Converting "Real World" Animals and Vermin

[Shade]

Updated.

Dog, Feral
FREQUENCY: Common
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 7
MOVE: 18”
HIT DICE: 1
% IN LAIR: 5%
TREASURE TYPE: Nil
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-4
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Semi-
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: S (45 lbs.)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: I/10 + 1/hp

This type is not truly a wild canid. Feral dogs are domestic dogs that have spent a generation or more away from human interference. Natural selection tends to produce an animal midway in size between coyote and wolf, and features such as droopy ears, odd coloration, gigantism, dwarfism, and so on become less common with each generation. Feral dogs do not occur together with truly wild canids of the same size, since they can’t compete, especially where seasons are marked. Like domestic dogs, feral dogs may bear young at any time of the year, including such inappropriate times as the middle of the winter or the height of the flood season. Feral dogs will be found in most climes and sorts of terrain, but only within 50 miles of human settlements. They can be tamed if captured young, and are in effect domestic dogs.

Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #102 (1985).

 

[Shade]

Taking this quite literally...

Dog, 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: Endurance (B), 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: —

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.

Wolf
Medium Animal
Hit Dice: 2d8+4 (13 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 50 ft. (10 squares)
Armor Class: 14 (+2 Dex, +2 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/+2
Attack: Bite +3 melee (1d6+1)
Full Attack: Bite +3 melee (1d6+1)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Trip
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +1
Abilities: Str 13, Dex 15, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Hide +2, Listen +3, Move Silently +3, Spot +3, Survival +1*
Feats: Track (B), Weapon Focus (bite)
Environment: Temperate forests
Organization: Solitary, pair, or pack (7–16)
Challenge Rating: 1
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 3 HD (Medium); 4–6 HD (Large)
Level Adjustment: --

Trip (Ex): A wolf that hits with a bite attack can attempt to trip the opponent (+1 check modifier) as a free action without making a touch attack or provoking an attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent cannot react to trip the wolf.

Skills: *Wolves have a +4 racial bonus on Survival checks when tracking by scent.

____________________________________________________

Halfway between yields:

Str 11, Dex 16
Speed: 45 feet (which is a direct conversion of its original speed as well)
Weapon Finesse vs. Weapon Focus?
Drop or retain trip?
Halve the Jump, Listen, and Spot bonuses?

 

[Cleon]

Taking this quite literally...

Boy, and I thought you were scraping the barrel's bottom with the Coyote. These look even more like an SRD Dog, especially since it says they're "in effect domestic dogs".

Come to think of it, can we increase the Coyote's speed to 50 ft. to match the SRD Wolf? Or, failing that, give them 45 ft. speed?

Coyotes are known for covering great distances in a day. It will also help distinguish them from the Dingo (which should really have a slower speed).

 

[freyar]

I'd be happy to increase the coyote's speed.

Should we maybe just say that the feral dog is just the SRD dog?

 

[Shade]

I'd be happy to increase the coyote's speed.

Same here.

Should we maybe just say that the feral dog is just the SRD dog?

That's fine, if by "saying" it you mean just moving on without a conversion.

 

[Cleon]

I'd be happy to increase the coyote's speed.

Should we maybe just say that the feral dog is just the SRD dog?

Let's do both and move on then.

50 ft. for the Coyote speed, so it matches the SRD Wolf?

 

[Shade]

50 ft. for the Coyote speed, so it matches the SRD Wolf?

Yep. Updated.

Here's the last canid from that article...

Hunting Dog
FREQUENCY: Common
NO. APPEARING: 4-24
ARMOR CLASS: 7
MOVE: 21”
HIT DICE: 2
% IN LAIR: 5%
TREASURE TYPE: Nil
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-5
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Semi-
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: S (60 lbs.)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: I/20 + 2/hp

Also called the African hunting dog or Cape hunting dog, this canid is not closely related to the others. It resembles a big domestic dog with long legs, an outsize head, powerful jaws, and large, rounded ears. The short fur is sparse, and the black skin beneath it can be seen in places. Hunting dogs sport a peculiar harlequin pattern: asymmetrical white blotches, rimmed with black, on a yellowish background. The tip of the tail is always white, and the face and muzzle black. Hunting dogs have a strong, musky odor. They are efficient hunters, and can bring down anything smaller than an elephant or a hippopotamus, hunting in coordinated groups near sunrise or sunset. They chatter when excited, and make a strange, bell-like sound in the chase. Members of the pack are very close, and it is surprising that these canids are not more often tamed. Their inexpressive faces and strong odor may have something to do with this. They can be tamed and trained for use as coursing hounds, though. Hunting dogs seldom attack humans, but will take domestic animals. They are native to open tropical country.

Originally appeared in Dragon Magazine #102 (1985).

Lycaon pictus - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

 

[freyar]

Any ideas on this one?

 

[Cleon]

Any ideas on this one?

Compared to the AD&D wolf it has one fewer HD, is 3" faster, but does the same damage.

50 ft. speed, Strength 13 and a 1d6 bite like the SRD Wolf?

African Hunting dogs are mainly sight-hunters, so we could reduce or eliminate the Track-by-scent bonus.

I'd keep the Track bonus feat and add Endurance. Toyed with the idea of Run as well.

Hmm... Could give them Run instead of the wolves' Weapon Focus. If we keep them Small like a standard Dog, the attack modifier works out the same because of the size bonus.

However, I'd rather increase the size to Medium and give them Weapon Focus (bite), since they weigh 40-75 pounds.

The wolves' Trip attack would probably suit them too...

That looks like enough for a Working Draft...

EDIT: I started a Working Draft. Put the odd skill point in Spot, since they're sight-hunters.

 

[Cleon]

Hunting Dog Working Draft

Hunting Dog
Medium Animal
Hit Dice: 2d8+4 (13 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 50 ft. (10 squares)
Armor Class: 14 (+2 Dex, +2 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/+2
Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d6+1)
Full Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d6+1)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Trip
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +1
Abilities: Str 13, Dex 15, Con 15, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 6
Skills: Listen +3, Spot +4, Survival +1*
Feats: Run (B), Track (B), Weapon Finesse
Environment: Warm plains
Organization: Solitary, pair, or pack (4–24)
Challenge Rating: 1
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 3 HD (Medium)
Level Adjustment: ---

Description

background

A hunting dog is about 3 feet long and weighs from 40 to 75 pounds.

COMBAT

Tactics

Trip (Ex): A hunting dog that hits with a bite attack can attempt to trip the opponent (+1 check modifier) as a free action without making a touch attack or provoking an attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent cannot react to trip the wolf.