Converting prehistoric creatures

[demiurge1138]

Actually, judging by its body plan, I'd say modify the camel ability scores. I also think that 8 HD is a little overmuch. How about 5, like a bison?

 

[freyar]

5 HD is fine. Camel abilities are fine, maybe a little bump in Str and Con. How about Str 20, Dex 15, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 11, Cha 4, also dropping Dex a touch?

 

[demiurge1138]

Lower Dex, higher Str and Con suit me just fine.

 

[RavinRay]

Not as robust as a camel, from what I know, so less HD is good. And it's often depicted with the neck held vertically like a giraffe's.

Macrauchenia is a litoptern, a group of South American ungulates that converged on other ungulates. If the macrauchenids converged on camels, the prototherids converged on horses.

 

[Shade]

Added to Homebrews.

Any abilities or skill bonuses?

 

[RavinRay]

Are there statted trunked animals with Scent or any olfactory-based bonuses? Though with a short trunk it may be unnecessary for this one. There was speculation that it was amphibious and used the trunk as a snorkel, but it's not widely accepted.

 

[Shade]

The elephant in the SRD has scent. We also gave it to the tapir, so I'd say we're good to go.

 

[Shade]

Skills: 8
Feats: 2

 

[freyar]

Are we giving it scent?

I often like Spot and Listen for herbivores.

Wikipedia reads like Run and Dodge would be reasonable feats.

One insight into Macrauchenia's habits is that it apparently had unusually good mobility, being able to rapidly change direction when it ran.
...
It is presumed that Macrauchenia dealt with its predators primarily by outrunning them

 

[demiurge1138]

Four ranks each in Listen and Spot. Feats: Endurance, Iron Will.

Edit: I like Shade's better.