Fun With Templates #8: Skelephant

[Kafkonia]

Skelephant

Huge Undead

Hit Dice: 11d12 (77 hp)
Initiative: +5
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares)
Armor Class: 22 (–2 size, +14 natural), touch 8, flat-footed 22
Base Attack/Grapple: +5/+27
Attack: Claw +17 melee (1d8+14) or Gore +17 melee (2d8+21)
Full Attack: Slam +17 melee (2d6+14) and bite +12 melee (2d6+7) and 2 stamps +12 melee (2d6+7); or Slam +17 melee (2d6+14) and bite +12 melee (2d6+7) and 2 claws +12 melee (2d6+7); or gore +17 melee (2d8+21)
Space/Reach: 15 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: --
Special Qualities: Immunity to cold, damage reduction 5/bludgeoning
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +4, Will +7
Abilities: Str 38, Dex 12, Con --, Int --, Wis 10, Cha 1
Skills: --
Feats: Improved Initiative
Environment: Cold mountains
Organization: Any
Challenge Rating: 5
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral evil
Advancement: --
Level Adjustment: --

This beast vaguely resembles the skeletal remains of a giant ape, but with tusks jutting from its fanged mouth, and the useless vestiges of wings hanging from its spine.

The skelephant is an undead creation often used as transportation by necromancers, or as part of a larger besieging force. When travelling it lopes along the ground on all four
limbs, rising up on its haunches only when it must use its claws in battle.

No one has ever encountered a living counterpart to the skelephant, fuelling speculation
that it is a necromantic amalgamation from several different sources.

Combat

Unless directed otherwise, skelephants usually charge threatening-looking foes and engage as many as possible in melee. Its great strength serves it well in this regard, although compared to other creatures of similar strength they are quite a bit more fragile.

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The skelephant was produced by taking an elephant as the base creature (surprise!), then adding the half-dragon and skeleton templates. I may have done some other adjusting, but this has actually been sitting on my work HD for probably just under a year now.

 

[Angel Tarragon]

Interesting creature. Yoink!

 

[Kafkonia]

Interesting creature. Yoink!

Thanks. This was actually one of the first that I did, which is why it's a bit lacking in flavour compared to some others; it's also one of the ones I did entirely at work, where all I can access is the on-line SRD.

 

[Dog Moon]

Quick question. If it was made by using the elephant, why does it look like a Giant Ape?

Skelephant brings in mind a skeletal elephant, but then the description is more Ape-like and there is mention of loping on the ground, of which elephants cannot do, but apes can.

I'm slightly confused about this.

 

[Gothenem]

I would think it is bacause it is a half-dragon elephant, and thus stands somewhat upright, possibly in a huched-over simian stance. That was my though....

Dunno though...

 

[Kafkonia]

Quick question. If it was made by using the elephant, why does it look like a Giant Ape?

Skelephant brings in mind a skeletal elephant, but then the description is more Ape-like and there is mention of loping on the ground, of which elephants cannot do, but apes can.

I'm slightly confused about this.

You're thinking too linearly.

The game-mechanics basis was the elephant, but that doesn't mean that the in-game creature was. That's why in the flavour I make a point of saying, "No one has ever encountered a living counterpart to the skelephant..." It also makes it a bit easier to use large numbers of them than if you just treat them as half-dragon elephant skeletons -- after all, how many half-dragon elephants can you really get away with before your players laugh at you and your miscegenating dragons?

And remember, changing the visual description without altering the mechanics is one of the easiest ways to make your monsters 'new.'

 

[Dog Moon]

And remember, changing the visual description without altering the mechanics is one of the easiest ways to make your monsters 'new.'

Agreed. I've done this numerous times. The only thing I would do if I were you would be to change the name then. Other than that, I have no problems with taking the stats of an elephant and changing the description to make something new.

 

[Gothenem]

Ahhh yes, I have done that on numerous occasions.