Dave Blewer
First Post
Ok, I was about to embark on the latest of my conversions a Dire Hawk, and
in doing so had a look at the MM to work out what type of creature it should
be. My initial thought was that it is a Beast.
However, all the dire animals are animals, furthermore the SRD has this to
say on the subject of Beasts:
Beast: A beast is a nonhistorical, vertebrate creature with a reasonably
normal anatomy and no magical or unusual abilities. Unless noted otherwise,
beasts have low-light vision and darkvision with a range of 60 feet.
Looking at the list of MM creatures, I have several issues with this.
Ankheg and Bullete I can see how these would be Beasts.
Dinosaurs are most certainly historical and therefore should be animals,
however I think they have been designated Beasts to prevent a 9th Level
Druid having a T-Rex companion
Girallon I can see how these would be Beasts but the prescence of 6 limbs
seems to violate the reasonably normal anatomy part of the Beast type - but
no big problem here
Grey Render: These have six eyes, but again the lack of any true magical
powers (other than just existing) seems to make a case for these being
Beasts.
Griffon, Hippogriff, Hydra, owlbear, roc, sea lion: How can any of these be
beasts. They all seem to be most definately Magical Beasts to me...
Purple worm and Stirge: These seem more likely to be Vermin to me
Anyway enough of my musings...
in doing so had a look at the MM to work out what type of creature it should
be. My initial thought was that it is a Beast.
However, all the dire animals are animals, furthermore the SRD has this to
say on the subject of Beasts:
Beast: A beast is a nonhistorical, vertebrate creature with a reasonably
normal anatomy and no magical or unusual abilities. Unless noted otherwise,
beasts have low-light vision and darkvision with a range of 60 feet.
Looking at the list of MM creatures, I have several issues with this.
Ankheg and Bullete I can see how these would be Beasts.
Dinosaurs are most certainly historical and therefore should be animals,
however I think they have been designated Beasts to prevent a 9th Level
Druid having a T-Rex companion
Girallon I can see how these would be Beasts but the prescence of 6 limbs
seems to violate the reasonably normal anatomy part of the Beast type - but
no big problem here
Grey Render: These have six eyes, but again the lack of any true magical
powers (other than just existing) seems to make a case for these being
Beasts.
Griffon, Hippogriff, Hydra, owlbear, roc, sea lion: How can any of these be
beasts. They all seem to be most definately Magical Beasts to me...
Purple worm and Stirge: These seem more likely to be Vermin to me
Anyway enough of my musings...