Converting prehistoric creatures

[Cleon]

Yes, looks good. Any fossil fiend want to flavor this?

Let's see, how's this...

This swimming reptile has a sleek body propelled by four powerful flippers and a comparatively short tail and neck. Its large head is dominated by long jaws filled with huge, conical teeth.

Pliosaurs are aquatic reptiles related to the long-necked plesiosaurs such as Elasmosaurus. While ordinary plesiosaurs had small heads and ate prey much smaller than themselves, pliosaurs used their mighty jaws yo tackle bigger prey, including large fish, ammonites and other marine reptiles.

Known species of pliosaur ranged in size from as little as 5 feet long from nose to tail to at least 50 feet in length. A typical Large-sized pliosaur in between 10 and 12 feet long.

TACTICS
A pliosaur may try to eat creatures up to its own size, but prefers prey smaller than itself. The reptile usually charges an opponent and attempts to seize it in their jaws. Small and weak prey are normally swallowed whole once a pliosaur has them in its grip. It uses its worry special attack against more formidable prey, literally trying to shake its opponent into pieces.

 

[freyar]

Do you mean "ordinary plesiosaurs" vs "pliosaurs" in the 2nd flavor sentence there? As is, you have pliosaurs vs pliosaurs.

 

[Cleon]

Do you mean "ordinary plesiosaurs" vs "pliosaurs" in the 2nd flavor sentence there? As is, you have pliosaurs vs pliosaurs.

Dang it, it should be plesiosaurs. I spent a lot of time fiddling with that sentence, and the wrong marine reptile got left in the wash.

Easy enough to edit.

 

[freyar]

It looks pretty good with that change.

 

[Shade]

"their mighty jaws yo tackle bigger prey"

Yo, tackle that prey!

Transferred to Homebrews.

 

[Cleon]

"their mighty jaws yo tackle bigger prey"

Yo, tackle that prey!

Don't you know all Pliosaurs are Pirates?

Odd, I remember noticing that "yo" typo when I was correcting the "ordinary pliosaurs" mistake and was sure I'd corrected it.

Transferred to Homebrews.

I'd add Huge, Gargantuan, and possibly Colossal Pliosaurs to the stats.

I'm thinking the bigger versions should lose their land speed, and might have a few other tweaks.

Updating the Working Draft.

 

[freyar]

Why not just add an underbar about the land speed and otherwise have normal advancement?

 

[Cleon]

Why not just add an underbar about the land speed and otherwise have normal advancement?

Cause I want to stat them up, that's why.

Besides, as well as a speed tweak I'm tempted to modify their other stats a bit to more closely match the Dragon #318 Liopleurodon, such as natural armour or Wisdom.

Besides, having fully statted Pliosaurs is an act of generosity to any DM who wants to use them.

 

[freyar]

So split out one to use as lipleurodon later?

 

[Cleon]

So split out one to use as lipleurodon later?

I prefer having them all under one entry, like the different sizes of Tojanida or Monstrous Spider.

I've already put the outlines in the Working Draft.

The main decision to make is what feats to give them.

It should be pretty obvious I don't want to give the Colossal version seven Toughness feats like the Dragon #318 Liopleurodon.

How about:

Huge Pliosaur (4 feats): Great Fortitude, Improved Critical (bite), Power Attack, Weapon Focus (bite)

Gargantuan Pliosaur (7 feats + 1 epic feat): Awesome Blow, Epic Toughness, Great Fortitude, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (bite), Improved Natural Attack (bite), Power Attack, Weapon Focus (bite)

Not so sure what to do about the Colossal version. Since it's possibly an exaggeratedly large & powerful creature I'm tempted to give it the Devastating Critical chain, for a DC 47 save vs death. That might be a bit too nasty though.

Colossal Pliosaur #1 (7 feats + 6 epic feats): Awesome Blow, Cleave, Devastating Critical, Epic Toughness, Great Cleave, Great Fortitude, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (bite), Improved Initiative, Improved Natural Attack (bite), Overwhelming Critical, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (bite)

Could just give it Improved Initiative (like Liopleurodon) and a straightforward mix of save- and hp-boosting epic feats (Epic Reflexes, two Epic Toughnesses and an Epic Will):

Colossal Pliosaur #2 (7 feats + 6 epic feats): Awesome Blow, Epic Reflexes, Epic Toughness × 3, Epic Will, Great Fortitude, Improved Bull Rush, Improved Critical (bite), Improved Initiative, Improved Natural Attack (bite), Power Attack, Weapon Focus (bite)

Hmm... for everyday use I prefer #2.