Converting prehistoric animals

[Shade]

Some good questions. I'd say full-round action, no need to move over creature (just move into its space?), and no need for a penalty.

 

[BOZ]

OK, I could make it a full-round action, but I think - given the original description - that it should still be able to take its normal full attacks against other creatures (not the one being trampled) within melee range. Or that maybe it can only make its full attack if the opponent is helpless?

If we are moving into a creature's space, does the size of the victim still matter?

Here's a bit of revision:

"Piercing Trample" (Ex): As a full-round action, a hallucigenia can move into a (Large or smaller) creature's space within its threat range. It may also make a full attack action in the same round, but may only target creatures other than the one it is trampling. A hallucigenia's fourteen legs are very sharp, and deal 14d8 points of piercing damage to any creature it walks on. The opponent can make an attack of opportunity against the hallucigenia, but if it does so it is not entitled to a saving throw. If the opponent does not attempt an attack of opportunity it can make a DC X Reflex save to take half damage. The save DC is Strength-based. A trampling hallucigenia can only deal trampling damage once per round to a single target, no matter how many times its movement takes it over a target creature.

 

[Shade]

I like the "only make full attack if opponent is helpless" option.

The size of the critter would still matter, since it still needs to "crawl over" the creature, which would be hard to do with bigger creatures.

 

[BOZ]

posting in homebrews for a look-see.

 

[Shade]

This assumes we give it Multiattack...

Attack: "Tail" +9 melee (1d10+5)
Full Attack: "Tail" +9 melee (1d10+5) and 6 tentacles +7 melee (1) and 7 pincer-tentacles +7 melee (1d4+2)

Should it have longer reach with tentacles and pincer-tentacles?

Skills: Hide -7 (because of size), Jump -1 (because of slow land speed).

Organization: We need some sort of grouping for the 1-4. Maybe "cluster"?

 

[BOZ]

This assumes we give it Multiattack...

with all the attacks it has, I think that makes an excellent bonus feat.

Should it have longer reach with tentacles and pincer-tentacles?

hmm, I sure didn't provide a picture did I! Look below (thanks Tony Diterlizzi!). Ignore that arm-looking thing in the upper-left corner; that is part of another creature. And in the lower right corner, is a little humanoid shooting at it (and a squished friend of his below?)

the bulbous thing is assumed to be the head. The tail part (not really visible) on the other end "has an opening, and may well be a mouth and throat" which is why I put "tail" in parenthesis - note that the accepted "head" part doesn't appear to have a mouth. The pincer-tentacles are on the back, so no reach there, and it's odd to imagine how it attacks with them anyway. I'm really not sure where the cluster of 6 small tentacles is supposed to be; perhaps they're on the tail part?

Organization: We need some sort of grouping for the 1-4. Maybe "cluster"?

perfect! Well, good enough at least.

 

[Shade]

Cool. Thanks for the pic. I don't think the pic indicates any exceptional reach.

 

[BOZ]

i'll post this guy when i have a moment to write up a little bit of flavor text (won't be much).

 

[BOZ]

Flavor text written – see homebrews now.

 

[Shade]

Flavor text is very tasty.

Looking at creatures with "similar" anatomies, I'd recommend 2,500 pounds. Man, I wish they'd listed the weights of animals and vermin from the MM...it would make comparisons so much easier. (Huge monstrous centipedes in this case).