Converting "Real World" Animals and Vermin

[freyar]

Would you go for Str 15 or want to stick with Str 13? I guess Str 13 does sound more accurate, but then I might want some other boost somehow. Maybe in skill bonuses or bonus feats (like Endurance).

 

[Cleon]

Ok, then. 1HD. the 1-1 suggests maybe a lowish Con, but I'm not sure I'd agree. The Small dog has Str 13, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6; if we drop the Con down to 9, I'd really want to compensate by boosting Str and Dex. The bite should also be better than 1d3 given the common dog's 1d4 dice; coyotes do a real number on domestic dogs and cats.

Here's a compromise: Str 17, Dex 19, Con 11, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6, damage 1d4+3. Thoughts?

There isn't that much difference between a Coyote and a Jackal, and Sandstorm says just use a Small Dog's statistics for a Jackal.

There's also the little matter that the SRD stats for a Dog says "They also can be used for small wild canines such as coyotes, jackals, and African wild dogs."

I'd rather just leave it at that.

Besides, I definitely wouldn't increase the bite damage, Str or Dex. The Small Dog is already somewhat overendowned in Str and Dex (Don't think of as being an average mutt, an SRD Dog's stats are more representative of a particularly vigorous Dobermann or Alsation). You're proposing a Coyote that's a lot stronger than a Wolf which is, frankly, ridiculous. One reason that there are a lot more Coyotes in the US now than there used to be is that Wolves habitually kill Coyotes, and now there aren't many wolves about they don't cull the Coyotes.

If we are going to give Coyotes separate stats from the SRD Dog I'd rather go for 1 HD, keep a Small Dog's Con and Dex, and drop the Str to 11 or so.

 

[freyar]

Well, that's true, I didn't compare to wolf stats, just dogs. If we want to consider them to be SRD dogs, that's ok by me. But I do think coyotes should have some boost compared to domestic dogs; maybe a better feat selection or bonus feats.

 

[GrayLinnorm]

Well, that's true, I didn't compare to wolf stats, just dogs. If we want to consider them to be SRD dogs, that's ok by me. But I do think coyotes should have some boost compared to domestic dogs; maybe a better feat selection or bonus feats.

Craft Wondrous Iem?

We could also give it immunity to falling damage.

 

[freyar]

Craft Wondrous Iem?

We could also give it immunity to falling damage.

 

[Shade]

Craft Wondrous Iem?

We could also give it immunity to falling damage.

Craft Acme Item.

That type of coyote would need a lower Wis, and probably a stiff penalty on Sense Motive checks.

 

[freyar]

Craft Acme Item.

That type of coyote would need a lower Wis, and probably a stiff penalty on Sense Motive checks.

And DieHard or similar ability.

All joking aside, do we want to bother with this conversion?

 

[Cleon]

Well, that's true, I didn't compare to wolf stats, just dogs. If we want to consider them to be SRD dogs, that's ok by me. But I do think coyotes should have some boost compared to domestic dogs; maybe a better feat selection or bonus feats.

Well they could have some boost to aid their survival in the wild, bot I don't think they should be tougher in a fight than the SRD Dog.

Those stats would seem to represent a fairly big, powerful and athletic dog. Certainly one significantly bigger than a Coyote. The latter may easily overpower a pet dog, but it would likely lose against a trained wolfhound and the like, which I think is what those SRD Small Dog stats represent.

 

[Cleon]

And DieHard or similar ability.

All joking aside, do we want to bother with this conversion?

I'm not fussed.

On the one hand, the SRD Small Dog says those stats are also for a Coyote, so it does seem surplus to requirements.

On the other paw, it is different enough from a 2 HD, 50 pound dog to be worth statting, so I'm game for it.

Oh, what they heck, why don't we do it! We did a Gorilla instead of an Ape, so why not a Coyote instead of a Small Dog?

 

[freyar]

Ok, sure then, let's go for it. 1HD and modify Small dog stats?