Converting "Real World" Animals and Vermin

[demiurge1138]

Can we do the drop bear as a magical beast variant?

 

[Shade]

I agree to everything in the two previous posts.

Added to Homebrews.

Here's the Wikipedia entry:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Koala

Climb speed of 10 feet?

 

[freyar]

Yes on the climb speed. What's the drop bear? I'm getting a very amusing mental picture...

Also, what do you think about pushing Str up to 7 and Dex down to 11? That matches the old AC better and gives them slightly better claw attacks.

 

[Shade]

Drop Bear

Enjoy.

 

[demiurge1138]

I agree with freyar on the ability scores.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

It is generally a silent animal, but males have a very loud advertising call that can be heard from almost a kilometre away during the breeding season. When under stress, Koalas may issue a loud cry, which has been reported as similar to that of a human baby.

Racial bonus on Move Silently checks?

Wanna do anything with the call?

The Koala lives almost entirely on eucalypt leaves. This is likely to be an evolutionary adaptation that takes advantage of an otherwise unfilled ecological niche, since eucalypt leaves are low in protein, high in indigestible substances, and contain phenolic and terpene compounds that are toxic to most species.

Racial bonus on saves vs. poisons? Perhaps grant a bonus on saves vs. poisons if taken as familiars?

Koalas that are disturbed are known to be violent, their teeth and claws capable of causing considerable injury to humans; special handling requirements are as such applicable.

Add a bite attack?

Mature males are recognisable by the brown scent gland in the centre of their chest which they rub on the tree trunks to deter other koalas, especially other males, from entering their home trees.

The koala's nose is one of its most noticeable features, being unusually large and covered in dark leathery skin. Koalas rely on their highly developed sense of smell to differentiate between types of eucalyptus leaves and, due to fluctuating levels of toxins in eucalyptus leaves, to detect the levels of toxicity in the leaves at any particular time. They also need to smell the scent warnings put on trees by other koalas. It’s thought that the koala’s keen sense of smell is already well developed at birth and assists the blind and immature newborn joey to find its way to the pouch, through the scent of the mother’s milk from the teats in the pouch.

Scent?

Koalas’ large ears are a feature of their appearance and, as koalas live in populations where the individual animals live at relatively large distances apart, their keen sense of hearing is very important to their socialisation with other koalas and to their survival.

Racial bonus on Listen checks?

Koalas’ eyes are relatively small in relation to the size of their other sensory features, such as their ears and nose, and their eyesight is not particularly highly developed.

No low-light vision?

A group of koalas is apparently called a "colony", but I cannot determine a specific number. It sounds like they generally are one per tree, though. So I suppose a colony size could be based upon a reasonable number of trees in a given encounter area. This example shows about 10 sharing an area.

 

[freyar]

I am highly amused that the drop bear seems to be "related" to Thylacoleo.

Racial bonus on Move Silently checks?

Wanna do anything with the call?

+4 and not really.

Racial bonus on saves vs. poisons? Perhaps grant a bonus on saves vs. poisons if taken as familiars?

That sounds promising. +2?

Add a bite attack?

Sure. Another 1d4?

Scent?

Yes.

Racial bonus on Listen checks?

+4?

No low-light vision?

Sounds fair.

A group of koalas is apparently called a "colony", but I cannot determine a specific number. It sounds like they generally are one per tree, though. So I suppose a colony size could be based upon a reasonable number of trees in a given encounter area. This example shows about 10 sharing an area.

3d6 koalas in a colony?

 

[demiurge1138]

Freyar's suggestions and responses all appeal.

 

[Shade]

Updated.

Since they are primarily nocturnal, is removing low-light vision too harsh?

"It has a speckled appearance, with patches of white fur, which makes koalas harder to spot from the ground."

+4 bonus on Hide checks in trees?

Skills: 4

Feats: 1

Challenge Rating: x

Advancement: x

 

[freyar]

I'm not terribly opposed to giving them back low-light vision. Hide bonus in trees sounds right. 4 ranks in Listen? Maybe Stealthy or Alertness for the feat. Weapon Finesse as a bonus feat. CR 1/3? 1-3 HD (Tiny)?