Converting prehistoric creatures

[RavinRay]

I checked all three saber-toothed cats, and it looks like you did a good job of differentiating them from one another other than just HD while noting their similarities. Neat-o!

 

[Shade]

I checked all three saber-toothed cats, and it looks like you did a good job of differentiating them from one another other than just HD while noting their similarities. Neat-o!

Woo-hoo!

Aetosaur
Aetosaurs are archosaurs from the Triassic. These inoffensive herbivores and omnivores resemble land-going crocodiles in overall form, but the head of each is small and terminates in a blunt, piglike, rooting snout. The back and belly are protected by a layer of armor plating, and there may also be projecting spines around the shoulder and neck. An aetosaur’s best defense is to swing its heavy tail at attackers, though it can also bite. Aetosaurs may be treated as terrestrial crocodilians (see below) of up to 6 HD, though they have an armor class of 4 and a bite that does damage like that of a crocodilian two sizes smaller (that is, a 6 HD aetosaur bites for 2-8 points of damage).

Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #112 (1986).

Aetosaur - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Worthy of conversion?

 

[Cleon]

Updated all three:

Saber-Toothed Jaguar
Saber-Toothed Leopard
Saber-Toothed Lion

Finished?

I was just saving these fellows for posterity when I noticed the accreditation's wrong. They're from Dragon #137, not #102.

Methinks Shade copied one of the Canines conversions and forgot to change it.

 

[Cleon]

Woo-hoo!

Aetosaur
Aetosaurs are archosaurs from the Triassic. These inoffensive herbivores and omnivores resemble land-going crocodiles in overall form, but the head of each is small and terminates in a blunt, piglike, rooting snout. The back and belly are protected by a layer of armor plating, and there may also be projecting spines around the shoulder and neck. An aetosaur’s best defense is to swing its heavy tail at attackers, though it can also bite. Aetosaurs may be treated as terrestrial crocodilians (see below) of up to 6 HD, though they have an armor class of 4 and a bite that does damage like that of a crocodilian two sizes smaller (that is, a 6 HD aetosaur bites for 2-8 points of damage).

Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #112 (1986).

Aetosaur - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Worthy of conversion?

Sure, why not. Shouldn't take long to modify a crocodile.

Although I'm more interested in the other specialized Crocodilian variants in Dragon #112 (Gavial-type, Oceanic, Terrestrial).

Incidentally, that's from one of my favourite articles from the early days of Dragon, it was one of the main inspirations for some of the Mesozoic menagerie I've posted here.

 

[RavinRay]

Ooh, an aetosaur! Fearsome-looking plant-eater distant crocodile relative. (Unlike the misnamed phytosaur, the carnivorous "plant lizard".)

Of course dinosaurs like Stegosaurus and Ankylosaurus (in the Monster Manual II) were tail swingers too, but theirs were spiked and spiked/clubbed, respectively, This one sounds more like a simple tail attack.

 

[Cleon]

Ooh, an aetosaur! Fearsome-looking plant-eater distant crocodile relative. (Unlike the misnamed phytosaur, the carnivorous "plant lizard".)

Of course dinosaurs like Stegosaurus and Ankylosaurus (in the Monster Manual II) were tail swingers too, but theirs were spiked and spiked/clubbed, respectively, This one sounds more like a simple tail attack.

So, are you OK about modifying the SRD crocodile for it?

Lower the bite damage 2 steps, change Weapon Focus (bite) to Weapon Focus (tail slap), drop the Swim speed and maybe increase the land speed, add a few points to natural armour, plus remove the Hold Breath, Improved Grab and bonuses to Hide.

Oh, and broaden Advancement to 4-5 HD (Medium); 6-9 HD (Large) and change the Environment to "Warm land" or "Warm plains".

That seems to cover it.

 

[RavinRay]

So, are you OK about modifying the SRD crocodile for it?

Lower the bite damage 2 steps, change Weapon Focus (bite) to Weapon Focus (tail slap), drop the Swim speed and maybe increase the land speed, add a few points to natural armour, plus remove the Hold Breath, Improved Grab and bonuses to Hide.

Oh, and broaden Advancement to 4-5 HD (Medium); 6-9 HD (Large) and change the Environment to "Warm land" or "Warm plains".

That seems to cover it.

Agreed on those, it's more terrestrial than amphibious and as a vegetarian it had a far weaker bite. It may have had a more erect posture than a crocodile, but the ankle remains crocodile-like so at most it would have only a +5 speed boost I'd say.

 

[Cleon]

Agreed on those, it's more terrestrial than amphibious and as a vegetarian it had a far weaker bite. It may have had a more erect posture than a crocodile, but the ankle remains crocodile-like so at most it would have only a +5 speed boost I'd say.

The Dragon article in question gave terrestrial crocodiles a 15" ground speed, but that seems too high to me. I'd give them Spd 30 ft., the same as the SRD Monitor Lizard.

Anyhow, since you're OK with the above I might as well post a Working Draft.

 

[Cleon]

Aetosaur Working Draft

Aetosaur
Medium Animal
Hit Dice: 3d8+9 (22 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 30 ft (6 squares)
Armor Class: 16 (+1 Dex, +5 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 15
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/+6
Attack: Tail slap +7 melee (1d12+6) or bite +6 melee (1d4+4)
Full Attack: Tail slap +7 melee (1d12+6) or bite +6 melee (1d4+4)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Low-light vision
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +2
Abilities: Str 19, Dex 12, Con 17, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 2
Skills: Hide +4, Listen +4, Spot +4
Feats: Alertness, Weapon Focus (tail)
Environment: Any warm land
Organization: Solitary or herd (4-24)
Challenge Rating: 2
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 4–5 HD (Medium); 6-9 HD (Large)
Level Adjustment: —

Description.

Background.

A typical aetosaur is about X feet long and weighs Y pounds.

COMBAT

Skills: ?

Spined Aetosaur
Some aetosaurs have several pairs of horn-covered spikes on the back of these shoulders, which serve as defensive weapons. Add the following:

Attack: Tail slap +7 melee (1d12+6) or bite +6 melee (1d4+4) or spines +6 melee (1d4+4)
Full Attack: Tail slap +7 melee (1d12+6) or bite +6 melee (1d4+4) or spines +6 melee (1d4+4)
Special Attacks: Spines

Spines (Ex): Any creature striking an aetosaur with handheld weapons or natural weapons must succeed on a DC 12 Reflex save or take 1d4+4 points of piercing and slashing damage from the reptile's spines. Note that weapons with exceptional reach, such as longspears, do not endanger their users in this way. An aetosaur may also use its spines offensively.

Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #112 (1986).

 

[Shade]

I'm no expert on these things, but this...

The back and belly are protected by a layer of armor plating, and there may also be projecting spines around the shoulder and neck.

...suggests a Spines attack. Or are these simply decorative spines?