Dark Dragon
Explorer
Hi all,
I've created a new monster for my homebrew campaign. It has already challenged the party, but I'm unsure about the CR. And perhaps there are some general ideas to improve it.
Zaleasar (Large animal)
CR 9 ?
HD: 15d8+45 (113 hp)
Init: +10
Spd: 70 ft., burrow 10 ft., climb 20 ft.
AC: 25 (+10 Dex, +5 natural, -1 size, +1 dodge), touch 20, flatfooted 25
BAB: +11, Grapple +19
Attack: +20 (bite, 2d6+4, 19-20, x2)
Full Attack: +20 (bite, 2d6+4, 19-20, x2) and +18/+18 (2 claws, 2d4+2)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Improved Grab, Pounce, Rake +18/+18 (2d4+2), Tail Slap +20 (2d6+4)
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, evasion, uncanny dodge, camouflage, freeze
Alignment: N
Saves: Fort +12, Ref +18, Will +8
Abilities: Str 19, Dex 30, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 18, Cha 12
Feats: Multiattack, Improved Critical (bite), Weapon Finesse, Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack
Skills: Hide +22*, Jump +12, Listen +13, Move Silently +26, Spot +13, Survival +12, Tumble +11
* in heavy undergrowth, a zaleasar gets a +8 racial bonus to all hide checks
Environment: Tropical jungle.
Improved Grab (Ex): If the animal hits with a claw, rake or bite attack, it automatically starts a grapple as a free action. This ability works only against medium or smaller foes. If it gets a hold, it can also rake (not allowed if the last rake attack of a round started a grapple).
Pounce (Ex): If the animal charges, it can make a full attack against the opponent including rake.
Tail Slap (Ex): Foes trying to move into a flanking position are attacked with a tail slap. Treat this ability otherwise as if the animal has the Combat Reflexes feat.
Evasion (Ex): Exactly like a rogue’s evasion ability.
Camouflage (Ex): As a standard action, the animal can adapt its skin colour to match with the suroundings, giving it a +10 insight bonus to all hide checks.
Freeze (Ex): A zaleasar can stand perfectly still to surprise any prey crossing its path. It gains a +10 competence bonus to all hide checks.
Skills: Zaleasar have a +8 racial bonus on Hide, Jump, Listen, Move Silently, Spot and Survival checks.
A zaleazar has some ressemblance with a small allosaurus. But it is quicker and more intelligent when hunting for food. Often small groups of at least 4 zaleazars gather for a hunt, using simple but effective tactics to bring down the prey. Its body is slender and muscular, the skin consists of very small dark green scales. It walks on its hind legs (sporting three sharp claws each), leaving its powerful fore legs (with four claws each) free for combat. The jaws are filled with nail-like black teeth, the eyes are coloured dark red to black.
Although living in a jungle world ruled by a technologically advanced cat folk race, the zaleazars were able to adapt quickly and rarely fear the weapons of their better equiped "food". Often a pack of zaleazars waits hours or even days until a good opportunity arises for an attack. They are known to dig tunnels to pass obstacles like walls or hide within the ground, using their burrow and/or camouflage ability. Rarely large groups gather together for an attack on a mostly walled and well guarded cat folk city. But if this happens, the pack attacks fast and retreats with prey into the jungle before effective counter actions can be taken.
The cat folk know that zaleazars are dangerous and so, although capable of space traveling and experienced in fighting, still build high stone walls around every settlement within the jungle. Guards patrol on these walls, using motion sensors, automatic guns and gliders to fight off attacks. Since the cat folk are very fond of fresh zaleazar flesh, they sometimes start expeditions to hunt down some of their foes and improve their own fighting techniques. Not all expeditions return...
I've created a new monster for my homebrew campaign. It has already challenged the party, but I'm unsure about the CR. And perhaps there are some general ideas to improve it.
Zaleasar (Large animal)
CR 9 ?
HD: 15d8+45 (113 hp)
Init: +10
Spd: 70 ft., burrow 10 ft., climb 20 ft.
AC: 25 (+10 Dex, +5 natural, -1 size, +1 dodge), touch 20, flatfooted 25
BAB: +11, Grapple +19
Attack: +20 (bite, 2d6+4, 19-20, x2)
Full Attack: +20 (bite, 2d6+4, 19-20, x2) and +18/+18 (2 claws, 2d4+2)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Improved Grab, Pounce, Rake +18/+18 (2d4+2), Tail Slap +20 (2d6+4)
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, evasion, uncanny dodge, camouflage, freeze
Alignment: N
Saves: Fort +12, Ref +18, Will +8
Abilities: Str 19, Dex 30, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 18, Cha 12
Feats: Multiattack, Improved Critical (bite), Weapon Finesse, Dodge, Mobility, Spring Attack
Skills: Hide +22*, Jump +12, Listen +13, Move Silently +26, Spot +13, Survival +12, Tumble +11
* in heavy undergrowth, a zaleasar gets a +8 racial bonus to all hide checks
Environment: Tropical jungle.
Improved Grab (Ex): If the animal hits with a claw, rake or bite attack, it automatically starts a grapple as a free action. This ability works only against medium or smaller foes. If it gets a hold, it can also rake (not allowed if the last rake attack of a round started a grapple).
Pounce (Ex): If the animal charges, it can make a full attack against the opponent including rake.
Tail Slap (Ex): Foes trying to move into a flanking position are attacked with a tail slap. Treat this ability otherwise as if the animal has the Combat Reflexes feat.
Evasion (Ex): Exactly like a rogue’s evasion ability.
Camouflage (Ex): As a standard action, the animal can adapt its skin colour to match with the suroundings, giving it a +10 insight bonus to all hide checks.
Freeze (Ex): A zaleasar can stand perfectly still to surprise any prey crossing its path. It gains a +10 competence bonus to all hide checks.
Skills: Zaleasar have a +8 racial bonus on Hide, Jump, Listen, Move Silently, Spot and Survival checks.
A zaleazar has some ressemblance with a small allosaurus. But it is quicker and more intelligent when hunting for food. Often small groups of at least 4 zaleazars gather for a hunt, using simple but effective tactics to bring down the prey. Its body is slender and muscular, the skin consists of very small dark green scales. It walks on its hind legs (sporting three sharp claws each), leaving its powerful fore legs (with four claws each) free for combat. The jaws are filled with nail-like black teeth, the eyes are coloured dark red to black.
Although living in a jungle world ruled by a technologically advanced cat folk race, the zaleazars were able to adapt quickly and rarely fear the weapons of their better equiped "food". Often a pack of zaleazars waits hours or even days until a good opportunity arises for an attack. They are known to dig tunnels to pass obstacles like walls or hide within the ground, using their burrow and/or camouflage ability. Rarely large groups gather together for an attack on a mostly walled and well guarded cat folk city. But if this happens, the pack attacks fast and retreats with prey into the jungle before effective counter actions can be taken.
The cat folk know that zaleazars are dangerous and so, although capable of space traveling and experienced in fighting, still build high stone walls around every settlement within the jungle. Guards patrol on these walls, using motion sensors, automatic guns and gliders to fight off attacks. Since the cat folk are very fond of fresh zaleazar flesh, they sometimes start expeditions to hunt down some of their foes and improve their own fighting techniques. Not all expeditions return...
