Converting prehistoric creatures

[freyar]

The bite in full attack needs to match the attack line 1d12+6.

I'd actually say CR 4, since I think it's better than the CR 3 animated object (but not as good as the CR 5 one).

The rest is good.

 

[Cleon]

The bite in full attack needs to match the attack line 1d12+6.

I'd actually say CR 4, since I think it's better than the CR 3 animated object (but not as good as the CR 5 one).

The rest is good.

I was wondering whether someone else would mention that bite damage before I did.

I'm not sure an Animated Object is a good comparison, since they're too variable in their abilities - they might have Hardness or Trample, for example.

A Giant Stag Beetle may be a better comparison - those are pretty similar statwise except they have a better attack than a Sanctacaris (4d6+9 vs 1d12+6), which is almost twice as much average damage (21 vs 12.5). That might be enough to lower the Stag Beetle's CR4 to CR3.

Still, I'd be OK to go with Challenge Rating 4 if that's the majority.

Where's our Shady tiebreaker when we need him?

 

[Shade]

Where's our Shady tiebreaker when we need him?

Foooooouuuuurrrrrrr!

Updated.

 

[freyar]

Done then?

 

[Shade]

Done then?

Methinks.

Here's the next one...

Wiwaxia
FREQUENCY: Common
NO. APPEARING: 1-8
ARMOR CLASS: 2
MOVEMENT: 2
HIT DICE: 2
THAC0: 19
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
-DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1d8
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Spines
SIZE: S (3’ long)
MORALE: Steady

Wiwaxia is a small, bottom-crawling creature a yard in length, protected by hard scaly plates and fourteen long spines (seven per side). This animal is more of a scavenger than a carnivore, but it will attack live prey when an opportunity presents itself.

Wiwaxia’s toothy jaws slant slightly backward, while the toothless center bulges forward. The animal attacks by crawling forward, pressing the bulge against the target and causing the jaws to spring forward and snap shut, doing 1d8 points of damage. Because of its armor, Wiwaxia is hard to damage, and anyone who presses a melee attack will take 1d10 points of damage from the bladed, swordlike spines. In the BUGHUNTERS game, the creatures’ armor reduces all attacks by six damage points and two lethality ratings. This creature is not much of a threat to alert characters in the open, but cleaning out an area infested with these creatures will be a dangerous nuisance.

Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #204 (1994).

Wiwaxia - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[freyar]

2HD Small animal with barbed defense. Con sounds ok, probably Str too. Any other thoughts? Pretty high natural AC, I guess.

 

[demiurge1138]

The bite of a Wixwaxia should probably be pretty weak--they didn't have much to speak of in the way of jaws. Barbed defense is the way to go, with maybe a little DR/- or DR/bludgeoning if you feel comfortable giving that to vermin.

Hi, by the way.

Demiurge out.

 

[Cleon]

2HD Small animal with barbed defense. Con sounds ok, probably Str too. Any other thoughts? Pretty high natural AC, I guess.

Wiwaxia probably crawled along like a spiky snail, so its Dexterity is likely to be low too. Maybe Dex 4-7 or so? That suggests a +9 or +10 NA to get the equivalent Armour Class (AC 18).

 

[Cleon]

The bite of a Wixwaxia should probably be pretty weak--they didn't have much to speak of in the way of jaws. Barbed defense is the way to go, with maybe a little DR/- or DR/bludgeoning if you feel comfortable giving that to vermin.

Hi, by the way.

Demiurge out.

Yes, I'm guessing we'll have it use a spike for its attack rather than its mouth.

Oh, and Hi back to ya!

 

[Shade]

2HD Small animal with barbed defense. Con sounds ok, probably Str too. Any other thoughts? Pretty high natural AC, I guess.

Sounds about right.

The bite of a Wixwaxia should probably be pretty weak--they didn't have much to speak of in the way of jaws. Barbed defense is the way to go, with maybe a little DR/- or DR/bludgeoning if you feel comfortable giving that to vermin.

I'm comfortable with DR for vermin. There's a few official precedents.

Wiwaxia probably crawled along like a spiky snail, so its Dexterity is likely to be low too. Maybe Dex 4-7 or so? That suggests a +9 or +10 NA to get the equivalent Armour Class (AC 18).

That'll work.

Yes, I'm guessing we'll have it use a spike for its attack rather than its mouth.

Seems reasonable.