Converting prehistoric creatures

[Cleon]

Zeuglodon is in Frostburn, and it's quite impressive. I think I killed at least one PC with one of 'em.

Dang it, I'd forgotten it was in Frostburn. I'd remembered all the other prehistoric mammals in that book. Including Glyptodon, who's presence in Frostburn never seemed right to me - they didn't live in frozen regions!

Getting back to the topic at hand, are there any creatures from Into the Age of Mammals that haven't been converted yet?

 

[Shade]

I don't think we've done this one:

CATTLE (Auroch)
FREQUENCY: Common
NO. APPEARING: 2-5
ARMOR CLASS: 6
MOVE: 15"
HIT DICE: 6
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2 horns, or 1 charge with trample
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-6/1-6, or 3-18 and 1-6/1-6
INTELLIGENCE: Semi-

Aurochs are slightly larger and tougher versions of the wild cattle found in the Monster Manual. Aurochs in the real world have only recently become extinct (in the 17th century in Europe), once living in temperate forests and meadows.

Aurochs may be domesticated by farmers in some campaigns. Some bulls measured 7' high at the shoulder, and aurochs in general were much more fierce and agile than normal cattle. For game purposes, treat auroch cows as buffalo and young adults as normal cattle. The statistics given are for auroch males.

 

[Cleon]

I don't think we've done this one:

CATTLE (Auroch)

I'm game!

It's basically a Bison with a trample attack, shouldn't take long.

Incidentally, I've already got a homebrew version of the Aurochs sitting on my harddrive somewhere. Be interesting to see how it differs from what we come up with collaboratively.

So, before we start, which singular/plural are we using: auroch/aurochs, aurochs/aurochses or aurochs/aurochsen.

The first seems the most popular, the second is acceptable, and the third cleaves to the original Germanic/Olde Worlde version but is a bit dubious for modern English.

 

[Mortis]

So, before we start, which singular/plural are we using: auroch/aurochs, aurochs/aurochses or aurochs/aurochsen.

The first seems the most popular, the second is acceptable, and the third cleaves to the original Germanic/Olde Worlde version but is a bit dubious for modern English.

Although I quite like the third option, I guess we'll settle on the first. I don't like the middle one.

Regards
Mortis

 

[Shade]

Although I quite like the third option, I guess we'll settle on the first. I don't like the middle one.

My thoughts exactly.

 

[Mortis]

I've just come across a 3.0 version of the auroch in Monkeygod's 'From Stone to Steel'. It's a guide about weapons and armour but has some animals (war dog, auroch, bull;, gazelle, giraffe, hippo, and ostrich). in the section about Roman gladiators.

It's also open content as far as I can tell - could be converted to 3.5 fairly easily.

Plus being the Mystara fan that I am, I should also mention the two versions on the Vaults of Pandius (1, 2).

Regards
Mortis

 

[Cleon]

My thoughts exactly.

Seems we're all of a mind to use an auroch/many aurochs then.

 

[Cleon]

I've just come across a 3.0 version of the auroch in Monkeygod's 'From Stone to Steel'. It's a guide about weapons and armour but has some animals (war dog, auroch, bull;, gazelle, giraffe, hippo, and ostrich). in the section about Roman gladiators.

It's also open content as far as I can tell - could be converted to 3.5 fairly easily.

If it's Open then should you post it here?

Plus being the Mystara fan that I am, I should also mention the two versions on the Vaults of Pandius (1, 2).

Regards
Mortis

Yes, I wondered about referring to those. The Shaggy Auroch isn't particularly relevant, since it's a smaller, domesticated version.

 

[freyar]

Note that Paizo also has an auroch (I believe 3.5 in the Pathfinder Chronicles setting and PFRPG in their SRD). So this is well-trodden ground.

Anyway, shall we get started?

 

[Shade]

Note that Paizo also has an auroch (I believe 3.5 in the Pathfinder Chronicles setting and PFRPG in their SRD). So this is well-trodden ground.

Anyway, shall we get started?

Yes, I think we shall.

Do as Cleon suggested upthread, and start with a bison and add trample?