Converting "Real World" Animals and Vermin
- Thread starter Shade
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Shade
Monster Junkie
Here's another from the article:
Goanna: This iguana-like lizard often ends up as prime ingredient of Wallara dinners. The skins can be sold to the phanatons for 2-12 cp each (or equivalent barter value). AC 5, HD ½ (S), MV 120' (40'), AT 1 bite, D 1d4, NA 0 (l-20), Save F1, ML 7, TT Nil, Int 2, AL N, XP 5.
From Dragon Magazine #186 (192).
Not terribly interesting, eh? But wait...
From Wikipedia:
"Being predatory lizards, goannas are often quite large, or at least bulky, with sharp teeth and claws. The largest is the Perentie (Varanus giganteus), which can grow over 2m in length. Goannas prey on all manner of small animals; insects, lizards, snakes, mammals, birds, eggs. Meals are often eaten whole, and thus the size of their meal may depend on the size of the animal itself, although all species are scavengers and will readily eat animals as large as cattle and camels. However, the Perentie has been observed killing a young kangaroo, and then biting out chunks of flesh like a dog. Goannas have even been blamed for the death of sheep by farmers, though most likely erroneously, as goannas are also eaters of carrion and are attracted to rotting meat."
"A goanna is a rather swift mover, and when pressed will sprint short distances on its hind legs."
"Some goannas recover from their initial fear of humans, especially when food is involved (or food has been involved previously). This reinforces the wildlife authority's mantra of not feeding animals while camping or erstwhile adventuring. This said, most authorities doubt that a goanna will actually direct an intentional attack on human unless said human attempts to attack it (or grasp at it) first. Aborigines who hunt goannas for food consider the Perentie as a high-risk (but tasty) prey."
"The debate whether goannas are venomous or not is growing. Previously it was thought that incessant bleeding caused by goanna-bites were the result of bacterial infection. Recent studies[1] suggest that monitor lizards (including goannas) are venomous and have oral toxin-producing glands."
"Other dangers a goanna presents is from its hefty tail. It can swing this much like a crocodile if cornered. Small children and dogs have been knocked down by such attacks. Often victims in goanna attacks are bystanders, watching the person antagonising the goanna. Alarmed goannas can mistake standing humans for trees and attempt to climb off the ground to safety, which is understandably painful, as well as distressing for both man and beast."
Check out the folklore section. I'm already inspired to make a magical beast variant!
Goanna: This iguana-like lizard often ends up as prime ingredient of Wallara dinners. The skins can be sold to the phanatons for 2-12 cp each (or equivalent barter value). AC 5, HD ½ (S), MV 120' (40'), AT 1 bite, D 1d4, NA 0 (l-20), Save F1, ML 7, TT Nil, Int 2, AL N, XP 5.
From Dragon Magazine #186 (192).
Not terribly interesting, eh? But wait...
From Wikipedia:
"Being predatory lizards, goannas are often quite large, or at least bulky, with sharp teeth and claws. The largest is the Perentie (Varanus giganteus), which can grow over 2m in length. Goannas prey on all manner of small animals; insects, lizards, snakes, mammals, birds, eggs. Meals are often eaten whole, and thus the size of their meal may depend on the size of the animal itself, although all species are scavengers and will readily eat animals as large as cattle and camels. However, the Perentie has been observed killing a young kangaroo, and then biting out chunks of flesh like a dog. Goannas have even been blamed for the death of sheep by farmers, though most likely erroneously, as goannas are also eaters of carrion and are attracted to rotting meat."
"A goanna is a rather swift mover, and when pressed will sprint short distances on its hind legs."
"Some goannas recover from their initial fear of humans, especially when food is involved (or food has been involved previously). This reinforces the wildlife authority's mantra of not feeding animals while camping or erstwhile adventuring. This said, most authorities doubt that a goanna will actually direct an intentional attack on human unless said human attempts to attack it (or grasp at it) first. Aborigines who hunt goannas for food consider the Perentie as a high-risk (but tasty) prey."
"The debate whether goannas are venomous or not is growing. Previously it was thought that incessant bleeding caused by goanna-bites were the result of bacterial infection. Recent studies[1] suggest that monitor lizards (including goannas) are venomous and have oral toxin-producing glands."
"Other dangers a goanna presents is from its hefty tail. It can swing this much like a crocodile if cornered. Small children and dogs have been knocked down by such attacks. Often victims in goanna attacks are bystanders, watching the person antagonising the goanna. Alarmed goannas can mistake standing humans for trees and attempt to climb off the ground to safety, which is understandably painful, as well as distressing for both man and beast."
Check out the folklore section. I'm already inspired to make a magical beast variant!
demiurge1138
Inventor of Super-Toast
I'd suggest magical beast only. Because goannas are definitely lizard, monitor from the SRD. Not worth a separate stat block, IMO.
demiurge1138
Inventor of Super-Toast
I say magical beast only. A goanna is a monitor lizard, and those already have stats.
Demiurge out.
Demiurge out.
demiurge1138
Inventor of Super-Toast
We can agree to that, certainly.freyar said:Fair enough. But I say we add a tail slap and some sort of wounding property to the magical beast.
Demiurge out.
Shade
Monster Junkie
OK, magical beast variant here we come.
For starters, what shall we call it? "Greater goanna"? "Mythic goanna"? "Goanngoanndanna"?
I think within the writeup we should mention that the monitor lizard stats should be used for a mundane goanna.
Should we start with the monitor lizard stats, modify to magical beast, and go from there?
For starters, what shall we call it? "Greater goanna"? "Mythic goanna"? "Goanngoanndanna"?
I think within the writeup we should mention that the monitor lizard stats should be used for a mundane goanna.
Should we start with the monitor lizard stats, modify to magical beast, and go from there?
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