RavinRay said:
Here's a
video of it's close relative
Liopleurodon attacking, from
Walking With Dinosaurs.
Thanks!
Walking with Dinosaurs was on the other night, but I missed that part.
Hmm...the liopleurodon appeared in Dragon Magazine #318 as a Colossal 38-HD monster. I suppose we could just reverse-engineer it down to 17 HD and Gargantuan. Doing so would look like this...
Gargantuan Animal
Hit Dice: 17d8+170 (246 hp)
Initiative: +4
Speed: Swim 90 ft. (18 squares)
Armor Class: 21 (-4 size, +15 natural), touch 6, flat-footed 21
Base Attack/Grapple: +12/+38
Attack: Bite +22 melee (3d8+21/19-20)
Full Attack: Bite +22 melee (3d8+21/19-20)
Space/Reach: 20 ft./15 ft.
Special Attacks: Frenzy, improved grab, swallow whole
Special Qualities: Hold breath, keen scent, low-light vision
Saves: Fort +20, Ref +10, Will +8
Abilities: Str 38, Dex 10, Con 30, Int 2, Wis 16, Cha 13
Skills: Spot +23, Swim +22
Feats: Awesome Blow, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (bite), Improved Initiative, Improved Natural Attack (bite), Power Attack
Environment: Any aquatic
Organization: Solitary or pair
Challenge Rating: 10
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 18-34 HD (Gargantuan); 35-51 HD (Colossal)
Frenzy (Ex): If a kronosaurus is reduced to less than half its normal maximum hit points, it flies into a terrible rage of frenzied activity. During a frenzy, a kronosaurus gains a +4 bonus to its Armor Class and attack rolls. Its swim speed gains a +30 foot bonus, and if it makes a full attack action it gains an additional bite attack. The frenzy persists for 1 minute, after which the kronosaurus cannot enter a frenzy while it is fatigued.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a kronosaurus must hit an opponent of up to one size smaller with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can try to swallow the foe the following round.
Swallow Whole (Ex): A kronosaurus can try to swallow a grabbed opponent of up to two sizes smaller by making a successful grapple check.
The swallowed creature takes 2d8+8 points of bludgeoning damage and 8 points of acid damage per round from the liopleurodon's gizzard. A swallowed creature can cut its way out by using a light slashing or piercing weapon to deal 45 points of damage to the gizzard (AC 20). Once the creature exits, muscular action closes the hole; another swallowed creature must cut its own way out.
A Gargantuan kronosaurus's gizzard can hold 2 Large, 8 Medium, 32 Small, or 128 Tiny or smaller opponents.
Hold Breath (Ex): A kronosaurus can hold its breath for a number of rounds equal to 8 times its Constitution score before it risks drowning.
Keen Scent (Ex): A kronosaurus can notice creatures by scent in a 180-foot radius, and it can sense blood in the water at ranges of up to a mile.
Skills: A kronosaurus has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform a special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, evne if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.
(Note that I did not modify the swallow whole damage, amount needed to escape, or AC of interior).
Of course, if you dino-experts think other changes should be made, I'm all for it.