Blackhawk748
2019-10-06, 02:51 PM
So I love weird but functional ecosystems in my fantasy. I like watching something that could conceivably work and seeing how the world ripples out from that. The easiest way to do this is to posit the simple question of "What if X didn't go extinct?" and that often leads to interesting conversations. However, something I notice during these conversations is that the names are always the same.
For example, Koolasuchus is an Amphibian that could conceivably be alive in your average fantasy setting as a Temperate or Polar aquatic predator as it was in life. Except are they actually gonna call it a Koolasuchus? A modern example would be the Scalloped Hammerhead, what most people think of when someone says Hammerhead. Its actual name is Sphyrna Lewini but noone calls it that, they call it the Hammerhead. So wouldn't Koolasuchus have a common name as well?
And so that, among other things, is what has started this crazy little project of mine. I plan on statting out random Prehistoric animals that I like that weren't in a book proper (or that I didn't know about) and then give them what I feel would be an appropriate Common name. I will, of course, be including the animal's proper name so that we can all tell what it is. I'll be assigning CR as best as I can, but CR is weird as we all now so feel free to make suggestions.
Spadehead Salamander (Koolasuchus)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Koolasuchus_cleelandi_version_2.jpg
Size/Type: Large Animal
Hit Dice: 4d8+12 (30 hp)
Initiative:+2
Speed: 10ft (2 squares), Swim 30ft
Armor Class: 15 (+2 Dex, +4 Natural, -1 Size), touch 11, Flat footed 13
Base Atttack/Grapple: +3/+12
Attack: Bite +8 melee (1d10+7)
Full Attack: Bite +8 melee (1d10+7)
Space/Reach: 10ft/5ft
Special Attack: Improved Grab
Special Qualities: Hold Breath, Improved Grab, Amphibious Charge
Saves: Fort: +7, Ref: +6, Will: +2
Abilities: Str 21, Dex 14, Con 17, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 2
Skills: Hide +4*, Spot +4, Listen +4, Swim +14
Feats: Skill Focus(Hide), Alertness
Environment: Cold or Temperate streams, Cold or Temperate lakes
Organization: Solitary or Pair
CR:3
Advancement: 5-7 HD (Large)
LA: -
Spadehead Salamanders are large aquatic predators who live in colder climates and live very similarly to crocodiles or alligators, with the largest difference being their extreme slowness on land and their immense bulk. They range between 13ft and 16ft in length and average to about 1,100 lbs in weight making them very potent predators.
Combat
Improved Grab (Ex)
To use this ability, a spadehead must hit with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, the spadehead establishes a hold on the opponent with its mouth and drags it into deep water, attempting to pin it to the bottom.
Hold Breath (Ex)
A spadehead can hold its breath for a number of rounds equal to 4 × its Constitution score (usually 68 rounds) before it risks drowning.
Amphibious Charge
A spadehead is capable of launching itself out of shallow water with surprising speed to catch foes just onshore. So long as the spadehead begins its charge in water and the first 10ft are in water (at minimum) then it may use its swim speed to calculate its full charge distance even if it travels overland.
Skills
A spadehead has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check 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. *A spadehead gains a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks when in the water. Further, a spadehead can lie in the water with only its eyes and nostrils showing, gaining a +10 cover bonus on Hide checks.
For example, Koolasuchus is an Amphibian that could conceivably be alive in your average fantasy setting as a Temperate or Polar aquatic predator as it was in life. Except are they actually gonna call it a Koolasuchus? A modern example would be the Scalloped Hammerhead, what most people think of when someone says Hammerhead. Its actual name is Sphyrna Lewini but noone calls it that, they call it the Hammerhead. So wouldn't Koolasuchus have a common name as well?
And so that, among other things, is what has started this crazy little project of mine. I plan on statting out random Prehistoric animals that I like that weren't in a book proper (or that I didn't know about) and then give them what I feel would be an appropriate Common name. I will, of course, be including the animal's proper name so that we can all tell what it is. I'll be assigning CR as best as I can, but CR is weird as we all now so feel free to make suggestions.
Spadehead Salamander (Koolasuchus)
https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/9/91/Koolasuchus_cleelandi_version_2.jpg
Size/Type: Large Animal
Hit Dice: 4d8+12 (30 hp)
Initiative:+2
Speed: 10ft (2 squares), Swim 30ft
Armor Class: 15 (+2 Dex, +4 Natural, -1 Size), touch 11, Flat footed 13
Base Atttack/Grapple: +3/+12
Attack: Bite +8 melee (1d10+7)
Full Attack: Bite +8 melee (1d10+7)
Space/Reach: 10ft/5ft
Special Attack: Improved Grab
Special Qualities: Hold Breath, Improved Grab, Amphibious Charge
Saves: Fort: +7, Ref: +6, Will: +2
Abilities: Str 21, Dex 14, Con 17, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 2
Skills: Hide +4*, Spot +4, Listen +4, Swim +14
Feats: Skill Focus(Hide), Alertness
Environment: Cold or Temperate streams, Cold or Temperate lakes
Organization: Solitary or Pair
CR:3
Advancement: 5-7 HD (Large)
LA: -
Spadehead Salamanders are large aquatic predators who live in colder climates and live very similarly to crocodiles or alligators, with the largest difference being their extreme slowness on land and their immense bulk. They range between 13ft and 16ft in length and average to about 1,100 lbs in weight making them very potent predators.
Combat
Improved Grab (Ex)
To use this ability, a spadehead must hit with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, the spadehead establishes a hold on the opponent with its mouth and drags it into deep water, attempting to pin it to the bottom.
Hold Breath (Ex)
A spadehead can hold its breath for a number of rounds equal to 4 × its Constitution score (usually 68 rounds) before it risks drowning.
Amphibious Charge
A spadehead is capable of launching itself out of shallow water with surprising speed to catch foes just onshore. So long as the spadehead begins its charge in water and the first 10ft are in water (at minimum) then it may use its swim speed to calculate its full charge distance even if it travels overland.
Skills
A spadehead has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check 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. *A spadehead gains a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks when in the water. Further, a spadehead can lie in the water with only its eyes and nostrils showing, gaining a +10 cover bonus on Hide checks.