’s size, speed, and maneuverability are already factored into its statistics. Critical damage to life support instead damages the central brains, with the listed effect applying to gunnery actions in addition to any penalties from weapons array critical damage. Critical damage to crew has no effect on an altipheron, due to the adaptability of its components. Description Altipherons form a major component of many Swarm fleets. They are better armed and armored than Swarm fleetfuries, but smaller than the mighty dreadlancers. Altipherons are quick to construct and require a relatively small output of resources, allowing the Swarm to launch a large number of these starships in a brief period of time. Altipherons are picket ships in function; they are often deployed in orbit around a planet the Swarm is devouring, repelling outsiders who might try to liberate the world before it can be consumed. Their fleet mind ability provides them unparalleled teamwork, meaning a detachment of altipherons is often as dangerous as a larger ship, if not more so. Occasionally, altipherons are used as troop transports, cramming many Swarm components into their cargo holds. Altipherons lack any Drift capabilities of their own. When the Swarm prepares to move to a new system, altipherons are simply incorporated into larger vessels, ready to be deployed at the next target.

Swarm Altipheron

Source Starfinder #21: Huskworld pg. 56

Swarm Altipheron Tier 3

CE Medium starship monstrous humanoid
Speed 10; Maneuverability average (turn 2); Drift —
AC 16; TL 14
HP 70; DT —; CT 14
Shields basic shields 30 (forward 9, port 7, starboard 7, aft 7)
Attack (Forward) particle beam (8d6; 20 hexes)
Attack (Aft) micromissile battery (2d6; 20 hexes)
Attack (Turret) light particle beam (3d6; 10 hexes), light particle beam (3d6; 10 hexes)
Power Core Pulse Red (175 PCU); Drift Engine none; Systems budget short-range sensors, mk 1 defenses, mk 1 trinode computer, mk 3 armor; Expansion Bays cargo holds (5)
Other Abilities fleet mind, living starship, void adaptation

Crew

Engineer (1 action) Engineering +8 (3 ranks)
Gunners (2 actions) gunnery +7 (3rd level)
Pilot Piloting +10 (3 ranks)

Ecology

Environment any vacuum
Organization solitary, pair, or clutch (3–8)

Special Abilities

Fleet Mind (Ex) Like individual Swarm components, Swarm starships are bound together into a singular hive mind through a blend of radio, quantum, and telepathic communication. All Swarm starships within 10 hexes of each other are in constant communication; if one is aware of a threat, all are. (Such awareness can spread along a “chain” of Swarm starships under appropriate circumstances, potentially alerting distant Swarm vessels.) Swarm vessels can also communicate telepathically with all Swarm creatures within 10 hexes.

Living Starship (Ex) An altipheron is a colony of symbiotic creatures so immense that it functions as a starship (and thus engages in only starship combat). Three central brains (represented as a trinode computer) command a host of bioengineered Swarm components that act as a unified organism. These brains allow the altipheron to take crew actions using the skill bonuses, ranks, and level listed in Crew Actions above. Modifiers for the altipheron’s size, speed, and maneuverability are already factored into its statistics. Critical damage to life support instead damages the central brains, with the listed effect applying to gunnery actions in addition to any penalties from weapons array critical damage. Critical damage to crew has no effect on an altipheron, due to the adaptability of its components.

Description

Altipherons form a major component of many Swarm fleets. They are better armed and armored than Swarm fleetfuries, but smaller than the mighty dreadlancers. Altipherons are quick to construct and require a relatively small output of resources, allowing the Swarm to launch a large number of these starships in a brief period of time.

Altipherons are picket ships in function; they are often deployed in orbit around a planet the Swarm is devouring, repelling outsiders who might try to liberate the world before it can be consumed. Their fleet mind ability provides them unparalleled teamwork, meaning a detachment of altipherons is often as dangerous as a larger ship, if not more so. Occasionally, altipherons are used as troop transports, cramming many Swarm components into their cargo holds.

Altipherons lack any Drift capabilities of their own. When the Swarm prepares to move to a new system, altipherons are simply incorporated into larger vessels, ready to be deployed at the next target.

Archives of Nethys