Converting "Real World" Animals and Vermin
- Thread starter Shade
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Shade
Monster Junkie
Fish, Deep Ocean, Angler Fish
Climate/Terrain: Ocean depths
Freq: Uncommon
Org: Solitary
Activity Cycle: Any
Diet: Carnivor
Int: Animal (1)
Treasure: Nil
Align: Neutral
# App: 1
AC: 8
Move: Sw 12
HD: 8
THAC0: 13
# Att: 1
Dmg/Att: 2d8 (some species 1d4)
SA: Swallows whole
SD: Nil
MR: Nil
Size: L (8' long)
Morale: Elite (13)
XP: 1,400
The angler fish is, as its name implies, a fish that hunts the lightless depths by means of a natural "fishing line," sometimes even with a hook (not in the real-world creatures). These bloated-looking things are clumsy swimmers, relying on their lures to cause prey to come to them. Surface-dwellers have an illicium (the "fishing line," actually the modified first ray of the dorsal fin) that looks like a worm or similar creature; with deep-sea anglers, the illicium is luminous. Some anglers don't have an illicium, relying instead on a luminous growth protruding from the roof or palate of the mouth. These growths, in some fantastic species, might resemble anything from mounds of sunken treasure to a beautiful mermaid, both lying in a "cavern" chock full of "stalctites" and "stalagmites." Most anglers are no bigger than a man's fist, though one surface-dwelling type is large enough to swallow ducks and geese and does so.
Combat for the angler fish generally consists of decoying the victim close enough to be attacked, with the teeth getting in one good bite (2d8 damage) and then simply holding the victim in place to be digested (1d8 damage per round). Some anglers actually have one or more hooks at the end of the illicium. With some fatanstic species of these fish, these hooks are functional and can be used to snare prey (1d4 points of damage), drawing it down to the mouth to be bitten automatically in the same round. The angler fish's poor Armor Clas allows stabbing weapons to penetrate it relatively easily. A swallowed prey takes as much damage from the attack as the fish. The fish's teeth curve inward, so it can't even think about letting go, no matter how much opponents with tridents and daggers might make it wish it could. Swallowing prey is the ultimate act of commitment.
In most species of angler fish, only the females do the hunting. The male, only a fraction of the female's size, clings like a lamprey to her body, living off her as a parasite. This works well for the angler fish; despite the darkness of the ocean depths and the fact that angler fish are few and far between, this system ensures that every fish always has a mate on hand when breeding season comes around. What happens to the young is not known.
The angler fish is a typical predator, like nearly all hunters of the deep. Its flesh is edible, though not a gourmet's delight by human standards.
Source: Monstrous Compendium Annual 4.
Climate/Terrain: Ocean depths
Freq: Uncommon
Org: Solitary
Activity Cycle: Any
Diet: Carnivor
Int: Animal (1)
Treasure: Nil
Align: Neutral
# App: 1
AC: 8
Move: Sw 12
HD: 8
THAC0: 13
# Att: 1
Dmg/Att: 2d8 (some species 1d4)
SA: Swallows whole
SD: Nil
MR: Nil
Size: L (8' long)
Morale: Elite (13)
XP: 1,400
The angler fish is, as its name implies, a fish that hunts the lightless depths by means of a natural "fishing line," sometimes even with a hook (not in the real-world creatures). These bloated-looking things are clumsy swimmers, relying on their lures to cause prey to come to them. Surface-dwellers have an illicium (the "fishing line," actually the modified first ray of the dorsal fin) that looks like a worm or similar creature; with deep-sea anglers, the illicium is luminous. Some anglers don't have an illicium, relying instead on a luminous growth protruding from the roof or palate of the mouth. These growths, in some fantastic species, might resemble anything from mounds of sunken treasure to a beautiful mermaid, both lying in a "cavern" chock full of "stalctites" and "stalagmites." Most anglers are no bigger than a man's fist, though one surface-dwelling type is large enough to swallow ducks and geese and does so.
Combat for the angler fish generally consists of decoying the victim close enough to be attacked, with the teeth getting in one good bite (2d8 damage) and then simply holding the victim in place to be digested (1d8 damage per round). Some anglers actually have one or more hooks at the end of the illicium. With some fatanstic species of these fish, these hooks are functional and can be used to snare prey (1d4 points of damage), drawing it down to the mouth to be bitten automatically in the same round. The angler fish's poor Armor Clas allows stabbing weapons to penetrate it relatively easily. A swallowed prey takes as much damage from the attack as the fish. The fish's teeth curve inward, so it can't even think about letting go, no matter how much opponents with tridents and daggers might make it wish it could. Swallowing prey is the ultimate act of commitment.
In most species of angler fish, only the females do the hunting. The male, only a fraction of the female's size, clings like a lamprey to her body, living off her as a parasite. This works well for the angler fish; despite the darkness of the ocean depths and the fact that angler fish are few and far between, this system ensures that every fish always has a mate on hand when breeding season comes around. What happens to the young is not known.
The angler fish is a typical predator, like nearly all hunters of the deep. Its flesh is edible, though not a gourmet's delight by human standards.
Source: Monstrous Compendium Annual 4.
Shade
Monster Junkie
Getting started...
Large Animal (Aquatic)
Hit Dice: 8d8+x (x hp)
Initiative: +x
Speed: Swim 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 12? (-1 size, +x Dex, +x natural), touch x, flat-footed x
Base Attack/Grapple: +6/+x
Attack: Bite +x melee (1d8+x)
Full Attack: Bite +x melee (1d8+x)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: -
Special Qualities: Low-light vision
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +2
Abilities: Str x, Dex x, Con x, Int 1, Wis x, Cha x
Skills: 11 ranks (Swim +8 from swim speed)
Feats: 3
Environment: Any aquatic
Organization: Solitary or pair
Challenge Rating: x
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 9-16 HD (Large); 17-24 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment: -
Ability scores of other Large and bigger fish:
Dire Barracuda: Str 19, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 2
Ramfish (magical beast): Str 21, Dex 13, Con 18, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 5
Giant Catfish: Str 17, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 2
Masher (Huge): Str 27, Dex 12, Con 19, Int 1, Wis 10, Cha 8
Giant Gar (Huge): Str 24, Dex 14, Con 20, Int 1, Wis 10, Cha 1
So...
Str 17-20, Dex 14-16, Con 13-16, Int 1, Wis 10-12, Cha 1-2
Large Animal (Aquatic)
Hit Dice: 8d8+x (x hp)
Initiative: +x
Speed: Swim 30 ft. (6 squares)
Armor Class: 12? (-1 size, +x Dex, +x natural), touch x, flat-footed x
Base Attack/Grapple: +6/+x
Attack: Bite +x melee (1d8+x)
Full Attack: Bite +x melee (1d8+x)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: -
Special Qualities: Low-light vision
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +2
Abilities: Str x, Dex x, Con x, Int 1, Wis x, Cha x
Skills: 11 ranks (Swim +8 from swim speed)
Feats: 3
Environment: Any aquatic
Organization: Solitary or pair
Challenge Rating: x
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 9-16 HD (Large); 17-24 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment: -
Ability scores of other Large and bigger fish:
Dire Barracuda: Str 19, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 2
Ramfish (magical beast): Str 21, Dex 13, Con 18, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 5
Giant Catfish: Str 17, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 2
Masher (Huge): Str 27, Dex 12, Con 19, Int 1, Wis 10, Cha 8
Giant Gar (Huge): Str 24, Dex 14, Con 20, Int 1, Wis 10, Cha 1
So...
Str 17-20, Dex 14-16, Con 13-16, Int 1, Wis 10-12, Cha 1-2
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