D&D 5E Better Beasts?

[doctorbadwolf]

There would be something quite scary to be chased by a pack of fox-hunting dogs that had instead been trained to hunt adventurers... Maybe do something with "Swarm of Insects" and make them "Pack of Dogs" that take up Gargantuan space or something.

I do love me some huge swarms made up of small and medium critters.

I think maybe pack hunters should have a sneak attack damage bonus, or something where one wolf can set up the attack for another wolf. I guess pack tactics is there for that but it feels like it’s not quite there.

 

[Eltab]

There would be something quite scary to be chased by a pack of fox-hunting dogs that had instead been trained to hunt adventurers... Maybe do something with "Swarm of Insects" and make them "Pack of Dogs" that take up Gargantuan space or something.

... and if they Squeeze into a smaller space (pile all over / on top of you) they do extra damage.

 

[dave2008]

I think maybe pack hunters should have a sneak attack damage bonus, or something where one wolf can set up the attack for another wolf. I guess pack tactics is there for that but it feels like it’s not quite there.

Any ideas? I think pact tactics is a pretty good interpretation of this idea, but I am open to ideas. I am thinking of updating the wolf next and then doing a Pack of Wolves as suggested.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Any ideas? I think pact tactics is a pretty good interpretation of this idea, but I am open to ideas. I am thinking of updating the wolf next and then doing a Pack of Wolves as suggested.

I"m not sure. Pack Tactics feels like only part of the solution, to me, but I'm having trouble figuring out what I'd add, exactly. Perhaps extra damage against prone targets, so when a wolf knocks a creature down, and the pack moves in, the end is quick and brutal?

 

[Eltab]

Reaction (need a flavorful name)
Trigger: an ally of yours knocks an opponent prone in a space adjacent to you.
Effect: You make a Bite attack on that opponent. (or Claw or whatever the smaller 'normal attack' is)
If the opponent is proned in the middle of a mob of Wolves, they all can take a whack at him.

Something like that?

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Reaction (need a flavorful name)
Trigger: an ally of yours knocks an opponent prone in a space adjacent to you.
Effect: You make a Bite attack on that opponent. (or Claw or whatever the smaller 'normal attack' is)
If the opponent is proned in the middle of a mob of Wolves, they all can take a whack at him.

Something like that?

I really like that, though I wonder if it might make more sense in terms of wolf hunting behavior if the wolf can simply make two attacks, rather than one, if it's target is prone.

 

[Eltab]

I really like that, though I wonder if it might make more sense in terms of wolf hunting behavior if the wolf can simply make two attacks, rather than one, if it's target is prone.

Aw, you're gonna make me find the National Geographic Channel and dig through its archives. . To study how wolves hunt.
I propose that as a Reaction on somebody else's turn, not the main attack on the Wolf's own turn. Hence the single attack. The wolf can still multiattack on its own turn.
In the worst case (from the target's point of view), one wolf gets you in the leg and knocks you down, then 8 more wolves snap or swipe at you before you can even roll over to protect yourself.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Aw, you're gonna make me find the National Geographic Channel and dig through its archives. . To study how wolves hunt.
I propose that as a Reaction on somebody else's turn, not the main attack on the Wolf's own turn. Hence the single attack. The wolf can still multiattack on its own turn.
In the worst case (from the target's point of view), one wolf gets you in the leg and knocks you down, then 8 more wolves snap or swipe at you before you can even roll over to protect yourself.

Yeah, either way works. I simply suspect that wolves may hunt in a way that is closer to taking individual swipes in a hit and run sort of style, and then swarming when one of them takes down the target.

If I'm right, perhaps Disengage as a bonus action?

 

[Tonguez]

N

Yeah, either way works. I simply suspect that wolves may hunt in a way that is closer to taking individual swipes in a hit and run sort of style, and then swarming when one of them takes down the target.

If I'm right, perhaps Disengage as a bonus action?

maybe frighten to force prey to run (wolves always attack from behind) with pack hunting tactics being trip-hold-swarm

I remember a BBC documentary where the wolves ran pass a buffalo herd and located a lone bull. The wolves then stopped, took time to drink and waited until the bull went down on its knees.

somehow the wolves had detected that the lone bull was dying (so some special scent feat to detect low hp?)

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Following on from the Cheshire Cat discussion, I have made some variant cats.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

N


maybe frighten to force prey to run (wolves always attack from behind) with pack hunting tactics being trip-hold-swarm

I remember a BBC documentary where the wolves ran pass a buffalo herd and located a lone bull. The wolves then stopped, took time to drink and waited until the bull went down on its knees.

somehow the wolves had detected that the lone bull was dying (so some special scent feat to detect low hp?)

I like the idea of wolves and dogs having the ability to smell if a creature is at, above, or below, half their HP, and if they are under the effect of a disease or poison.

 

[Stalker0]

Crocodile
Challenge 1 (200 XP)

This one I'm getting a CR 2 by my napkin math. While weak defensively, a croc can dish out a lot of damage very quickly....especially if its in water.

Also the Tail has a +8 attack vs the Bite's +4, is that intentional?

 

[dave2008]

Golder Amur by Raphtor

Amur Tiger	Challenge 3
Large beast, unaligned	700 XP

Armor Class 14 (natural armor)
Hit Points 76 (9d10 + 27; bloodied 38)
Speed 40 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
20 (+5)	16 (+3)	16 (+3)	3 (-4)	12 (+1)	10 (+0)

Saving Throws Dex +5, Con +5
Skills Athletics +7, Perception +5, Stealth +5
Senses Darkvision 120 ft., Passive Perception 13
Languages --
Proficiency Bonus +2 Maneuver DC 15

Brute. A melee weapon deals one extra die of its damage when the tiger hits with it (included in the attack).

Feline Speed (2/ Short Rest). When the tiger takes the Dash action it can move at 4 times its speed (160 ft.) during this movement.

Keen Senses. The tiger has advantage on Wisdom (Perception).

Pounce. If the tiger moves at least 20 feet straight toward a creature and then hits it with a claw attack on the same turn, that target must succeed on a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be knocked prone.

ACTIONS
Multiattack. The tiger makes two claw attacks.

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 15 (3d6 + 5) slashing damage. Additionally, if the tiger hits the same target with two claw attacks on the same turn, the target is also grappled.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +7 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target that is grappled by the tiger or incapacitated. Hit: 18 (3d8 + 5) piercing damage.

BONUS ACTION
Feline Agility. The tiger can take the Dash or Disengage action.

Ferocious Bite. The tiger can make a bite attack against a prone or incapacitated creature or a creature it has grappled.

REACTIONS
Throat Bite. If a creature is grappled by the tiger at the end of the creature's turn, the tiger makes a bite attack against it with

 

[Doug McCrae]

Here are some suggestions, taken from the Imaginary Bestiary Vol I-III:

Ape, Laser
Archaeopteryx, Acidic
Baboon, Phantom
Barracuda, Land
Bat, Orc
Beetle, Alchemical
Beetle, Mesmeric
Caterpillar, Famine
Centipede, Dreadful
Cetacean Telepath
Crocodile, Blade
Crow, Murderous
Cuckoo, Cloud
Doom Locust
Dragon Badger
Eagle, Stone
Eel, Fright
Fightingale
Fox, Thought
Giggling Simian
Goose, Misty
Grebe, Star-Flesh
Half-Stag
Hart of Ten
Heron, Scintillating
Horse, Witch’s
Hound, Skulk
Invisiwolf
Kingfisher, Gigantic
Koala, Extra-Venomous
Monkey, Powder
Narwhal, Sky
Octodactyl
Orangutan Apemancer
Overbear
Overwhale
Owl, Lich
Owlosopher
Ox, Shock
Pig, Chaos
Pike, Pike
Polecat, Magnetic
Political Animal
Python, Tangle
Shrew, Telekinetic
Snail, Grail
Sword Bird
Tortoise, Enormous Sorcerous
Trogon, Tonitruous
Velvet Worm, Titanic
Weasel, Cold
Weta, Naphtha
Wolf, Victory
Wolf, Winged

 

[RoughCoronet0]

I really like what's been posted in this thread so far!

I recall seeing someone post about wanting beasts with more magical or supernatural elements without them being Monstrosities. This is something I have been brainstorming myself. I decided for my world to bring back the clear magical divide of Divine, Arcane, and Primal magic, so I wanted to create another category/template for more ancient and powerful beasts that have been infused with the primal magics of the environments they inhabit. I'd call them Primal beasts and they would have different abilities, resistances/immunities, and even small amounts of supernatural/primal magic powers and effects they can use depending on where they commonly reside.

So for example, a primal beast of the artic lands could have resistances or immunity to cold damage, the ability to magically camouflage in ice and snow, could maybe ice walk or climb icy surfaces, could due cold damage with their attacks, and so one.

 

[dave2008]

I really like what's been posted in this thread so far!

I recall seeing someone post about wanting beasts with more magical or supernatural elements without them being Monstrosities. This is something I have been brainstorming myself. I decided for my world to bring back the clear magical divide of Divine, Arcane, and Primal magic, so I wanted to create another category/template for more ancient and powerful beasts that have been infused with the primal magics of the environments they inhabit. I'd call them Primal beasts and they would have different abilities, resistances/immunities, and even small amounts of supernatural/primal magic powers and effects they can use depending on where they commonly reside.

So for example, a primal beast of the artic lands could have resistances or immunity to cold damage, the ability to magically camouflage in ice and snow, could maybe ice walk or climb icy surfaces, could due cold damage with their attacks, and so one.

I've been doing something similar, though I only made the beast lords which I called "Sovereign Beasts." I recently finished a first pass on several of them (I think they still need some work, maybe legendary actions):

• Sovereign Bull (standard, CR 19)
• Sovereign Drake (standard, CR 16)
• Sovereign Eagle (standard, CR 14)
• Sovereign Elk (standard, CR 16)
• Sovereign Hunter (standard, CR 17)
• Sovereign Wolf (standard, CR 16)

 

[dave2008]

So with the recent news that T-Rex likely had an intelligence similar to a baboons, I decided to update some stat-blocks. I give you the new and improved:

Tyrannosaurus (standard, CR 10)
Tyrannosaurus Alpha (Elite, CR 10)

 

[doctorbadwolf]

So with the recent news that T-Rex likely had an intelligence similar to a baboons, I decided to update some stat-blocks. I give you the new and improved:

Tyrannosaurus (standard, CR 10)
Tyrannosaurus Alpha (Elite, CR 10)

That's very cool.

Also has anyone compiled all these stat-blocks yet?

I'm working on a dnd-lite game and I think the monster stat blocks will largely remain the same, maybe simplified a bit.

 

[dave2008]

Also has anyone compiled all these stat-blocks yet?

Not to my knowledge

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Not to my knowledge

I will literally pay someone $30 to do so. I'm willing to negotiate if doing so is more work than that, of course. I just really don't wanna.