Converting prehistoric creatures

[InsanePsychoRabbit]

Actually, i forgot about their size bonus (they're Small), so they only need +2 natural armor and +1 dex to add up to 14.

Rhyncosaur
Small Animal
Hit Dice: ½d8 (2 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 14 (+1 size, +1 Dex, +2 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 13
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/-6
Attack: Bite +2 melee (1d3-2)
Full Attack: Bite +2 melee (1d3-2)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: -
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent?
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +3, Will +1
Abilities: Str 7, Dex 13, Con 10, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 2
Skills: 4 points
Feats: Weapon Finesse (B), 1 more
Environment: x
Organization: Solitary, pair, or herd (5-20)
Challenge Rating: ¼?
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 1 HD (Small); 2 HD (Medium)

I'll return to finish the flavor text.

 

[Shade]

Looking good, except it's "Rhynchosaur", correct?

I'd say yes to scent. CR 1/4 seems accurate.

Listen and Spot for skills? Maybe Survival?

 

[demiurge1138]

Listen, Spot and Hide all seem pretty reasonable to me.

 

[InsanePsychoRabbit]

Lol I just realized I misspelled it! I don't know why, but for some reason I just keep wanting to omit the last H.

Those are fine for the skills, how about its feat?

Here's some basic flavor text:

This pudgy lizard-like creature has a short, triangular head and a bird-like beak.

Rhynchosaurs are small, abundant archosauromorph reptiles. These stocky creatures are herbivores, using their beaks to make quick work of tough plants.

These statistics describe a small rhynchosaur of about three feet in length; the largest known rhynchosaurs grow to lengths of about six feet.

Combat
Rhynchosaurs will bite if significantly disturbed.

 

[demiurge1138]

How about Iron Will or Great Fortitude?

 

[Shade]

Added to Homebrews.

I think all that remains is Environment.

 

[demiurge1138]

Warm forest and plains?

 

[InsanePsychoRabbit]

OK.
What's next?

 

[Shade]

Camelids, anyone?

Camel, giant
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Temperate plains
FREQUENCY: Common
ORGANIZATION: Herd
DIET: Herbivore
NO. APPEARING: 1-20
ARMOR CLASS: 6
MOVEMENT: 15
HIT DICE: 7
THAC0: 13
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 or 2
DAMAGE/ATTACKS: 1-6 or 2-8/2-8
SIZE: L (11. tall)
MORALE: Unreliable (3)
XP VALUE: 420

The giant camel looked much like modern species, except that it did not have a fatty hump. It was a grazer on Pleistocene plains, standing taller than the mastodons around it. If domesticated, the giant camel can carry up to 800 lbs. at full speed or 1,600 lbs. at half speed.

Combat: The giant camel attacks with a bite or two hooves, but cannot use both in one round.

Habitat/Society: Giant camels live in herds on temperate prairies, with habits similar to other herd animals. They tend to flee predators who come too close, but otherwise ignore them. As large herbivores, giant camels occupy a middle niche in the food chain. The young are taken by many carnivores, but only large carnivores can bring down an adult.

Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #167 (1991).

ALTICAMELUS/Aepycamelus
FREQUENCY: Uncommon
NO. APPEARING: 2-8
ARMOR CLASS: 7
MOVE: 18.
HIT DICE: 5
1 bite or 1 trample
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-4 or 1-6/1-6

This odd-looking Miocene relative of the modern camel looked more than a little like a giraffe. Alticamelus had long legs and a very long neck, placing its head 10' off the ground. Like giraffes, Alticamelus probably lived in open forests.

Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #137 (1988).

We can expand this to other camelids, such as Titanotylopus and Oxydactylus.

 

[demiurge1138]

Well, camels are already Large. Giraffes are Large too--and these mostly had height going for them. 7 HD, strip out the "permanent secondary weapon" thing, give them stampede?