Where are the Dire Lions?

sdt · Oct 19, 2008

Is there an official or unofficial Dire Lion published somewhere? I assume Wizards published them but I can't seem to find them anywhere.

Shroomy · Oct 19, 2008

sdt said:
Is there an official or unofficial Dire Lion published somewhere? I assume Wizards published them but I can't seem to find them anywhere.

According to the DDI Compendium, they haven't been published yet (I suppose they could have appeared in a RPGA module from this month, but I don't have access to those yet). However, given that there is another Gladiator article coming out in tonight's Dragon, and that combatting wild beasts (especially lions) is a staple of that genre, you may be seeing them soon.

Hypersmurf · Oct 19, 2008

sdt said:
Is there an official or unofficial Dire Lion published somewhere? I assume Wizards published them but I can't seem to find them anywhere.

What level are you after?

There's a Dire Lion as a Level 5 Brute in the Monster Manual, for example, but they labelled it 'Rage Drake'.

-Hyp.

sdt · Oct 19, 2008

I was expecting a higher level mount but Rage Drake is about right for a Dire Lion.

frankthedm · Oct 21, 2008

sdt said:
I was expecting a higher level mount but Rage Drake is about right for a Dire Lion.

Add 4 levels with the DMG rules for advancing monsters, and maybe boost it to elite.

Serphet · Oct 21, 2008

DMG 184 is your best friend, or the newest mini app in DDI.

They don't have an official print, just use DMG 184 and make them however serves you best.

Serphet · Oct 21, 2008

here is my attempt at one

Dire Lion

It's a lion! get in the car!

Dire Lion Level 6 Brute
Large Natural Beast (mount) XP 250
Initiative +6 Senses Perception +14; low-light vision
HP 83; Bloodied 41
AC 18; Fortitude 19, Reflex 18, Will 18
Speed 7

Claw Attack (standard; at-will) * Melee
+9 vs AC; 1d10 + 4 damage

Pounce (standard; recharge 56)
+9 vs AC; 3d8 + 4 damage
You may move up to 4 squares before making the attack.

Pouncing strike (When mounted by a friendly rider of 6th level or higher; at-will) * Mount
the rider may make a free basic melee attack against the target of a Pounce.

Alignment: Unaligned
Skills: Stealth +14
Str 19 (+7) Dex 16 (+6) Wis 16 (+6)
Con 13 (+4) Int 13 (+4) Cha 13 (+4)

Dire Lion Tactics
This monster blurs between a brute and a lurker, as a band they hide in the enironment and wait for their prey.

edit: added a mount line.
edit: added mount keyword

Serphet · Oct 21, 2008

if you were to have them as an encounter, i'd say 1 dire lion and a pack of 4-6 lions (skirmishers).

the main problems I have with this guy are... pounce should have a knock prone effect, but that'd over power this guy. As a brute he should be a direct hitter, though the nature of lions make me want to make him a skirmisher...but for a table life of 3 rounds... its not worth the effort.

Ravingdork · Oct 22, 2008

hypersmurf said:
there's a dire lion as a level 5 brute in the monster manual, for example, but they labelled it 'rage drake'.

-hyp.

nice! :d

Grazzt · Oct 22, 2008

Serphet said:
pounce should have a knock prone effect

Yep. Agreed. I'd base it off the Sphinx in the MM most likely:

Pounce (Standard, at-will)

The sphinx moves up to 6 squares and makes a claw attack. If the attack hits, the target is knocked prone.