Converting prehistoric creatures

[InsanePsychoRabbit]

Are we going to do the giant prehistoric vermin from Dragon 204? (Or are you planning to do them on the "converting 'real world' animals and vermin" thread?)

Prehistoric vermin (giant versions) (yanked from Echohawk's unconverted vermin thread):
Amiskwia [Dragon #204]
Anomalocaris [Dragon #204]
Leanchoilia [Dragon #204]
Marrella [Dragon #204]
Odontogriphus [Dragon #204]
Ottoia [Dragon #204]
Sanctacaris [Dragon #204]
Wiwaxia [Dragon #204]
Yohoia [Dragon #204]

 

[Leopold]

Megatherium is in the Fiend Folio (and, sort of, in MM2, as the forest sloth). Giant hippos are in Sandstorm.

2 more to cross off the list. Hope shade sees it!

 

[xidoraven]

2 more to cross off the list. Hope shade sees it!

I have both Fiend Folio and Sandstorm, so I can transcribe those as well. I got Protoceratops and Diprotodon from Sandstorm earlier and must have missed or misjudged the applicability of the Giant Hippo entry. I think there was an entry for Hippopatomus Gorgops on the Wizards forum (one of those that could use another once-over by the refining crew).

Races of the Wild has a few fictional and themed animals, and I have found a few other resources for similar concepts being animal, dino/prim, dire, and beastial in nature.

 

[freyar]

If it's much work typing over things, don't worry about it! We probably only need it in this thread if it's relevant to a particular conversion we're doing.

 

[Shade]

Armored Predatory Fish
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Oceans
FREQUENCY: Common
DIET: Carnivore
ORGANIZATION: School
NO. APPEARING: 5d10
ARMOR CLASS: 5
MOVEMENT! 8
HIT DICE: l/2 (1d4 hp)
THAC0: 20
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-2
SPECIAL ATTACKS: None
SPECIAL DEFENSES: None
SIZE: S (1’ long)
MORALE: Unsteady (5)
XP VALUE: 7

This category covers all the small predatory fish that appeared during the Devonian period (405-345 million years ago). These creatures are assumed to have hunted larger prey in schools and may have “ganged up” on the eurypterids before larger predatory fish drove them into extinction. Their bite does little damage, hence the large number of fish attacking. They do not swim as well as their modern counterparts, but their armor class is considerably better due to their heavy bone armor.

Characters only partially armored had best be careful when fighting these things. Although these fish are not intelligent, millions of years spent getting at eurypterids and other armored foes have caused them to evolve very thorough attack plans designed for finding every weak spot in an opponent’s armor. Several dozen fish may attack a lone victim at once, biting every where to find the weak spots (use a lower armor class for the victim if part of his body is unarmored), and you may be sure that leather belts, pouches, pack straps, etc. will be severed. Even for high-level adventures, these fish are useful in nuisance encounters.

Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #176 (1991).

 

[Leopold]

National Geographic just did a special on these things:

PIRANHA PICTURES: Yard-long "Megapiranha" Fossil Found

these going to be a swarm like rats or other vermin?

 

[xidoraven]

Dire Fish, Devonian Predatory Fish
Small Animal (Aquatic)
Hit Dice: 2d8+14 (22)
Initiative: +4
Speed: swim 20 ft. (4 squares)
Armor Class: +2 size, +4 Dex, +5/6/7? natural
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/-2
Attack: Bite 1d6+2
Full Attack: Bite 1d6+2
Space/Reach: 2 1/2 ft./2 1/2 ft.
Special Attacks: -
Special Qualities: Deep-dive endurance, Low-Light Vision, blindsight/tremorsense 30?
Saves: Fort +, Ref +, Will +
Abilities: Str 14, Dex 18, Con 22, Int 1, Wis 6, Cha 3
Skills: Listen, Spot, Swim
Feats: Power Attack
Environment: Any Aquatic (Oceans)
Organization: Solitary, family (5-50), or school (51-250)
Challenge Rating: 1/2
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 3-6 HD (Small), 7-20 HD (Medium)
Level Adjustment: -


Combat
Deep-Dive Endurance (Ex): Devonian Predatory Fish are experts at diving down to dark abysses where the water pressure is far too immense for land-dwelling creatures. These creatures suffer no penalties to diving into deep sea, and do not need to make checks to avoid damage by deep-sea water pressure.
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Oceans
FREQUENCY: Common
DIET: Carnivore
ORGANIZATION: School
NO. APPEARING: 5d10
ARMOR CLASS: 5
MOVEMENT! 8
HIT DICE: l/2 (1d4 hp)
THAC0: 20
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-2
SPECIAL ATTACKS: None
SPECIAL DEFENSES: None
SIZE: S (1’ long)
MORALE: Unsteady (5)
XP VALUE: 7

This category covers all the small predatory fish that appeared during the Devonian period (405-345 million years ago). These creatures are assumed to have hunted larger prey in schools and may have “ganged up” on the eurypterids before larger predatory fish drove them into extinction. Their bite does little damage, hence the large number of fish attacking. They do not swim as well as their modern counterparts, but their armor class is considerably better due to their heavy bone armor.

Characters only partially armored had best be careful when fighting these things. Although these fish are not intelligent, millions of years spent getting at eurypterids and other armored foes have caused them to evolve very thorough attack plans designed for finding every weak spot in an opponent’s armor. Several dozen fish may attack a lone victim at once, biting every where to find the weak spots.

Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #176 (1991).

 

[GrayLinnorm]

After reading the original flavor text, these could probably be a swarm.

 

[Rappy]

Hello folks. I've been a long-time lurker ever since I started looking at these threads in hopes of a thread using WoTC's Alternity conversion rules for Dark*Matter creatures unconverted in d20 Modern (but that's a story for another day, I guess. I don't hold it against y'all that it was never done...there's a ton of DnD material to pour over )and stayed for all the fascinating conversions that were going on.

Recently, Xidoraven's posts over at the WoTC forums reminded me that I wanted to help out around here, so I figured my palaeontological hobbyism would make this a good thread to start. And now that the deinotherium has been moved away from, I felt prepared to join in. Aaaanyway...

When they refer to these creatures as "Devonian predatory fish", they're presumably referring to cheirolepis or its ilk. Working under this presumption, a swarm of them would have a fairly nasty bite, possibly with the wounding quality if you want to make them even nastier (and it wouldn't be unprecedented considering the rather vicious needle-array shape of its maw).

Secondly, if this is cheirolepis, I'd up the speed some. They wouldn't be marathon runners, but they have a fairly streamlined "long bullet" body that would produce a bit more than 20 feet (most likely 30, possibly 25 if you want to keep it closer to the original speed).

Third...yeah, it's probably best done as a swarm. Cheirolepis wouldn't be much of a threat to a humanoid adventurer on its own, but in a swarm it could be very hazardous.

 

[freyar]

I have to agree with everyone else; swarm does seem best (and a nasty one!).

PS. xidoraven, looks like a good start at an individual! And, Rappy, welcome! Please feel free to help out whereever you'd like!