Converting "Real World" Animals and Vermin

[Cleon]

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

Yup. I'm thinking we should cut the Str to 9 (based on a Wolf Downsized to Small), but keep the Dex 17 and Con 15.

Definitely 1 HD.

+4 racial bonuses to Survival and Jump like a Dog.

Alertness like a Dog or Weapon Focus like a Wolf?

I'm tempted to give it WF (bite) plus a racial bonus to Spot and Listen. Maybe Survival as well.
i.e.

Hit Dice: 1d8+2 (6 hp)
Abilities: Str 9, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Feats: Track (B), Weapon Focus (Bite)
Skill Ranks: Jump 2, Listen 0, Spot 0, Survival 2*

Skills: A coyote have a +4 racial bonus to Jump, Listen and Spot checks. *Coyotes have a +4 racial bonus on Survival checks when tracking by scent.

Alternatively, we could give it Alertness as a Bonus Feat, +4 racial to Jump and Scent Tracking, distribute the SPs Listen 1, Spot 1, Survival 2.

Hmm, just noticed the SRD Dog's Jump modifier is screwed up. It should be at least +9 from its +1 Str bonus, +4 racial bonus, and +4 speed adjustment.

 

[freyar]

Seems you're right on the dog's Jump modifier. I wonder if that's one of the things fixed in Cooper's Corrected Creature Codex.

I'd give it Weapon Focus or maybe Weapon Finesse to beat down the attack penalty from the low Str.

 

[Cleon]

Seems you're right on the dog's Jump modifier. I wonder if that's one of the things fixed in Cooper's Corrected Creature Codex.

I'd give it Weapon Focus or maybe Weapon Finesse to beat down the attack penalty from the low Str.

Weapon Finesse would give more bang for the buck.

Time for a Working Draft, methinks.

EDIT: We could give it Weapon Focus AND Finesse, like we did the Bushdog, but I don't think it's necessary.

 

[Cleon]

Coyote
Small Animal
Hit Dice: 1d8+2 (6 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares)
Armor Class: 15 (+1 size, +3 Dex, +1 natural), touch 14, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/–5
Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d4-1)
Full Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d4-1)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +1
Abilities: Str 9, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Jump +9, Listen +5, Spot +5, Survival +3*
Feats: Track (B), Weapon Finesse
Environment: Any land
Organization: Solitary, pair or family (2–8)
Challenge Rating: 1/4
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: —
Level Adjustment: —

Description.

A typical coyote is 2½ feet long (not including tail), stands 2 feet high at the shoulder, and weighs about 30 pounds.

COMBAT

Coyotes normally flee from threats. They bite if forced to fight.

Skills: A coyote has a +4 racial bonus to Jump, Listen, and Spot checks. *Coyotes have a +4 racial bonus on Survival checks when tracking by scent.

 

[freyar]

A good start. Consider these lines:

Coyotes are wary and difficult to catch; they are less odorous than foxes and therefore more difficult to track, and over long distances they can outpace the fastest coursing hounds. Semi-social, coyotes can be tamed but not trained.

An SQ to make them hard to Track? Endurance as bonus feat? A racial bonus to the DC to train them?

 

[Mortis]

they are less odorous than foxes and therefore more difficult to track

An SQ to make them hard to Track?

I don't think that is really appropriate. My reading of it is that the coyote gives off the same amount of scent (maybe at bit more) as most animals. It suggests to me that it should be the fox, if anything, that should grant a bonus to being tracked.

Regards
Mortis

 

[Shade]

I support Endurance as bonus feat, and possibly a small racial bonus to the DC to train them.

 

[Cleon]

I support Endurance as bonus feat, and possibly a small racial bonus to the DC to train them.

Endurance as a bonus feat suits me.

I would be against the "easy to scent" SQ. We can save that for the fox.

Not in favour of the higher DC for "Rear A Wild Animal" checks. Canines are easier to domesticate than most other animals, so logically we'd have to add that SQ to almost all the animals we convert!

 

[Shade]

Let's just go with Endurance (B), then.

 

[freyar]

Sounds fair. Anything else to them, really?