Real life beasts that need more attention

[Kunimatyu]

I bought the Betabunny book about a year ago, and it's quite solid, definitely worth a read for anyone who wants to up the ante when it comes to real-world animals.

Apparently, even though they're Medium-sized, black bears are strong enough to knock a human 10 feet away with a paw hit (Awesome Blow!), boars can bite through solid 2x4s, and yes, you don't want to be anywhere near the hindlegs of a deer. Thank you, Dangerous Animals of the Southeast!

I think killer whales are sorely underestimated as a D&D opponent. Imagine a pod of killer whales that got a taste for fishermen -- they're very intelligent, so they'd have complex tactics and strategies, and they'd probably toss the poor souls around with their teeth and tails long before they actually killed them.

 

[DMH]

Man, now I *need* stats for a giant botfly. You know, the fly whose larvae implant themselves and gestate in living flesh. lol, your players will *wish* they'd fought a swarm of stirges when after 2 days they are covered with massive sores, each home to a growing, wriggling larvae

Eh, the screwfly would be better- http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Screwfly

A book a vermin, both swarms and giants, would be a must buy for me.

 

[Storminator]

I think killer whales are sorely underestimated as a D&D opponent. Imagine a pod of killer whales that got a taste for fishermen -- they're very intelligent, so they'd have complex tactics and strategies, and they'd probably toss the poor souls around with their teeth and tails long before they actually killed them.

Did you ever see Hunting and Escaping? Killer whale teaches the babies to hunt by practicing on a seal... brutal.

PS

 

[Scott_Rouse]

I fly fish a lot and so I have quite a few books on entomology. I have always thought larval stages of certain aquatic insects would make cool monsters if they were human size. This one reminds me a little of an Ankheg. It is a Salmon Fly nymph from the stone fly family (not to be confused with Sly and the Family Stone)

And this is from a nymph of a Green Drake May Fly.

Not to beat my own drum but the cool thing about aquatic born insects is that they live their larval life underwater and then hatch to become flying insects (mosquitos for example). So I could see where an environment with water (near a river, lake or swamp) could be deadly both on the land and in the water.

I also like the idea on insects that parasitically use a host animal (like a human) for their larval stage and then hatch out of flesh to breed and start the cyle over again.

I am going fishing today after work, I'll be sure to watch my back

 

[crazy_monkey1956]

It is really too bad that RPG companies can't afford to hire experts in the fields for books their working on as consultants.

Imagine the accuracy and believability of a monster book on animals and vermin if it was co-written by an expert in the real world field. And, in this particular instance, realism would actually make a better book, as the species game traits would actually be more significant and challenging in many cases.

The again, this would make for a fascinating wiki project.

 

[Peni Griffin]

You don't need experts, just people who know how to use reference books and apply their own life experience. Any liberal arts major should be competent to the task, this being the point of a liberal arts degree.

 

[crazy_monkey1956]

You don't need experts, just people who know how to use reference books and apply their own life experience. Any liberal arts major should be competent to the task, this being the point of a liberal arts degree.

Wizards pretty much requires a degree to work for them and yet such research, at least to the extent to which we're talking about in this thread, doesn't happen. I think it may be a matter of cost vs return. Realistically, a big book of animals and vermin, thoroughly researched, wouldn't sell well more than likely. So, the amount of research they do is just enough to match what they think the average gamer will want in their game.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Wizards pretty much requires a degree to work for them and yet such research, at least to the extent to which we're talking about in this thread, doesn't happen. I think it may be a matter of cost vs return. Realistically, a big book of animals and vermin, thoroughly researched, wouldn't sell well more than likely. So, the amount of research they do is just enough to match what they think the average gamer will want in their game.

Carving out a few pages from Monster Manual VI would be sufficient.

 

[Peni Griffin]

All I wish is that, when they put real animals, modern or prehistoric, into a sourcebook, they made a reasonable effort to give them appropriate stats, feats, and natural abilities. In most instances this would involve a trip to the library or a conversation with someone experienced in handling animals - not necessarily even a professional, as anyone who rides horseback recreationally, for instance, can point out where the present present write-up falls short. "They" simply aren't interested. God knows why. Research is fun and generates ideas far better than any amount of sitting around making things up. (I know whereof I speak - do the appropriate research, and the novel practically drafts itself.)

I'm sure the weapons-mavins on the board have similar complaints about the treatment of weapons stats, exotic weapons, etc.

Yes, I know it's a fantasy game. The distinction between "fantasy" and "divorced from reality" is an important one. The first is refreshing, fun, and healthy; the second is annoying, dull, and counterproductive.

 

[DMH]

Ever since they had a 25 cm, 12 Kg fish in the second Alien Conpendium for Star*Drive, I have lost all faith in in their ability for realistic animals.