Converting prehistoric animals

[Mortis]

Here's something interesting from Wikipedia that might help differentiate them further:
"They were about as tall as the American black bear and were most likely ambushers due to the fact that their legs were made for short, sudden bursts of speed."

Maybe a lesser version of the cheetah's sprint ability?

This site states...

"Amphicyon was built like a lion, and probably ambushed its prey with short, powerful bursts of speed, just as lions do today. Bear-dog prints that were left some 14 million years ago show a stride length about equal to the animal's body length, minus the tail. They also show that the bear-dog was pacing -- moving the two left legs and the two right legs alternately, the way bears do today, though at a much slower stride."

And this...

"Giant bear-dogs of the genera Amphicyon and Ischyrocyon (Carnivora, Amphicyonidae, Amphicyoninae) were the largest carnivorans in North America during middle and late Miocene (17.5-8.8 Mya) with a dental and skeletal morphology that combined features found in living Ursidae, Canidae, and Felidae. This study tests previously proposed models of diet and hunting behaviour of these extinct carnivorans. Relative grinding area (RGA) of lower molars and wear pattern on upper molars suggest that bear-dogs were carnivorous. Amphicyon and Ischyrocyon possessed skeletal features of both ambush (short distal limb segments) and pursuit (caudally bent olecranon process of ulna) living predators. Therefore, bear-dogs probably pursued their prey (mediportal ungulates) for a longer distance but at a slower speed than do living ambush predators. Upon catching up to its prey a bear-dog probably seized it with powerfully muscled forelimbs and killed it by tearing into its ribcage or neck with canines set in a narrow rostrum."

So maybe pounce makes more sense?

Could do - it's already got the Run feat though. How about allowing it a full attack following a charge? Like pounce but different

That may not make much sense, I started to reply before noticing that you mentioned pounce at the end.

Regards
Mortis

 

[Shade]

So...pounce, then?

 

[Mortis]

So...pounce, then?

Yeah

Regards
Mortis

 

[RavinRay]

You guys might want to up the bite damage or enable it to do something else with its bite. While not as bone-crushing as a hyena's bite, an amphicyon bite was really nasty. A hyena can attempt a trip with its bite. Just this paleontologist's 2 cp worth.

 

[Mortis]

You guys might want to up the bite damage or enable it to do something else with its bite. While not as bone-crushing as a hyena's bite, an amphicyon bite was really nasty.

So Improved Natural Attack (Bite) as a bonus feat eh, Shade?

Which would take the damage to 3d6+4

We could also make the bite the primary attack to give 3d6+8 damage which also reduces the claws damage to 1d8+4.

What do you think?

A hyena can attempt a trip with its bite.

I don't have a problem giving it the Trip special attack.

Just this paleontologist's 2 cp worth.

And well worth it too.

Regards
Mortis

 

[Shade]

And well worth it too.

Indeed.

Added to Homebrews.

I left the claws as the primary attack, since the previous sources said that they used their claws to grab prey before biting.

 

[Mortis]

I left the claws as the primary attack, since the previous sources said that they used their claws to grab prey before biting.

Fair enough.

Regards
Mortis

 

[Shade]

Added flavor text. Anything left on this one?

 

[Mortis]

Anything left on this one?

Not that I can see.

Regards
Mortis

 

[Shade]

Next!

Eurypterid (water scorpion)
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Ocean bottoms
FREQUENCY: Uncommon
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Carnivore
NO. APPEARING: 1-2
ARMOR CLASS: 3
MOVEMENT: 6
HIT DICE: 3
THAC0: 17
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2d4/2d4
SPECIAL ATTACKS: None
SPECIAL DEFENSES: None
SIZE: M (6’ long)
MORALE: Steady (11)
XP VALUE: 65

The eurypterids (the above statistics are for the best-known one, Pterygotus) were the supreme marine predators of the Silurian period (425-405 million years ago). They are also the first natural predators in time that would actively go after human adventurers if they encountered them, as opposed to merely ambushing them or striking out in self defense.

Water scorpions attack with their clawed forearms, each of which does 2-8 hp damage (they have no poisonous tail stinger). Like the giant opabinia, a eurypterid in shallow water might drag a wading man down and hold him under until he drowns; a strength check on 3d6 is allowed for escape each round. Remember that these creatures naturally breathe water, while a man will have to come up for air sometime (a potion of water breathing won't last forever, even assuming the victim drank it right before going under).

They can also detect prey within 60' through sensing the water vibrations or moving animals, and can thus hunt in murky water or at night with only a -2 to hit, giving them a further advantage.

Dragon #176, 1991