Converting "Real World" Animals and Vermin

[Shade]

That looks like a good start. I'd also like to add one or two of the abilities of the dire vulture to it, since they seem a good fit:

Resistant to Disease (Ex): A dire vulture has a cast-iron stomach. It has a +2 bonus on Fortitude saves to resist normal diseases, but not supernatural or magical diseases such as mummy rot.

Considering where they hang out, this seems a good fit, too:

Stench (Ex): Scraps of rotting flesh cling to a dire vulture's feathers, and the fetid wind of its wings can fell even the hardiest opponent. A creature within 20 feet of a dire vulture must succeed on a DC 20 Fortitude save or be sickened for 1d6 rounds. A creature that successfully saves can't be affected by that dire vulture's stench ability for 24 hours. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Rather than "scraps of rotting flesh", it could be "bits of offal, carrion, and refuse".

 

[freyar]

I rather like those abilities.

But aren't these giant rats, not titanic rats?

 

[Shade]

Per the original writeup, they are "Gigantic Rats".

Added to Homebrews.

 

[Cleon]

That looks like a good start. I'd also like to add one or two of the abilities of the dire vulture to it, since they seem a good fit:

Resistant to Disease (Ex): A dire vulture has a cast-iron stomach. It has a +2 bonus on Fortitude saves to resist normal diseases, but not supernatural or magical diseases such as mummy rot.

Considering where they hang out, this seems a good fit, too:

Stench (Ex): Scraps of rotting flesh cling to a dire vulture's feathers, and the fetid wind of its wings can fell even the hardiest opponent. A creature within 20 feet of a dire vulture must succeed on a DC 20 Fortitude save or be sickened for 1d6 rounds. A creature that successfully saves can't be affected by that dire vulture's stench ability for 24 hours. The save DC is Constitution-based.

Rather than "scraps of rotting flesh", it could be "bits of offal, carrion, and refuse".

I like Resistance to Disease but not Stench. They'd need an awfully large sewer to get covered in filth!

 

[Mortis]

They'd need an awfully large sewer to get covered in filth!

Yeah but one just a bit smaller than their body, so they can squeeze through it and clean it like a loo brush

Regards
Mortis

 

[Shade]

I like Resistance to Disease but not Stench. They'd need an awfully large sewer to get covered in filth!

In a fantasy world, it isn't too difficult to imagine. They might crawl through a dragon's "outhouse tunnel", for example.

Are we ready for the next creature?

 

[freyar]

Ready enough, these were simple.

 

[Cleon]

In a fantasy world, it isn't too difficult to imagine. They might crawl through a dragon's "outhouse tunnel", for example.

I don't know that I like your big smelly rat, but it's OK I suppose.

Are we ready for the next creature?

Well there's a trifling little error in the description...

"This massive mouse is more than thrice as long as a man is tall."

Also the rat's 10 feet longer than the mouse so the "thrice as long" needs changing. We could also emphasize their "big smelly rattiness"...

A gigantic rat, five times longer than a man is tall. Its fur is matted with filth so reeking it could make a half-orc retch.

 

[Cleon]

Added to Homebrews.

I'm wondering whether we should give the Gigantic Rat's trample a ×1 Str modifier like we did the Giant Mouse, for 2d8+10 damage, instead of the current ×1½ [FONT=&quot][/FONT][FONT=&quot][/FONT]Str mod.

 

[Shade]

Updated with the revised description and lower Str mod for trample.

Rather than "half-orc", you could have gone with "otyugh", though.