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Cleon Specials – Prehistoric Beasts!
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<blockquote data-quote="Cleon" data-source="post: 7950749" data-attributes="member: 57383"><p><strong><em><span style="font-size: 22px">Tanystropheus</span></em></strong></p><p>Medium Animal</p><p><strong>Hit Dice:</strong> 3d8 (13 hp)</p><p><strong>Initiative:</strong> +2</p><p><strong>Speed:</strong> 15 ft. (3 squares), swim 30 ft.</p><p><strong>Armor Class:</strong> 14 (+2 Dex, +2 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 12</p><p><strong>Base Attack/Grapple:</strong> +2/+4</p><p><strong>Attack:</strong> Bite +5 melee (1d6+3)</p><p><strong>Full Attack:</strong> Bite +5 melee (1d6+3)</p><p><strong>Space/Reach:</strong> 5 ft./5 ft. (10 ft. with bite)</p><p><strong>Special Attacks:</strong> Improved grab, swallow whole [<em>Diminutive-sized as combat attack, 1d4+2 plus 2 acid, 5 hp, AC11</em>]</p><p><strong>Special Qualities:</strong> Hold breath, low-light vision, scent</p><p><strong>Saves:</strong> Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +2</p><p><strong>Abilities:</strong> Str 15, Dex 15, Con 10, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 4</p><p><strong>Skills:</strong> Hide +7* [+<em>11 in water or body-concealed, +15 body-concealed in water</em>], Listen +3, Spot +3, Swim +10</p><p><strong>Feats:</strong> Skill Focus (Hide), Weapon Focus (bite)</p><p><strong>Environment:</strong> Warm aquatic and swamps</p><p><strong>Organization:</strong> Solitary or cluster (2–8)</p><p><strong>Challenge Rating:</strong> 1</p><p><strong>Treasure:</strong> None</p><p><strong>Alignment:</strong> Always neutral</p><p><strong>Advancement:</strong> 4 HD (Medium); 5–6 HD (Large)</p><p><strong>Level Adjustment:</strong> —</p><p></p><p>This reptile has an extraordinarily long neck, longer than the rest of the body put together. It has a slim lizard-like torso with fat, muscular hindquarters and a tail of average length. Parts of the body are covered in rectangular scales. The head is tiny, with a narrow snout full of spike-like teeth that interlock when its jaws are closed. The neck is pretty stiff, about as flexible as fishing rod.</p><p></p><p><em>Tanystropheus</em> are carnivores, mainly eating little fish and squid. They usually hunt by concealing their body – typically in swamp vegetation, above an overhanging rock along the shore, or buried in mud or a rock-hollow under the water – and wait until a meal swims by, then move out to snatch their prey up in their jaws. Their extravagantly long necks allow them to close with a witless fish without the latter realizing they've come within a larger creature's reach. A <em>Tanystropheus</em> swims with its strong hind legs, often by kicking itself along the bottom of shallow water.</p><p></p><p>In areas with abundant marine life <em>Tanystropheus</em> can be quite common. They are not social animals, but are gregarious enough to cluster at a particularly good fishing spot without too much squabbling.</p><p></p><p>A typical <em>Tanystropheus</em> has a total length from nose to tail of around 13 feet, 7 feet of which is neck, but has a head only 8 or 9 inches long. It weighs 180 pounds or so. An extremely big individual may approach 20 feet in length. Smaller individuals are quite common, both actual <em>Tanystropheus</em> and related species of lesser size.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="font-size: 18px">Combat</span></strong></p><p><em>Tanystropheus</em> only attack prey small enough to swallow. When faced with larger creatures they would rather hide or flee than fight, but will readily bite in self defence.</p><p></p><p><strong>Hold Breath (Ex):</strong> A <em>Tanystropheus</em> can hold its breath for a number of rounds equal to 4 × its Constitution score before it risks drowning.</p><p></p><p><strong>Improved Grab (Ex):</strong> To use this ability, a <em>Tanystropheus</em> must hit with a bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can try to swallow the foe the following round.</p><p></p><p><strong>Swallow Whole (Ex):</strong> A <em>Tanystropheus</em> can try to swallow a grabbed opponent of up to three sizes smaller by making a successful grapple check. A <em>Tanystropheus</em> can swallow a creature two sizes smaller than itself, but it takes it 1d6+4 rounds and two successful grapple checks to do so (one to start, one to finish). Therefore it does not swallow bigger victims while in combat.</p><p></p><p>The swallowed creature takes 1d4+2 points of bludgeoning damage and 2 points of acid damage per round from the <em>Tanystropheus's</em> gizzard. A swallowed creature can cut its way out by using a light slashing or piercing weapon to deal 5 points of damage to the gizzard (AC 11). Once the creature exits, muscular action closes the hole; another swallowed opponent must cut its own way out.</p><p></p><p>A Medium-sized <em>Tanystropheus</em>'<em>s</em> gizzard can hold 4 Tiny, 16 Diminutive or 64 Fine opponents.</p><p></p><p><strong>Skills:</strong> A <em>Tanystropheus</em> has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.</p><p></p><p>*A <em>Tanystropheus</em> has a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks when it is in water. Further, if a <em>Tanystropheus</em> conceals its body, leaving its slim neck and tiny head visible, it gains a +4 cover bonus on Hide checks, or +6 if it is a Large-sized <em>Tanystropheus</em>.</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 22px"><strong>Large <em>Tanystropheus</em></strong></span></p><p>Large Animal</p><p><strong>Hit Dice:</strong> 5d8+5 (27 hp)</p><p><strong>Initiative:</strong> +2</p><p><strong>Speed:</strong> 15 ft. (3 squares), swim 30 ft.</p><p><strong>Armor Class:</strong> 15 (–1 size, +2 Dex, +4 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 13</p><p><strong>Base Attack/Grapple:</strong> +3/+11</p><p><strong>Attack:</strong> Bite +7 melee (1d8+6)</p><p><strong>Full Attack:</strong> Bite +7 melee (1d8+6)</p><p><strong>Space/Reach:</strong> 10 ft./5 ft. (15 ft. with bite)</p><p><strong>Special Attacks:</strong> Improved grab, swallow whole [<em>Tiny-sized as combat attack, 1d6+4 plus 4 acid, 10 hp, AC12</em>]</p><p><strong>Special Qualities:</strong> Hold breath, low-light vision, scent</p><p><strong>Saves:</strong> Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +2</p><p><strong>Abilities:</strong> Str 19, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 4</p><p><strong>Skills:</strong> Hide +5* [+<em>9 in water, +11 if body-concealed, +15 if body-concealed in water</em>], Listen +3, Spot +3, Swim +12</p><p><strong>Feats:</strong> Skill Focus (Hide), Weapon Focus (bite)</p><p><strong>Environment:</strong> Warm aquatic and swamps</p><p><strong>Organization:</strong> Solitary or cluster (2–8)</p><p><strong>Challenge Rating:</strong> 2</p><p><strong>Treasure:</strong> None</p><p><strong>Alignment:</strong> Always neutral</p><p><strong>Advancement:</strong> 6 HD (Large)</p><p><strong>Level Adjustment:</strong> —</p><p></p><p>Like many reptiles, <em>Tanystropheus</em> do not stop growing, so a particularly old and well-nourished specimen can reach an impressive size, as represented by the above stats. Such individuals are very rare, however.</p><p></p><p>A big <em>Tanystropheus</em> is some 20 feet from nose to tail, with a foot-long head upon a neck that's 10 feet long, if not longer. They typically weigh from 500 to 700 pounds.</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 22px"><strong>Small <em>Tanystropheus </em>(<em>Dinocephalus</em>)</strong></span></p><p>Small Animal</p><p><strong>Hit Dice:</strong> 2d8 (9 hp)</p><p><strong>Initiative:</strong> +2</p><p><strong>Speed:</strong> 15 ft. (3 squares), swim 30 ft.</p><p><strong>Armor Class:</strong> 14 (+1 size, +2 Dex, +1 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 12</p><p><strong>Base Attack/Grapple:</strong> +1/–2</p><p><strong>Attack:</strong> Bite +5 melee (1d4+1)</p><p><strong>Full Attack:</strong> Bite +5 melee (1d4+1)</p><p><strong>Space/Reach:</strong> 5 ft./5 ft.</p><p><strong>Special Attacks:</strong> Improved grab, swallow whole [<em>Fine-sized as combat attack, 1d3+1 plus 1 acid, 5 hp, AC10</em>]</p><p><strong>Special Qualities:</strong> Hold breath, low-light vision, scent</p><p><strong>Saves:</strong> Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +1</p><p><strong>Abilities:</strong> Str 13, Dex 15, Con 10, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 4</p><p><strong>Skills:</strong> Hide +7* [+<em>11 in water or body-concealed, +15 body-concealed in water</em>], Listen +3, Spot +3, Swim +9</p><p><strong>Feats:</strong> Weapon Finesseᴮ, Weapon Focus (bite)</p><p><strong>Environment:</strong> Warm aquatic and swamps</p><p><strong>Organization:</strong> Solitary or cluster (2–8)</p><p><strong>Challenge Rating:</strong> ½</p><p><strong>Treasure:</strong> None</p><p><strong>Alignment:</strong> Always neutral</p><p><strong>Advancement:</strong> 3–4 HD (Medium); 5–6 HD (Large)</p><p><strong>Level Adjustment:</strong> —</p><p></p><p>This could be an adult <em>Tanystropheus</em> of modest size, or a member of a smaller related species, such as <em>Dinocephalosaurus orientalis</em>.</p><p></p><p>A typical Small <em>Tanystropheus</em> is 9 feet long with a 6 inch head on a 5 foot neck, and weigh about 60 pounds.</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 22px"><strong>Dire <em>Tanystropheus</em></strong></span></p><p>Large Animal (Dire)</p><p><strong>Hit Dice:</strong> 7d8+21 (52 hp)</p><p><strong>Initiative:</strong> +3</p><p><strong>Speed:</strong> 15 ft. (3 squares), swim 30 ft.</p><p><strong>Armor Class:</strong> 18 (–1 size, +3 Dex, +6 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 15</p><p><strong>Base Attack/Grapple:</strong> +5/+15</p><p><strong>Attack:</strong> Bite +11 melee (2d6+9)</p><p><strong>Full Attack:</strong> Bite +11 melee (2d6+9)</p><p><strong>Space/Reach:</strong> 10 ft./5 ft. (20 ft. with bite)</p><p><strong>Special Attacks:</strong> Constrict 1d10+9, improved grab, swallow whole [<em>Tiny-sized as combat attack, 1d8+6 plus 4 acid, 15 hp, AC13</em>]</p><p><strong>Special Qualities:</strong> Hold breath, low-light vision, scent</p><p><strong>Saves:</strong> Fort +8, Ref +8, Will +6</p><p><strong>Abilities:</strong> Str 23, Dex 17, Con 16, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 8</p><p><strong>Skills:</strong> Hide +8* [<em>+12 in water, +14 if body-concealed, +18 if body-concealed in water</em>], Listen +5, Spot +5, Swim +14</p><p><strong>Feats:</strong> Alertness, Skill Focus (Hide), Weapon Focus (bite)</p><p><strong>Environment:</strong> Warm aquatic and swamps</p><p><strong>Organization:</strong> Solitary or cluster (2–8)</p><p><strong>Challenge Rating:</strong> 4</p><p><strong>Treasure:</strong> None</p><p><strong>Alignment:</strong> Always neutral</p><p><strong>Advancement:</strong> 8–14 HD (Large); 15–29 HD (Huge); 30–45 (Gargantuan)</p><p><strong>Level Adjustment:</strong> —</p><p></p><p>This is not a real-world animal (or even a realistic one). While an ordinary <em>Tanystropheus</em> has a quite rigid neck, a dire <em>Tanystropheus's</em> neck is as flexible as a serpent, and can crush victims in its coils like a python. They can also process prey items too large to swallow, by bracing a carcass in their coils, or wedging it under a rock or sunken tree, then tearing off bite-sized chunks with their jaws. However, a dire <em>Tanystropheus</em> is so stupidly voracious they have been known to attempt to swallow objects to big for them to consume and subsequently choke to death.</p><p></p><p>A dire <em>Tanystropheus</em> averages about 25 feet long, with a cubit-long head on a neck 13 feet long, and weighs between 1,200 and 1,500 pounds.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="font-size: 18px">Combat</span></strong></p><p>Dire<em> Tanystropheus</em> are far more aggressive than the mundane variety, and will attack any creature smaller than themselves. When faced with larger creatures they would rather hide or flee, but will ferociously fight in self defence.</p><p></p><p>A dire <em>Tanystropheus</em> usually lurks in ambush under the water or above a cliff, then lashes out its long neck when prey wanders within reach. Once combat begins they are recklessly vicious, and generally fight to the death without even a thought of retreat.</p><p></p><p><strong>Constrict (Ex):</strong> On a successful grapple check, a dire<em> Tanystropheus</em> deals 1d10+9 points of damage.</p><p></p><p><strong>Hold Breath (Ex):</strong> A dire<em> Tanystropheus</em> can hold its breath for a number of rounds equal to 4 × its Constitution score before it risks drowning.</p><p></p><p><strong>Improved Grab (Ex):</strong> To use this ability, a dire<em> Tanystropheus</em> must hit with a bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can try to constrict or swallow the foe the following round.</p><p></p><p><strong>Swallow Whole (Ex):</strong> A dire<em> Tanystropheus</em> can try to swallow a grabbed opponent of up to three sizes smaller by making a successful grapple check. A dire<em> Tanystropheus</em> can swallow a creature two sizes smaller than itself, but it takes it 1d6+4 rounds and two successful grapple checks to do so (one to start, one to finish). Therefore it does not swallow bigger victims while in combat.</p><p></p><p>The swallowed creature takes 1d8+6 points of bludgeoning damage and 4 points of acid damage per round from the dire<em> Tanystropheus's</em> gizzard. A swallowed creature can cut its way out by using a light slashing or piercing weapon to deal 15 points of damage to the gizzard (AC 13). Once the creature exits, muscular action closes the hole; another swallowed opponent must cut its own way out.</p><p></p><p>A Large-sized dire<em> Tanystropheus</em>'<em>s</em> gizzard can hold 4 Small, 16 Tiny, 64 Diminutive or 256 Fine opponents.</p><p></p><p><strong>Skills:</strong> A dire<em> Tanystropheus</em> has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.</p><p></p><p>*A dire<em> Tanystropheus</em> has a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks when it is in water. Further, if a dire<em> Tanystropheus</em> conceals its body, leaving its slim neck and tiny head visible, it gains a +6 cover bonus on Hide checks.</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 22px"><strong>Huge Dire <em>Tanystropheus</em></strong></span></p><p>Huge Animal (Dire)</p><p><strong>Hit Dice:</strong> 15d8+75 (142 hp)</p><p><strong>Initiative:</strong> +7</p><p><strong>Speed:</strong> 15 ft. (3 squares), swim 30 ft.</p><p><strong>Armor Class:</strong> 20 (–2 size, +3 Dex, +9 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 17</p><p><strong>Base Attack/Grapple:</strong> +11/+29</p><p><strong>Attack:</strong> Bite +20 melee (3d6+15)</p><p><strong>Full Attack:</strong> Bite +20 melee (3d6+15)</p><p><strong>Space/Reach:</strong> 15 ft./10 ft. (30 ft. with bite)</p><p><strong>Special Attacks:</strong> Constrict 2d8+15, improved grab, swallow whole [<em>Small-sized as combat attack, 2d6+10 plus 8 acid, 25 hp, AC14</em>]</p><p><strong>Special Qualities:</strong> Hold breath, low-light vision, scent</p><p><strong>Saves:</strong> Fort +14, Ref +14, Will +10</p><p><strong>Abilities:</strong> Str 31, Dex 17, Con 20, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 8</p><p><strong>Skills:</strong> Hide +10* [<em>+14 in water, +16 if body-concealed, +20 if body-concealed in water</em>], Listen +6, Spot +6, Swim +18</p><p><strong>Feats:</strong> Alertness, Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Skill Focus (Hide), Weapon Focus (bite)</p><p><strong>Environment:</strong> Warm aquatic and swamps</p><p><strong>Organization:</strong> Solitary or cluster (2–8)</p><p><strong>Challenge Rating:</strong> 8</p><p><strong>Treasure:</strong> None</p><p><strong>Alignment:</strong> Always neutral</p><p><strong>Advancement:</strong> 16–29 HD (Huge); 30–45 (Gargantuan)</p><p><strong>Level Adjustment:</strong> —</p><p></p><p>A Huge dire <em>Tanystropheus</em> averages about 40 feet long and typically weighs between 4,000 and 7,000 pounds, with a head at least 2 feet long on a neck 25 feet long.</p><p></p><p><strong><span style="font-size: 18px">Combat</span></strong></p><p>A Huge dire <em>Tanystropheus</em> ambushes prey like a regular dire <em>Tanystropheus</em>. Its head strikes with blinding speed. They often use their Combat Reflexes feat to bite multiple opponents as they close with them. The Gargantuan-sized variety can snap up a couple of lesser foes in one pass by using the Cleave feat.</p><p></p><p><span style="font-size: 22px"><strong>Gargantuan Dire <em>Tanystropheus</em></strong></span></p><p>Gargantuan Animal (Dire)</p><p><strong>Hit Dice:</strong> 30d8+150 (345 hp)</p><p><strong>Initiative:</strong> +7</p><p><strong>Speed:</strong> 15 ft. (3 squares), swim 30 ft.</p><p><strong>Armor Class:</strong> 22 (–4 size, +3 Dex, +13 natural), touch 9, flat-footed 19</p><p><strong>Base Attack/Grapple:</strong> +22/+48</p><p><strong>Attack:</strong> Bite +33 melee (5d6+21)</p><p><strong>Full Attack:</strong> Bite +33 melee (5d6+21)</p><p><strong>Space/Reach:</strong> 20 ft./15 ft. (40 ft. with bite)</p><p><strong>Special Attacks:</strong> Constrict 3d8+21, improved grab, swallow whole [<em>Medium-sized as combat attack, 3d6+14 plus 8 acid, 30 hp, AC16</em>]</p><p><strong>Special Qualities:</strong> Hold breath, low-light vision, scent</p><p><strong>Saves:</strong> Fort +24, Ref +26, Will +18</p><p><strong>Abilities:</strong> Str 39, Dex 16, Con 24, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 8</p><p><strong>Skills:</strong> Hide +13* [<em>+17 in water, +19 if body-concealed, +23 if body-concealed in water</em>], Listen +10, Spot +10, Swim +22</p><p><strong>Feats:</strong> Alertness, Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Improved Natural Attack (bite), Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack, Skill Focus (Hide), Weapon Focus (bite)</p><p><strong>Epic Feat</strong>: Epic Reflexes, Great Dexterity</p><p><strong>Environment:</strong> Warm aquatic and swamps</p><p><strong>Organization:</strong> Solitary or cluster (2–8)</p><p><strong>Challenge Rating:</strong> 14</p><p><strong>Treasure:</strong> None</p><p><strong>Alignment:</strong> Always neutral</p><p><strong>Advancement:</strong> 31–45 (Gargantuan)</p><p><strong>Level Adjustment:</strong> —</p><p></p><p>A Gargantuan dire <em>Tanystropheus</em> is at least 70 feet long and weighs 16 tons or more, with a yard-long head on a neck that can reach over 40 feet. Such a monster can swallow human beings like oysters.</p><p></p><p><span style="color: green"><strong><span style="font-size: 18px">Design Notes</span></strong></span></p><p><span style="color: green">Pretty much did this conversion because I thought these Triassic aquatic reptiles were cool. Despite being a somewhat obscure animal, they do have AD&D stats in two <em>Monstrous Compendia</em> (MC3 & MCA2) and BECMI stats in <em>HWR1 Sons of Azca</em>. They lack official 3E stats, but a Creature Catalog conversion exists. All of these other conversions made <em>Tanystropheus</em> much bigger than it actually was, with sizes ranging from Large to Gargantuan.</span></p><p><span style="color: green"></span></p><p><span style="color: green">Originally gave the Gargantuan Dire variety Great Cleave but eventually decided against it, so swapped the feat for Great Dexterity and removed the "The Gargantuan variety can snap up many lesser foes in one pass by using the Great Cleave feat." In favour of "The Gargantuan variety can snap up a couple of lesser foes in one pass by using the Cleave feat."</span></p><p></p><p><span style="color: red"><strong>Skill Breakdown:</strong></span></p><p><span style="color: red"><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Small</strong> - Hide 1+Dex2+4size, Listen 2+Wis1, Spot 2+Wis1</span></span></p><p><span style="color: red"><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Regular</strong> - Hide 2+Dex2+3F, Listen 2+Wis1, Spot 2+Wis1</span></span></p><p><span style="color: red"><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Big</strong> - Hide 4+Dex2+3F–4size, Listen 2+Wis1, Spot 2+Wis1</span></span></p><p><span style="color: red"><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Dire</strong> - Hide 6+Dex3+3F–4size, Listen 2+Wis1+2F, Spot 2+Wis1+2F</span></span></p><p><span style="color: red"><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Huge</strong> - Hide 12+Dex3+3F–8size, Listen 3+Wis1+2F, Spot 3+Wis1+2F</span></span></p><p><span style="color: red"><span style="font-size: 12px"><strong>Gargantuan</strong> - Hide 19+Dex3+3F–12size, Listen 7+Wis1+2F, Spot 7+Wis1+2F</span></span></p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Cleon, post: 7950749, member: 57383"] [B][I][SIZE=6]Tanystropheus[/SIZE][/I][/B] Medium Animal [B]Hit Dice:[/B] 3d8 (13 hp) [B]Initiative:[/B] +2 [B]Speed:[/B] 15 ft. (3 squares), swim 30 ft. [B]Armor Class:[/B] 14 (+2 Dex, +2 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 12 [B]Base Attack/Grapple:[/B] +2/+4 [B]Attack:[/B] Bite +5 melee (1d6+3) [B]Full Attack:[/B] Bite +5 melee (1d6+3) [B]Space/Reach:[/B] 5 ft./5 ft. (10 ft. with bite) [B]Special Attacks:[/B] Improved grab, swallow whole [[I]Diminutive-sized as combat attack, 1d4+2 plus 2 acid, 5 hp, AC11[/I]] [B]Special Qualities:[/B] Hold breath, low-light vision, scent [B]Saves:[/B] Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +2 [B]Abilities:[/B] Str 15, Dex 15, Con 10, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 4 [B]Skills:[/B] Hide +7* [+[I]11 in water or body-concealed, +15 body-concealed in water[/I]], Listen +3, Spot +3, Swim +10 [B]Feats:[/B] Skill Focus (Hide), Weapon Focus (bite) [B]Environment:[/B] Warm aquatic and swamps [B]Organization:[/B] Solitary or cluster (2–8) [B]Challenge Rating:[/B] 1 [B]Treasure:[/B] None [B]Alignment:[/B] Always neutral [B]Advancement:[/B] 4 HD (Medium); 5–6 HD (Large) [B]Level Adjustment:[/B] — This reptile has an extraordinarily long neck, longer than the rest of the body put together. It has a slim lizard-like torso with fat, muscular hindquarters and a tail of average length. Parts of the body are covered in rectangular scales. The head is tiny, with a narrow snout full of spike-like teeth that interlock when its jaws are closed. The neck is pretty stiff, about as flexible as fishing rod. [I]Tanystropheus[/I] are carnivores, mainly eating little fish and squid. They usually hunt by concealing their body – typically in swamp vegetation, above an overhanging rock along the shore, or buried in mud or a rock-hollow under the water – and wait until a meal swims by, then move out to snatch their prey up in their jaws. Their extravagantly long necks allow them to close with a witless fish without the latter realizing they've come within a larger creature's reach. A [I]Tanystropheus[/I] swims with its strong hind legs, often by kicking itself along the bottom of shallow water. In areas with abundant marine life [I]Tanystropheus[/I] can be quite common. They are not social animals, but are gregarious enough to cluster at a particularly good fishing spot without too much squabbling. A typical [I]Tanystropheus[/I] has a total length from nose to tail of around 13 feet, 7 feet of which is neck, but has a head only 8 or 9 inches long. It weighs 180 pounds or so. An extremely big individual may approach 20 feet in length. Smaller individuals are quite common, both actual [I]Tanystropheus[/I] and related species of lesser size. [B][SIZE=5]Combat[/SIZE][/B] [I]Tanystropheus[/I] only attack prey small enough to swallow. When faced with larger creatures they would rather hide or flee than fight, but will readily bite in self defence. [B]Hold Breath (Ex):[/B] A [I]Tanystropheus[/I] can hold its breath for a number of rounds equal to 4 × its Constitution score before it risks drowning. [B]Improved Grab (Ex):[/B] To use this ability, a [I]Tanystropheus[/I] must hit with a bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can try to swallow the foe the following round. [B]Swallow Whole (Ex):[/B] A [I]Tanystropheus[/I] can try to swallow a grabbed opponent of up to three sizes smaller by making a successful grapple check. A [I]Tanystropheus[/I] can swallow a creature two sizes smaller than itself, but it takes it 1d6+4 rounds and two successful grapple checks to do so (one to start, one to finish). Therefore it does not swallow bigger victims while in combat. The swallowed creature takes 1d4+2 points of bludgeoning damage and 2 points of acid damage per round from the [I]Tanystropheus's[/I] gizzard. A swallowed creature can cut its way out by using a light slashing or piercing weapon to deal 5 points of damage to the gizzard (AC 11). Once the creature exits, muscular action closes the hole; another swallowed opponent must cut its own way out. A Medium-sized [I]Tanystropheus[/I]'[I]s[/I] gizzard can hold 4 Tiny, 16 Diminutive or 64 Fine opponents. [B]Skills:[/B] A [I]Tanystropheus[/I] has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line. *A [I]Tanystropheus[/I] has a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks when it is in water. Further, if a [I]Tanystropheus[/I] conceals its body, leaving its slim neck and tiny head visible, it gains a +4 cover bonus on Hide checks, or +6 if it is a Large-sized [I]Tanystropheus[/I]. [SIZE=6][B]Large [I]Tanystropheus[/I][/B][/SIZE] Large Animal [B]Hit Dice:[/B] 5d8+5 (27 hp) [B]Initiative:[/B] +2 [B]Speed:[/B] 15 ft. (3 squares), swim 30 ft. [B]Armor Class:[/B] 15 (–1 size, +2 Dex, +4 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 13 [B]Base Attack/Grapple:[/B] +3/+11 [B]Attack:[/B] Bite +7 melee (1d8+6) [B]Full Attack:[/B] Bite +7 melee (1d8+6) [B]Space/Reach:[/B] 10 ft./5 ft. (15 ft. with bite) [B]Special Attacks:[/B] Improved grab, swallow whole [[I]Tiny-sized as combat attack, 1d6+4 plus 4 acid, 10 hp, AC12[/I]] [B]Special Qualities:[/B] Hold breath, low-light vision, scent [B]Saves:[/B] Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +2 [B]Abilities:[/B] Str 19, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 4 [B]Skills:[/B] Hide +5* [+[I]9 in water, +11 if body-concealed, +15 if body-concealed in water[/I]], Listen +3, Spot +3, Swim +12 [B]Feats:[/B] Skill Focus (Hide), Weapon Focus (bite) [B]Environment:[/B] Warm aquatic and swamps [B]Organization:[/B] Solitary or cluster (2–8) [B]Challenge Rating:[/B] 2 [B]Treasure:[/B] None [B]Alignment:[/B] Always neutral [B]Advancement:[/B] 6 HD (Large) [B]Level Adjustment:[/B] — Like many reptiles, [I]Tanystropheus[/I] do not stop growing, so a particularly old and well-nourished specimen can reach an impressive size, as represented by the above stats. Such individuals are very rare, however. A big [I]Tanystropheus[/I] is some 20 feet from nose to tail, with a foot-long head upon a neck that's 10 feet long, if not longer. They typically weigh from 500 to 700 pounds. [SIZE=6][B]Small [I]Tanystropheus [/I]([I]Dinocephalus[/I])[/B][/SIZE] Small Animal [B]Hit Dice:[/B] 2d8 (9 hp) [B]Initiative:[/B] +2 [B]Speed:[/B] 15 ft. (3 squares), swim 30 ft. [B]Armor Class:[/B] 14 (+1 size, +2 Dex, +1 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 12 [B]Base Attack/Grapple:[/B] +1/–2 [B]Attack:[/B] Bite +5 melee (1d4+1) [B]Full Attack:[/B] Bite +5 melee (1d4+1) [B]Space/Reach:[/B] 5 ft./5 ft. [B]Special Attacks:[/B] Improved grab, swallow whole [[I]Fine-sized as combat attack, 1d3+1 plus 1 acid, 5 hp, AC10[/I]] [B]Special Qualities:[/B] Hold breath, low-light vision, scent [B]Saves:[/B] Fort +3, Ref +5, Will +1 [B]Abilities:[/B] Str 13, Dex 15, Con 10, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 4 [B]Skills:[/B] Hide +7* [+[I]11 in water or body-concealed, +15 body-concealed in water[/I]], Listen +3, Spot +3, Swim +9 [B]Feats:[/B] Weapon Finesseᴮ, Weapon Focus (bite) [B]Environment:[/B] Warm aquatic and swamps [B]Organization:[/B] Solitary or cluster (2–8) [B]Challenge Rating:[/B] ½ [B]Treasure:[/B] None [B]Alignment:[/B] Always neutral [B]Advancement:[/B] 3–4 HD (Medium); 5–6 HD (Large) [B]Level Adjustment:[/B] — This could be an adult [I]Tanystropheus[/I] of modest size, or a member of a smaller related species, such as [I]Dinocephalosaurus orientalis[/I]. A typical Small [I]Tanystropheus[/I] is 9 feet long with a 6 inch head on a 5 foot neck, and weigh about 60 pounds. [SIZE=6][B]Dire [I]Tanystropheus[/I][/B][/SIZE] Large Animal (Dire) [B]Hit Dice:[/B] 7d8+21 (52 hp) [B]Initiative:[/B] +3 [B]Speed:[/B] 15 ft. (3 squares), swim 30 ft. [B]Armor Class:[/B] 18 (–1 size, +3 Dex, +6 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 15 [B]Base Attack/Grapple:[/B] +5/+15 [B]Attack:[/B] Bite +11 melee (2d6+9) [B]Full Attack:[/B] Bite +11 melee (2d6+9) [B]Space/Reach:[/B] 10 ft./5 ft. (20 ft. with bite) [B]Special Attacks:[/B] Constrict 1d10+9, improved grab, swallow whole [[I]Tiny-sized as combat attack, 1d8+6 plus 4 acid, 15 hp, AC13[/I]] [B]Special Qualities:[/B] Hold breath, low-light vision, scent [B]Saves:[/B] Fort +8, Ref +8, Will +6 [B]Abilities:[/B] Str 23, Dex 17, Con 16, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 8 [B]Skills:[/B] Hide +8* [[I]+12 in water, +14 if body-concealed, +18 if body-concealed in water[/I]], Listen +5, Spot +5, Swim +14 [B]Feats:[/B] Alertness, Skill Focus (Hide), Weapon Focus (bite) [B]Environment:[/B] Warm aquatic and swamps [B]Organization:[/B] Solitary or cluster (2–8) [B]Challenge Rating:[/B] 4 [B]Treasure:[/B] None [B]Alignment:[/B] Always neutral [B]Advancement:[/B] 8–14 HD (Large); 15–29 HD (Huge); 30–45 (Gargantuan) [B]Level Adjustment:[/B] — This is not a real-world animal (or even a realistic one). While an ordinary [I]Tanystropheus[/I] has a quite rigid neck, a dire [I]Tanystropheus's[/I] neck is as flexible as a serpent, and can crush victims in its coils like a python. They can also process prey items too large to swallow, by bracing a carcass in their coils, or wedging it under a rock or sunken tree, then tearing off bite-sized chunks with their jaws. However, a dire [I]Tanystropheus[/I] is so stupidly voracious they have been known to attempt to swallow objects to big for them to consume and subsequently choke to death. A dire [I]Tanystropheus[/I] averages about 25 feet long, with a cubit-long head on a neck 13 feet long, and weighs between 1,200 and 1,500 pounds. [B][SIZE=5]Combat[/SIZE][/B] Dire[I] Tanystropheus[/I] are far more aggressive than the mundane variety, and will attack any creature smaller than themselves. When faced with larger creatures they would rather hide or flee, but will ferociously fight in self defence. A dire [I]Tanystropheus[/I] usually lurks in ambush under the water or above a cliff, then lashes out its long neck when prey wanders within reach. Once combat begins they are recklessly vicious, and generally fight to the death without even a thought of retreat. [B]Constrict (Ex):[/B] On a successful grapple check, a dire[I] Tanystropheus[/I] deals 1d10+9 points of damage. [B]Hold Breath (Ex):[/B] A dire[I] Tanystropheus[/I] can hold its breath for a number of rounds equal to 4 × its Constitution score before it risks drowning. [B]Improved Grab (Ex):[/B] To use this ability, a dire[I] Tanystropheus[/I] must hit with a bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can try to constrict or swallow the foe the following round. [B]Swallow Whole (Ex):[/B] A dire[I] Tanystropheus[/I] can try to swallow a grabbed opponent of up to three sizes smaller by making a successful grapple check. A dire[I] Tanystropheus[/I] can swallow a creature two sizes smaller than itself, but it takes it 1d6+4 rounds and two successful grapple checks to do so (one to start, one to finish). Therefore it does not swallow bigger victims while in combat. The swallowed creature takes 1d8+6 points of bludgeoning damage and 4 points of acid damage per round from the dire[I] Tanystropheus's[/I] gizzard. A swallowed creature can cut its way out by using a light slashing or piercing weapon to deal 15 points of damage to the gizzard (AC 13). Once the creature exits, muscular action closes the hole; another swallowed opponent must cut its own way out. A Large-sized dire[I] Tanystropheus[/I]'[I]s[/I] gizzard can hold 4 Small, 16 Tiny, 64 Diminutive or 256 Fine opponents. [B]Skills:[/B] A dire[I] Tanystropheus[/I] has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line. *A dire[I] Tanystropheus[/I] has a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks when it is in water. Further, if a dire[I] Tanystropheus[/I] conceals its body, leaving its slim neck and tiny head visible, it gains a +6 cover bonus on Hide checks. [SIZE=6][B]Huge Dire [I]Tanystropheus[/I][/B][/SIZE] Huge Animal (Dire) [B]Hit Dice:[/B] 15d8+75 (142 hp) [B]Initiative:[/B] +7 [B]Speed:[/B] 15 ft. (3 squares), swim 30 ft. [B]Armor Class:[/B] 20 (–2 size, +3 Dex, +9 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 17 [B]Base Attack/Grapple:[/B] +11/+29 [B]Attack:[/B] Bite +20 melee (3d6+15) [B]Full Attack:[/B] Bite +20 melee (3d6+15) [B]Space/Reach:[/B] 15 ft./10 ft. (30 ft. with bite) [B]Special Attacks:[/B] Constrict 2d8+15, improved grab, swallow whole [[I]Small-sized as combat attack, 2d6+10 plus 8 acid, 25 hp, AC14[/I]] [B]Special Qualities:[/B] Hold breath, low-light vision, scent [B]Saves:[/B] Fort +14, Ref +14, Will +10 [B]Abilities:[/B] Str 31, Dex 17, Con 20, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 8 [B]Skills:[/B] Hide +10* [[I]+14 in water, +16 if body-concealed, +20 if body-concealed in water[/I]], Listen +6, Spot +6, Swim +18 [B]Feats:[/B] Alertness, Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Lightning Reflexes, Skill Focus (Hide), Weapon Focus (bite) [B]Environment:[/B] Warm aquatic and swamps [B]Organization:[/B] Solitary or cluster (2–8) [B]Challenge Rating:[/B] 8 [B]Treasure:[/B] None [B]Alignment:[/B] Always neutral [B]Advancement:[/B] 16–29 HD (Huge); 30–45 (Gargantuan) [B]Level Adjustment:[/B] — A Huge dire [I]Tanystropheus[/I] averages about 40 feet long and typically weighs between 4,000 and 7,000 pounds, with a head at least 2 feet long on a neck 25 feet long. [B][SIZE=5]Combat[/SIZE][/B] A Huge dire [I]Tanystropheus[/I] ambushes prey like a regular dire [I]Tanystropheus[/I]. Its head strikes with blinding speed. They often use their Combat Reflexes feat to bite multiple opponents as they close with them. The Gargantuan-sized variety can snap up a couple of lesser foes in one pass by using the Cleave feat. [SIZE=6][B]Gargantuan Dire [I]Tanystropheus[/I][/B][/SIZE] Gargantuan Animal (Dire) [B]Hit Dice:[/B] 30d8+150 (345 hp) [B]Initiative:[/B] +7 [B]Speed:[/B] 15 ft. (3 squares), swim 30 ft. [B]Armor Class:[/B] 22 (–4 size, +3 Dex, +13 natural), touch 9, flat-footed 19 [B]Base Attack/Grapple:[/B] +22/+48 [B]Attack:[/B] Bite +33 melee (5d6+21) [B]Full Attack:[/B] Bite +33 melee (5d6+21) [B]Space/Reach:[/B] 20 ft./15 ft. (40 ft. with bite) [B]Special Attacks:[/B] Constrict 3d8+21, improved grab, swallow whole [[I]Medium-sized as combat attack, 3d6+14 plus 8 acid, 30 hp, AC16[/I]] [B]Special Qualities:[/B] Hold breath, low-light vision, scent [B]Saves:[/B] Fort +24, Ref +26, Will +18 [B]Abilities:[/B] Str 39, Dex 16, Con 24, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 8 [B]Skills:[/B] Hide +13* [[I]+17 in water, +19 if body-concealed, +23 if body-concealed in water[/I]], Listen +10, Spot +10, Swim +22 [B]Feats:[/B] Alertness, Cleave, Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Improved Natural Attack (bite), Lightning Reflexes, Power Attack, Skill Focus (Hide), Weapon Focus (bite) [B]Epic Feat[/B]: Epic Reflexes, Great Dexterity [B]Environment:[/B] Warm aquatic and swamps [B]Organization:[/B] Solitary or cluster (2–8) [B]Challenge Rating:[/B] 14 [B]Treasure:[/B] None [B]Alignment:[/B] Always neutral [B]Advancement:[/B] 31–45 (Gargantuan) [B]Level Adjustment:[/B] — A Gargantuan dire [I]Tanystropheus[/I] is at least 70 feet long and weighs 16 tons or more, with a yard-long head on a neck that can reach over 40 feet. Such a monster can swallow human beings like oysters. [COLOR=green][B][SIZE=5]Design Notes[/SIZE][/B] Pretty much did this conversion because I thought these Triassic aquatic reptiles were cool. Despite being a somewhat obscure animal, they do have AD&D stats in two [I]Monstrous Compendia[/I] (MC3 & MCA2) and BECMI stats in [I]HWR1 Sons of Azca[/I]. They lack official 3E stats, but a Creature Catalog conversion exists. All of these other conversions made [I]Tanystropheus[/I] much bigger than it actually was, with sizes ranging from Large to Gargantuan. Originally gave the Gargantuan Dire variety Great Cleave but eventually decided against it, so swapped the feat for Great Dexterity and removed the "The Gargantuan variety can snap up many lesser foes in one pass by using the Great Cleave feat." In favour of "The Gargantuan variety can snap up a couple of lesser foes in one pass by using the Cleave feat."[/COLOR] [COLOR=red][B]Skill Breakdown:[/B] [SIZE=3][B]Small[/B] - Hide 1+Dex2+4size, Listen 2+Wis1, Spot 2+Wis1 [B]Regular[/B] - Hide 2+Dex2+3F, Listen 2+Wis1, Spot 2+Wis1 [B]Big[/B] - Hide 4+Dex2+3F–4size, Listen 2+Wis1, Spot 2+Wis1 [B]Dire[/B] - Hide 6+Dex3+3F–4size, Listen 2+Wis1+2F, Spot 2+Wis1+2F [B]Huge[/B] - Hide 12+Dex3+3F–8size, Listen 3+Wis1+2F, Spot 3+Wis1+2F [B]Gargantuan[/B] - Hide 19+Dex3+3F–12size, Listen 7+Wis1+2F, Spot 7+Wis1+2F[/SIZE][/COLOR] [/QUOTE]
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