Converting prehistoric creatures
- Thread starter Shade
- Start date
Cleon
Legend
Hmm, well Placodonts started out in the early Triassic, when there (probably) weren't many predators large enough to eat them. We're statting up an "armoured" version here though, so I guess it had to deal with large sharks or giant ichthyosaurs like Shonisaurus. The Hide skill and a tough skin would seem the most effective defensive technique for them - they certainly couldn't outrun or outswim such predators.
Hmm, an AC 15 isn't a terribly effective defence though, maybe we should give them a bit of DR/— or a "teeth-shattering hide", maybe restricted toweapons with low hardness. It'd give them something a bit interesting.
We could modify this SQ from my Thyreophoran conversion:
Weapon-Breaking Armour (Ex): A Gastonia's armour is so thick, rough and hard that it can damage weapons that strike it. Any weapon that hits the dinosaur takes 1d6+5 points of damage unless the attacker succeeds at a DC 18 Reflex save. The damage the weapon takes can not exceed the damage it rolled against the Gastonia. If a natural weapon hits the Gastonia, the attacking creature takes the indicated damage. Weapons that are objects, such as most handheld and missile weapons, take half damage as per the standard rules. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Cleon
Legend
That seems just a bit too much. AC 15 may not be terribly effective, but it's ok in a pinch. Hence Hide.
How about a bit of damage reduction then? I posted a homebrew Pangolin with DR [FONT="]2/–[/FONT] which no-one seemed to mind.
Basically, I would like to give them something to make them a bit more interesting.
Oh, and I should get around to updating the Working Draft with Hide. I think I'll give it a point or two of Spot as well.
freyar
Extradimensional Explorer
Can you find me another dino-like critter in the CC or something official with DR? If you want to reflect the "armor plating" of the critter, that's NA. We can increase that if you like. But DR is usually supernatural or the result of unusual anatomy. I'd rather bump NA.
Cleon
Legend
You're not going to let a little thing like lacking a precedent get in the way of a beautiful idea, will you?
Someone has to be first, and it might as well be us!
Well, except it's hardly the first time we've given a critter DR.
Let's see, we gave the Armadillephant DR 5/-. They're big and scaly, is that dinosaur enough for you.
Cleon
Legend
I could've sworn I'd seen DR on a dino before, but I can't find one. I have certainly seen it on a mundane creature, though.
Still, if the Archelon and Ankylosaurus don't have it, I'm not sure why these fellas should.
I think it's more a question of they should but they don't.
Shade
Monster Junkie
I think it's more a question of they should but they don't.
No arguments here. If I were doing a Dragon Magazine article revising the dinos, I'd do it in a heartbeat. But since we're not in the habit of revising what already has official 3.5 stats...
Cleon
Legend
So, are we just adding some flavour to them and calling it a day?
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