Converting prehistoric animals

[Echohawk]

Echohawk, if I add the following to mastodonsaurus, would that be sufficient to remove cyclotosaurus from the list?

Sure!

That reminds me, have I missed conversions of any of the following prehistoric creatures (possibly under other names)?

Aepycamelus
Agriotherium (savannah bear)
Archosaur, Rhynchosaur
Armored Predatory Fish
Astrapotherium
Bear, Short-Faced
Camel, Giant
Deinotherium
Elephant, Dwarf
Erythrosuchus
Gigantopithecus
Hippopotamus, Giant
Macrauchenia
Metridiochoerus (giant warthog)
Moropus
Pelorovis (long-horned buffalo)
Sarkastodon (long-tailed bear)
Sivatherium
Sloth, Ground
Therapsid, Cynodont
Therapsid, Dicynodont
Therapsid, Early
Therapsid, Estemmenosuchus
Turtle, Sea, Giant

These also seem to unconverted, although they are technically D&D variations rather than actual prehistoric creatures:

Agnath, Electric
Amiskwia, Giant
Anomalocaris, Giant
Leanchoilia, Giant
Marrella, Giant
Odontogriphus, Giant
Ottoia, Giant
Sanctacaris, Giant
Therapsid, Giant
Wiwaxia, Giant
Yohoia, Giant

 

[Shade]

The dire hippo in Sandstorm might cover the giant hippo, but other than that, I believe these all remain unconverted.

 

[Echohawk]

The dire hippo in Sandstorm might cover the giant hippo, but other than that, I believe these all remain unconverted.

Hmmm... based on this discussion, I haven't been treating dire and giant critters as the same. But doing so would eliminate several from the pile. Do you think the dire hippo is particularly close to the giant version?

 

[Shade]

You're right. I just compared them, and the dire hippo is bigger and has far more HD, and they have a few other differences. So I'd leave it as unconverted after all.

 

[freyar]

Are we waiting until after horror month for Erythrosuchus?

 

[Shade]

Are we waiting until after horror month for Erythrosuchus?

Not particularly. I just forgot about it.

 

[Shade]

Erythrosuchus
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: swamps, rivers
FREQUENCY: Rare
DIET: Carnivore
NO. APPEARING: 1-2
ARMOR CLASS: 4
MOVEMENT: 15
HIT DICE: 10
THAC0: 11
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 7d4
SPECIAL ATTACKS: None
SPECIAL DEFENSES: None
SIZE: L (15'-20'long, 1,000 lbs.)
MORALE: Elite (14)
XP VALUE: 2,000

Erythrosuchus, the "red crocodile" (so-called because the rock formation in which it was found had stained its bones red) is the largest of the predatory thecodonts that stayed on all fours. The creature's skull alone was at least 3' long!

Given its great size and weight, I felt justified in giving it a really nasty bite. Until the dinosaurs get properly established, Erythrosuchus and its kin are the kings of beasts.

Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #176 (1991).

Erythrosuchus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[demiurge1138]

Here's a similar large archosaurmorph I statted up for the Kong project:

NEFUNDUSAURUS
Large Animal
Hit Dice: 7d8+21 (52 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 30ft (6 squares)
Armor Class: 16 (-1 size, +1 Dex, +6 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 15
Base Attack/Grapple: +5/+14
Attack: Bite +9 melee (2d8+7)
Full Attack: Bite +9 melee (2d8+7)
Space/Reach: 10ft/5ft
Special Attacks: Frightful roar, improved grab
Special Qualities: Blindsense 30ft, low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +3
Abilities: Str 20, Dex 13, Con 17, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Listen +7, Spot +7, Swim +7
Feats: Ability Focus (frightful roar), Alertness, Endurance
Environment: Warm costal and marsh
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 4
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 8-14 HD (Large), 15-21 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment: -

Combat
Despite their powerful strength, nefundusauruses are cowardly, preferring to end a confrontation with their frightful roar and escaping. Their bite is incredibly powerful, though, capable of tearing through steel.

Frightful Roar (Ex): As a standard action, a nefundusaurus can give a mighty roar. All creatures within 30ft of the roaring nefundusaurus must make a Will save (DC 13) or be frightened for 1 round and shaken for 1d4 rounds after that. On a successful save, the creature is merely shaken for one round.

Now, I think I'd replace Alertness and Endurance with, say, Weapon Focus and Improved Initiative. We'll also want to advance it to 10 HD.

 

[freyar]

What about bumping the bite to 3d8 also?

 

[demiurge1138]

Sounds good to me.