Antelope
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Tropical and temperate plains
FREQUENCY: Common
ORGANIZATION: Herd
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Day
DIET: Herbivore
INTELLIGENCE: Animal (1)
TREASURE: Nil
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
NO. APPEARING: 4-24 (4d6)
ARMOR CLASS: 7
MOVEMENT: 24
HIT DICE: 2
THAC0: 19
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-4
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Stampede
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: M (5' tall)
MORALE: Unreliable (3)
XP VALUE: 35
Herd animals live in all climates and terrain, from freezing tundra (bactrian camel) to temperate hills (wild cattle) to tropical plains (antelope). Though normally passive, herd animals can be dangerous when angered or frightened.
Herd animals are four-legged hoofed mammals covered with hair -- short, coarse hair for antelope. Male antelope have sharp horns.
Combat: Most herd animals attack by biting. Antelope generally flee from danger, but will attack if cornered or threatened. A male antelope defending his herd will charge, inflicting 1-4 hp of butting damage if charging from at least 40'.
If frightened by intruders, there is a 25% that the entire herd will stampede. If a herd stampedes, roll 2d4 for each creature in the path of the stampede who does not take cover (such as by hiding in a tree or behind a rock pile or wall). This is the number of herd animals trampling the exposed creature. Trampling causes 1-4 hp of damage per herd animal trampling.
Habitat/Society: Herd animals graze on open terrain, migrating to a new territory when the food supply of the old has been depleted. Herd size varies from a family of four buffalo to a commercial flock of 1,000 sheep. The largest and oldest male usually serves as the leader, directing the movement his herd and watching for predators. Herd animals do not collect treasure.
Ecology: Herd animals eat grass, grains, and shrubbery. They are the favored prey of carnivores, including lions, tigers, and dragons. Man often domesticates herd animals for their meat, milk, fur (blankets and clothing), and skin (shoes and tents). Dried droppings of herd animals can be burned for fuel.
Originally appeared in Monster Manual (1977). (The version above is the Monstrous Manual version)