D&D 3E/3.5 Dire Animals Redux V.3.5

[Krishnath]

Actually, members of the crocodilae family rip they prey into bite-sized chunks before swallowing, swallow whole is not an option. And as for dire hyenas and fear immunity, not everyone uses the prismatic dragon, and as I stated earlier, why should paladins be the only ones immune to fear?

 

[Golem2176]

I love hamsters and ferrets. How about Dire versions of them?

 

[Krishnath]

Well, I hate hamsters, and they hate me, so I won't be doing any dire versions of those. And ferrets are, well, ferret's domain, so if you want dire versions of them, ask him.

Anyways, on to the DIRE MANTA!

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Dire Manta Ray
Huge Animal (Aquatic)
Hit Dice: 8d8+16+3 (55 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: Swim 40’ (8 squares)
Armor Class: 14 (-2 size, +6 natural); touch 8, flat-footed 12,
Base Attack/Grapple: +6/+20
Attack: Ram +5 melee* (1d8+3)
Full Attack: Ram +5 melee (1d8+3)
Space/Reach: 15’/10’
Special Attacks: -
Special Qualities: Low-light vision,
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +6, Will +8
Abilities: Str 23, Dex 11, Con 14, Int 1, Wis 14, Cha 4,
Skills: Listen +8 (+2), Spot +8 (+2), Swim +9,
Feats: Alertness, Endurance, Toughness,
Enviroment: Warm aquatic
Organization: Solitary, or school (2-5)
Challenge Rating: 3
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always Neutral
Advancement: 9-12 HD (Huge) 13-24 HD (Gargantuan)
Level Adjustment: -

Dire manta rays look like their larger versions of their smaller cousins, although the upper side of their bodies are usually a very dark blue with dark green patterns. A short row of spines run the entire lenght of their bodies, from their heads, to the end of their long thin tails.
Dire manta rays can be summoned by Summon Natures Ally III.

Combat:
Dire manta rays are peaceful plankton feeders that will only fight to defend themselves if attacked.
* If threatened, a dire manta ray uses it’s size and weight to ram opponents. This is treated as a secondary attack.
Skills: A dire manta ray has a +8 racial bonus on any swim checks to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line.

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Yeah, I know, it ain't that spectacular...

Comments and constructive critizism is welcomed, flames are not.

 

[Ferret]

Ok I'm working from what I've seen on TV( much to go on) and that is what it strangles and is small enough to go down it's gob, it flicks back it's head opens it's mouth and it goes down.... Maybe that aligators?

I like the manta, I'll do a Ferret but I don't know much about them, I'll look into it but It'll end up nearly the same as a dire weasel.

 

[Krishnath]

That's most likely alligators and kaimans, crocs drown/rip appart their prey.

And there you have the reason I wont do a dire ferret. It would be to friggin similar to the dire weasel.

Any other comments on the Manta?

 

[Conaill]

I'll do a Ferret but I don't know much about them, I'll look into it but It'll end up nearly the same as a dire weasel.

So what are the real-life differences between ferrets and weasels?

After doing some googling... weasels are quite a bit smaller than ferrets, about 1/2 the size. I'd probably keep the Dire Ferret as a Medium, but give it an extra HD or two. Ferrets have been domesticated, whereas weasels are feral. Combined with the weasel's more unsavory reputation, I'd probably give the ferret a CHA bonus. Perhaps swap the Attach/Blood Drain abilities for something else as well?

Here are some comparative links:
Mustelids – Ferrets, stoats and weasels
Mustelids: The Weasel Family

Edit: just make sure the Dire Ferret doesn't outstrip the Dire Badger. Badgers are pretty tough critters, and definitely larger than ferrets. Maybe keep the Dire Ferret at 3 HD after all, but up his CON a bit. And keep him Medium, but with a faster progression to Large. How about this:

Str 14, Dex 19, Con 14, Int 2, Wis 11, Cha 12
3d8+6 (19 hp)
4 HD (Medium); 5–9 HD (Large)

 

[Golem2176]

Well, I hate hamsters, and they hate me, so I won't be doing any dire versions of those. And ferrets are, well, ferret's domain, so if you want dire versions of them, ask him.

Okay, what about Dire versions of rabbits, bears and dogs?

 

[Krishnath]

dire rabbits? No I'd rather not. As for dire bears and dogs. Well the dire bear is in the MM, and you could use the dire wolf's stats for a dire dog, so that is pretty redundant.

 

[Ferret]

Krish, I didn't say I wouldn't Just they'de be similiar

This is a better and more in depth piece of reading: My biography

@Conaill: How about less constitution? 12 should do, they are bigger then Weasels but still have small fragile bones. They can still use the bite; the ferrocity has just been bread out of them. You see it's the long jaw connected about half way up the skull that gives it the leverage to..... It's in the link.

Also they should get such a high spot check as they are near sighted.

 

[Conaill]

CON: keep in mind that this is a Dire version of a ferret. Even the Dire Bat has a CON 17 (regular bat has a CON 10). The Dire Weasel has the lowest CON among the standard Dire animals (followed by the lowly CR 1/3 Dire Rat with CON 12). An extra +2 compared to the Dire Weasel doesn't seem too outlandish.

The website you quoted also mentions ferrets are "some of the strongest animals on the planet, pound per pound". Maybe add a little STR compared to the Dire Weasel as well?

Bite: the special abilities are probably where we can most easily distinguish between different (dire) animals. Quick... what's the main difference between the (standard) leopard and cheetah? Turns out they have exactly the same stats, but the Cheetah has Sprint and Trip special abilities, whereas the Leopard has Pounce, Improved Grab and Rake.

Ferrets are friendly and curious. Weasels have a reputation for being vicious and underhanded. Seems like a good place to differentiate between the two...

Spot: are ferrets more or less near sighted than weasels? Perhaps we should stick with the Dire Weasel stats unless we know for sure that they're different in that respect. Then again, as with the "vicious weasel", stereotypes are just as important (if not more) than actual biology. If enough people know that ferrets are near-sighted, no harm in dropping their Spot skill. Listen should probably be much higher as well (PS: note that I already dropped Wis down by one as well in the stats I posted above.)