Converting "Real World" Animals and Vermin

Updated. Finished?

Looks good to me.

The fish looks fine!

The only thing I could think of was maybe doubling its Swallow Whole capacity, since it's its main schtick.

(e.g. "A Huge giant grouper's gizzard can hold 4 Medium, 16 Small, 64 Tiny, or 256 Diminutive or smaller opponents.")

I'm indifferent on the matter. Anyone else have an opinion?

I think I'd rather not, unless we're letting it swallow Large critters, too.

Alrighty. Here's the next one...

Porcupine Fish
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Tropical salt water
FREQUENCY: Rare
ORGANIZATION: Solitary
DIET: Coral
INTELLIGENCE: Animal (1)
TREASURE: Nil
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
NO. APPEARING: 1-2
ARMOR CLASS: 6
MOVEMENT: Sw 9
HIT DICE: 1
THAC0: 19
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACKS: 1d3
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Poison
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: S (2’-3’ long)
MORALE: Unsteady (5)
XP VALUE: 3,000

The porcupine fish is related to the puffer fish. It is found near rocky coasts and coral reefs. Territorial, it does not stray far from its feeding grounds, where it eats coral, clams, and small crustaceans. If threatened, it flees to its abode at the earliest opportunity. The porcupine fish is not aggressive, but can be dangerous.

If provoked, a porcupine fish might bite for 1d3 points of damage. When attacked or threatened, however, the fish inflates its body to three times its normal size. This causes numerous dagger-length spines to appear across its body. A natural physical attack (such as a bite or tentacle) against a porcupine fish allows it an attack roll for its spines. If the spine attack is successful, the opponent receives 3d4 points of physical damage and must make an immediate saving throw vs. poison. Failure means the poisoned creature will die within 1d4 rounds. If an attacker comes within 5 feet, a panicked porcupine fish might dart forward suddenly to attack with its spines. Barracuda eat them, becoming toxic to human consumption in the process.

Originally appeared in Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Four (1998).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Porcupine_fish

freyar said:

I think I'd rather not, unless we're letting it swallow Large critters, too.

Click to expand...

I can live without it.

Or better still, use a bigger gizzard if I run them.

Shade said:

Alrighty. Here's the next one...

Porcupine Fish

Click to expand...

This monster had an earlier appearance in Dragon #116. While it's 1E its stats are very similar, except for a couple of points - it's a lot speedier (swim 25 instead of swim 9!) and the description of its spine attack is a less reactive - the text says it rams its spiky body into an attacker who get within 5 feet. Mechanically it's similat (attack role for spine damage & poison), but it doesn't have to wait for its opponent to attack.

PORCUPINE FISH, GIANT
FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-2
ARMOR CLASS: 6
MOVE: //25”
HIT DICE: 1
% IN LAIR: 25%
TREASURE TYPE: Nil
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 bite
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-3
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Killing poison
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Non-
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: S (2-3’)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
LEVEL/XP VALUE: II/45 + 1/hp

The giant porcupine fish is related to the puffer fish and the smaller porcupine fish. The giant porcupine fish is territorial and is most often found near rocky shelters and coral reefs. If endangered, this creature flees to its abode at the earliest opportunity.

The giant porcupine fish can bite for 1-3 hp damage; when attacked or threatened, it inflates its body, swelling to a size three times its normal girth. This action is performed by retaining water in the creature’s stomach and using flexible abdominal sacs. By inflating itself, the fish causes numerous dagger-length spines to appear across its body. If an attacker comes within 5’ of these spines, the giant porcupine fish may approach and attempt to score a successful hit; if this happens, the attacker takes 3-12 hp damage from the spines and must also make a save vs. poison; failure results in death within 1-4 rounds. In any event, damage is taken, even if the attacker saves vs. poison.

Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #116 (1986).

Anyhow, I'd quite like to allow both an active and reactive attack with the spines.

For the speed, the slower Swim 9 seems more appropriate, although I am wondering about having it have a reduced swim speed when its "puffed out".

Statwise, I'm thinking the Clownfish conversion we did is a good start:

Giant Clownfish: Str 9, Dex 12, Con 14, Int 1, Wis 11, Cha 10

Maybe cut the Dex a step, since it doesn't seem that agile?

Giant Porcupine Fish: Str 9, Dex 10, Con 14, Int 1, Wis 11, Cha 10

That all sounds reasonable.