modred said:
neat idea. If you like advanced creatures, there's a creature in Frostburn, I think it's the Woolly Mammoth but I can't find the book, it can advance up to... I think it was around Fifty Hit Die, not positive. But it was really high. I had fun just calculating how many hit points it would have.
It might have been the Dire Polar Bear though, grrr.. wish I had the book around.
It was the dire polar bear actually. It has a cap of 45 HD, winding up being a CR20. The wolly mammoth has a cap of 28 HD.
Be carefull with this one, High HD advancment does not always follow CR expectations. As always Playtest feedback is apreciated.
This thing preys on giants and whales and takes dolphins as easily as a grizzly takes salmon. A frost giant Jarl might even hire near epic PCs to deal with this menace.
Basic tactics;
Always take -20 when grappling to use only the grabbing natural weapon.
Use the snatch feat with spring attack to grab Prey with bite and Move away.
Can't grab??? Prey fighting back??? Power attack for 20. [sblock=Jäger der Riesen: 45 HD Dire polar bear] Dire polar bear, Jäger der Riesen
Gargantuan Animal
Hit Dice: 45d8 +450 +45 (697 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 50 ft. (8 squares), swim 20 ft.
Armor Class: 25 (–4 size,. +2 dex, +18 natural), touch 8, flat-footed 24
Base Attack/Grapple: +33/+68
Attack: Claw +48 (1d8+19 19-20x2 crit)
Full Attack: 2 claws +48 (3d6+19 19-20x2 crit)and bite +45 melee (4d8+9)
Power Attack: Claw +28 (1d8+39 19-20x2 crit)
Full Power Attack: 2 claws +28 (3d6+39 19-20x2 crit) and bite +25 melee (4d8+29)
Space/Reach: 20 ft./ 15 ft.
Special Attacks: Improved grab
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +35, Ref +26, Will +25
Abilities: Str 48, Dex 14, Con 30, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 10
Skills: Hide +15*, Listen +11, Spot +11, Swim +22
Feats: Track(b), Alertness, Improved natural armor x3, Endurance, Run, Improved Toughness, Multiattack, Combat Reflexes, improved critical claw, Snatch, Dodge, mobility, spring attack, power attack, Blind fight.
Environment: Cold plains, ice caves or glacial rifts.
Organization: Solitary or pair
Challenge Rating: 20
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a dire polar bear must hit with a claw attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity.
Skills: A dire polar bear has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line. *A polar bear’s white coat bestows a +12 racial bonus on Hide checks in snowy areas. [/sblock]