5E: Converting AD&D Monsters to Fifth Edition

The "rake" in its pounce attack needs to change to "bite", "talon" or either (i.e. "the utahraptor can make one bite or talon attack"). Also, shouldn't the Strength saving throw DC be 14?

Oh, and I'd be inclined to drop the Ferocious Nest Defence.

There are piles of AD&D animals that got combat boosts when defending their young or mates, but offhand I can't think of any of them which retained that ability in later editions.

adopted all 3 changes

Casimir Liber said:

adopted all 3 changes

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Thinking it over, if its Pounce does claws damage followed by either bite or talon damage that's the same amount of injury as its regular Multiattack, plus it's possibly less likely to do that damage as it has to hit with the claws AND knock the target prone to make the second attack.

Should the Pounce potentially do more damage than its regular attack options?

How about we start it with a Talon attack and then it can bite or claw the prone opponent?

Also, a Great Cat's Pounce requires 20 feet of movement (i.e. the SRD Leopard) not the 30 feet the current Utahraptor uses, I'd favour that distance since we've reduced the dinosaur's speed.

So that might make:


Not sure I'd bother with any Advantage on the attack rolls, but if you want to add that in I'd prefer the advantage to be on the triggering Talon attack, so:


I think Version #2 is sufficient myself.

What do you reckon?

I like version 3 - it encapsulates the use of the talon with deadly accuracy. Have incorporated it.

Casimir Liber said:

I like version 3 - it encapsulates the use of the talon with deadly accuracy. Have incorporated it.

Click to expand...

I'll do an Enworld Version here with everything we've agreed on so far then.

Dinosaur, Utahraptor
Large beast, unaligned
Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points 59 (7d10 + 21)
Speed 40 ft.


Skills Acrobatics +4, Perception +3, Stealth +6
Senses passive Perception 13
Languages —
Challenge 2 (450 XP) Proficiency Bonus +2

Keen Sight and Smell. The utahraptor has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on sight or smell.

Pack Tactics. The utahraptor has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the utahraptor's allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.

Pounce. If the utahraptor moves at least 20 feet straight toward a creature it can make a talon attack with advantage against the creature on the same turn. If it hits, that target must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone. If the target is prone, the utahraptor can make one bite attack and one claws attack against it as a bonus action.

Rush (3/day). As a bonus action, the utahraptor can take the Dash action.

Actions

Multiattack. The utahraptor makes two attacks: one with its claws and one with a bite or talon.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d4 + 6) slashing damage.

Claws. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d8 + 4) slashing damage.

Talon. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage.


Description

Large relatives of the Deinonychus, this dinosaur stands about 6 feet tall and averages 18 feet long and 650 pounds in weight. A Utahraptor is a stealth-and-pounce pack predator whose appearance and habits match its smaller cousins. Most Utahraptor packs contain three to six adults, but packs that specialize in hunting huge and dangerous prey sometimes number up to twenty.

(Originally appeared in Dungeon Magazine #54 (Jul/Aug 1995) as part of "The Fiends of Tethyr" by David Howery.)

Right, I've marked a few questionable bits in red.

Firstly, how about increasing its Hit Dice by one to match the original monster's seven. Giving it Hit Points 59 (7d10 + 21) is still Challenge Rating 2 according to the CR Calculator.

Indeed, it says Hit Points 68 (8d10 + 24) is still CR 2.

Secondly, Intelligence of 4 is surely too high. Unless it's an exaggerated Jurassic Park style super-raptor it shouldn't be much smarter than a crocodile. Shouldn't it be INT 2 like a 5E Deinonychus?

I cut out the Stealth since the Deinonychus didn't have it and double proficiency in Stealth is good enough as far as I'm concerned.

Speaking of proficiencies, shouldn't it have Acrobatics too like the 5E Deinonychus?

I'm also not in favour of the double proficiency in Perception. I'd rather it have single proficiency in Perception and Double in Stealth like a 5E Lion, for:


That said, I'm game to give it Keen Smell like a Deinonychus or Keen Sight like an Eagle. Or preferably both:


Any of that work for you?

all works for me. I think they'd be equally proficient at vision and smell so like the bottom add.

Casimir Liber said:

all works for me. I think they'd be equally proficient at vision and smell so like the bottom add.

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I cut out the Stealthy in Native Habitat as it's already double proficient in Stealth, as mentioned above.

Also, its passive Perception becomes 13 if we lower the skill to single proficiency.

Updating the Utahraptor.