Converting "Real World" Animals and Vermin

[Shade]

Looks good. Updated.

 

[Cleon]

Looks good. Updated.

What about the additional "where they lair in caves or crevices" in the description? I'd like to say what its lair is like.

Apart from that quibble, it seems done.

 

[freyar]

What about the additional "where they lair in caves or crevices" in the description? I'd like to say what its lair is like.

Apart from that quibble, it seems done.

Give us some text; you know you want to!

 

[Cleon]

Give us some text; you know you want to!

I already did.

How about:

This fish has a thick, sturdy body entirely covered with long spines. Its wide head has a large eye on each side, with a slit-like mouth set between.

Giant porcupine fish are found near rocky coasts and coral reefs, where they lair in caves or crevices. They are highly territorial, never straying far from their feeding grounds.

A giant porcupine fish feeds primarily on coral, clams, and small crustaceans.

A giant porcupine fish is 2 to 3 feet long and weighs 10 to 30 pounds.

Combat
A giant porcupine fish is not aggressive, but may bite when provoked. If it sees danger, the fish flees to its lair at the earliest opportunity. When attacked or threatened the giant porcupine fish immediately inflates its body, erecting its knife-long poisonous spines. These spines not only deter attacks, but the fish can use them to make impaling attacks.

 

[freyar]

Ahh, I thought you meant even more.

 

[Cleon]

Ahh, I thought you meant even more.

Well I wouldn't want to gild the lily.

 

[Shade]

Updated, you lily-gilders! (Where's that pirate emoticon? )

Next...

Morena
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Tropical salt water
FREQUENCY: Uncommon
ORGANIZATION: Solitary
DIET: Carnivore
INTELLIGENCE: Animal (1)
TREASURE: Nil
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
NO. APPEARING: 1-4
ARMOR CLASS: 3 (6 if stationary)
MOVEMENT: Sw 15
HIT DICE: 3+2
THAC0: 17
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACKS: 1d4+2
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Surprise
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Evades missiles
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: S (3’-4’ long)
MORALE: Average (10)
XP VALUE: 2,000

The morena is similar to a moray eel in shape, but has the disposition of a piranha. It is aggressive and avoided even by sharks. The morena resides in coral reef niches or caves, much like a moray eel, and might be mistaken for one while at rest. The morena is gray-green, but may be lighter or darker, blending in with its aquatic environment.

If disturbed in its lair, a morena may shoot out to 40 feet in a single thrust, suprising on a roll of 1-8 and gaining a +2 bonus to its attack roll. Otherwise, it moves with a quick side-to-side pattern. Missilve fire automatically misses the rapidly moving creature at first, and a penalty of -4 applies to an opponent’s missile attack rolls against it thereafter.

While in motion, the morena has an Armor Class of 2. When it bites, not only does the morena inflict 1d4+1 points of damage, but its jaws lock, inflicting 2d4+2 each round thereafter. When its jaws are locked or when the creature is stationary, the morena has an Armor Class of 6. The morena releases its hold and flees if reduced to a third of its hit points or less. A morena regenerates damage at a rate of 1 hit point per turn, though it dies if reduced to 0 hit points.

Originally appeared in Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Four (1998).

 

[freyar]

Small Animal, I guess.

Didn't we do something like that "surprise thrust" from the burrow before?

 

[Cleon]

This fish originally appeared in Dragon #116 with basically the same stats, including the bit were the text says its bite does 1d4+1 damage (doubled with locked jaws) while its Damage/Attack line says 3-6 damage. Its name was spelled differently though:

[FONT=&quot]MORANA
[/FONT]FREQUENCY: Uncommon
NO. APPEARING: 1-4
ARMOR CLASS: 6 (2 if moving)
MOVE: //18”
HIT DICE: 3+2
% IN LAIR: 30%
TREASURE TYPE: Nil
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 bite
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 3-6
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Surprise, continuous damage
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Evades missiles, regeneration
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Animal
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: S (3-4’ long)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
LEVEL/XP VALUE: IV/160 + 4/hp

The morana is similar to a moray eel in shape, having the temperament of an angry piranha. Moranas are usually gray green, but may be found in lighter or darker colors, usually blending with the aquatic environment. The morana regenerates at the rate of 1 hp/turn if wounded.

The morana’s movement is a quick, constant, side-to-side pattern. Missile fire automatically misses the creature at first, and a -4 penalty applies to all such “to hit” rolls thereafter. The morana has AC 3 while in motion. Though the damage from a bite is but 2-5 hp, the morana inflicts additional damage by locking its jaws; the victim of such a bite takes double damage each round following. While locked onto a victim, the creature has AC 6. The morana releases its hold and flees if it is reduced to a third of its hit points or less.

Moranas are aggressive and are avoided even by sharks. They lair in coral niches or caves, much like moray eels, and are often mistaken for morays while resting. If encountered in its lair, a morana may shoot out to 40’ in a single thrust, thus gaining a +2 bonus on its “to hit” roll and surprising on a 1-5.

 

[Cleon]

Small Animal, I guess.

I'd go Magical Beast, since it has regeneration or fast healing.

Didn't we do something like that "surprise thrust" from the burrow before?

Didn't we use something similar for one of the giant Polychaete worms?

Anyhow, I'm thinking:

Small Magical Beast
3HD
Attach or Improved Grab
Fast Healing 1

Its AC 6 when grappling and AC3 when moving (or AC2 by the 1E Armour Class line), suggesting Dex 17 or so.

Bite 1d4+1 implies Strength 12-13.

Constitution is probably also pretty good as it has 3+2 HD. Maybe 14-15?

How about the following:

Morena: Str 12, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 3, natural armour +3