I need Hyena help!

[Torengal]

My DM asked the members of my party to come up with magic items that we could use. Being a Gnoll Warlock (don't judge me) I thought a onyx figurine (similar to the Ebony Fly, or Guenhwyvar) that summons one of the species of hyena. But, I'm new to Dungeons and Dragons, so I don't know how to homebrew very well. If you can do the animal stats, I can do the rest.

Here's some info on each species:

Spotted hyena; 130-180lbs, strongest jaws and teeth in proportion to it's size of any animal. usually pack animals. nocturnal hunter, but occasionally scavenges. Racial enemy: Lion. can create a large variety of vocalizations.

Striped Hyena: 59-119lbs. darkly colored. long mane. more scavenging. nocturnal. more solitary, or in pairs.

Aardwolf: 24lbs. insectivorous. burrows. nocturnal. can emit a foul smelling odor like a skunk. (sounds like a scout to me)

ANy help would be very appreciated.

[Siosilvar]

Hyena, in the SRD for your convenience.

For spotted, advance it to 4 or 5 hit dice (and Large size).

Spotted Hyena
Size/Type: Large Animal
Hit Dice: 5d8+20 (42 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 50 ft. (10 squares)
Armor Class: 15 (+1 Dex, +4 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+14
Attack: Bite +9 melee (2d6+9)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Trip
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +10, Refl +7, Will +2
Abilities: Str 22, Dex 13, Con 19, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills: Hide -3*, Listen +4, Spot +3
Feats: Power Attack, Improved Natural Attack (Bite)
Challenge Rating: 3ish
*Hyenas have a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks in areas of tall grass or heavy undergrowth.

Trip (Ex)
A hyena that hits with its bite attack can attempt to trip the opponent (+2 check modifier) as a free action without making a touch attack or provoking an attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent cannot react to trip the hyena.

[cooperflood]

Here's an Aardwolf. The stench ability is taken straight from the Troglodyte entry.

Aardwolf

Same as Hyena but add the following features and increase the CR by 1.

Burrow 10ft

Stench (Ex)
When an aardwolf is angry or frightened, it secretes an oily, musk-like chemical that nearly every form of animal life finds offensive. All living creatures (except aardwolf) within 30 feet of an aardwolf must succeed on a DC 13 Fortitude save or be sickened for 10 rounds. The save DC is Constitution-based. Creatures that successfully save cannot be affected by the same aardwolf’s stench for 24 hours. A delay poison or neutralize poison spell removes the effect from the sickened creature. Creatures with immunity to poison are unaffected, and creatures resistant to poison receive their normal bonus on their saving throws.

[jiriku]

Trip mod on Siosilvar's spotted hyena should increase to +10 to account for the increased Size and Strength over the stock hyena.

Otherwise, yupyup.

[DracoDei]

180 lbs is NOT a weight that indicates Large size to me, and that is the upper limit of the range mentioned.

[Lyndworm]

Actually, the upper limit of Medium is 500lbs... The Spotted Hyena is very, very Medium.

I would suggest something like:

Spotted Hyena
Size/Type: Medium Animal
Hit Dice: 3d8+12 (24 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 50 ft. (10 squares)
Armor Class: 15 (+1 Dex, +4 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 13
Bab/Grapple: +2/+5
Attack: Bite +5 melee (1d8+5)
Full Attack: Bite +5 melee (1d8+5)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
S. Attacks: Trip
S. Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +2
Abilities: Str 17, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills: Hide +3*, Listen +7, Spot +4
Feats: Alertness, Improved Natural attack (Bite)
Environment: Warm deserts
Organization: Solitary, pair, or pack (7-16)
CR: 2
Advancement: 4-5 HD (Medium); 5-7 HD (Large)

Trip (Ex):
A spotted hyena that hits with its bite attack can attempt to trip the opponent (+3 check modifier) as a free action without making a touch attack or provoking an attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent cannot react to trip the spotted hyena.

Skills:
*Spotted hyenas have a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks in areas of tall grass or heavy undergrowth.





Aardwolf
Size/Type: Small Animal
Hit Dice: 2d8+2 (10 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 50 ft. (10 squares), burrow 10ft
Armor Class: 15 (+3 Dex, +1 natural, +1 size), touch 14, flat-footed 12
Bab/Grapple: +1/-2
Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d4+1)
Full Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d4+1)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
S. Attacks: Stench
S. Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +2
Abilities: Str 13, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills: Hide +8*, Listen +6, Spot +4
Feats: Weapon Finesse (B), Alertness
Environment: Warm deserts
Organization: Solitary, pair, or family (2-4 plus young)
CR: 1
Advancement: 2-3 HD (Small); 3-4 HD (Medium)

Stench (Ex):
When an aardwolf is angry or frightened, it secretes an oily, musk-like chemical that nearly every form of animal life finds offensive. All living creatures (except aardwolf) within 30 feet of an aardwolf must succeed on a DC 13 Fortitude save or be sickened for 10 rounds. The save DC is Constitution-based. Creatures that successfully save cannot be affected by the same aardwolf’s stench for 24 hours. A delay poison or neutralize poison spell removes the effect from the sickened creature. Creatures with immunity to poison are unaffected, and creatures resistant to poison receive their normal bonus on their saving throws.

Skills:
*Aardwolves have a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks in areas of tall grass or heavy undergrowth.

[hamishspence]

Yup- there are a few exceptions (like the 450 lb Large Winter Wolf) but most of the smallest Large creatures are at least close to that 500 lb value.

Avian-type creatures might be allowed to break it due to hollow bones.

[Harperfan7]

That's kinda funny. I'm running a game with gnolls and hyenas right now.

My hyenas are just wolves with improved natural attack (bite) instead of weapon finesse.

[Lyndworm]

It's meant as a guideline, and there are some exceptions listed in the book.

[hamishspence]

Wasn't there a prehistoric hyena closely related to the spotted, but bigger and heavier?

That one might qualify for Large size.

EDIT: It was called Pachycrocuta:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hyena

and figures given seem to vary from 250 lb to 440 lb.

If all you want is the hyena-like teeth, with it not having to be closely related, Sarkastodon is very big, and might fit.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sarkastodon

[Debihuman]

There was also a hyena-like creature in AD&D, the hyaenodon. To the best of my knowledge, the hyaenodon never made the conversion from AD&D other than by license to Necromancer Games (White Wolf) where it appears in the Tome of Horrors II. It is a Large creature as well.

Also, the dire hyena uses the same stats as the dire wolf according to the variant summoning chart in Unearthed Arcana.

Debby

[hamishspence]

The Pathfinder Dire Hyena is listed as a hyaenodon:

http://paizo.com/pathfinderRPG/prd/m...tml#hyena-dire

[Lyndworm]

Aardwolf
Size/Type: Small Animal
Hit Dice: 2d8+2 (10 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 50 ft. (10 squares), burrow 10ft
Armor Class: 15 (+3 Dex, +1 natural, +1 size), touch 14, flat-footed 12
Bab/Grapple: +1/-2
Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d4+1)
Full Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d4+1)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
S. Attacks: Stench
S. Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +2
Abilities: Str 13, Dex 16, Con 13, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills: Hide +8*, Listen +6, Spot +4
Feats: Weapon Finesse (B), Alertness
Environment: Warm deserts
Organization: Solitary, pair, or family (2-4 plus young)
CR: 1
Advancement: 2-3 HD (Small); 3-4 HD (Medium)

Stench (Ex):
When an aardwolf is angry or frightened, it secretes an oily, musk-like chemical that nearly every form of animal life finds offensive. All living creatures (except aardwolves) within 30 feet of an aardwolf must succeed on a DC 13 Fortitude save or be sickened for 10 rounds. The save DC is Constitution-based. Creatures that successfully save cannot be affected by the same aardwolf’s stench for 24 hours. A delay poison or neutralize poison spell removes the effect from the sickened creature. Creatures with immunity to poison are unaffected, and creatures resistant to poison receive their normal bonus on their saving throws.

Skills:
*Aardwolves have a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks in areas of tall grass or heavy undergrowth.

An aardwolf can become an Animal Companion for a Druid at no penalty.



Dire Hyena (Pachycrocuta brevirostris, the Short-Faced Hyena)
Size/Type: Large Animal
Hit Dice: 6d8+18 (45 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 50 ft. (10 squares)
Armor Class: 18 (+2 Dex, +5 natural, -1 size), touch 11, flat-footed 14
Bab/Grapple: +4/+16
Attack: Bite +12 melee (2d6+12)
Full Attack: Bite +12 melee (2d6+12)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
S. Attacks: Trip
S. Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +6
Abilities: Str 27, Dex 14, Con 17, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills: Hide +3*, Listen +6, Move Silently +5, Spot +4
Feats: Alertness, Improved Natural attack (Bite), Stealthy
Environment: Warm deserts
Organization: Solitary, pair, or pack (7-16)
CR: 3
Advancement: 7-18 HD (Large)

Trip (Ex):
A dire hyena that hits with its bite attack can attempt to trip the opponent (+12 check modifier) as a free action without making a touch attack or provoking an attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent cannot react to trip the spotted hyena.

Skills:
*Dire hyenas have a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks in areas of tall grass or heavy undergrowth.

A dire hyena can become an Animal Companion for a Druid at a -6 penalty.



Spotted Hyena
Size/Type: Medium Animal
Hit Dice: 3d8+12 (24 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 50 ft. (10 squares)
Armor Class: 15 (+1 Dex, +4 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 13
Bab/Grapple: +2/+5
Attack: Bite +5 melee (1d8+5)
Full Attack: Bite +5 melee (1d8+5)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
S. Attacks: Trip
S. Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +4, Will +2
Abilities: Str 17, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills: Hide +3*, Listen +7, Spot +4
Feats: Alertness, Improved Natural attack (Bite)
Environment: Warm deserts
Organization: Solitary, pair, or pack (7-16)
CR: 2
Advancement: 4-5 HD (Medium); 5-7 HD (Large)

Trip (Ex):
A spotted hyena that hits with its bite attack can attempt to trip the opponent (+3 check modifier) as a free action without making a touch attack or provoking an attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent cannot react to trip the spotted hyena.

Skills:
*Spotted hyenas have a +4 racial bonus on Hide checks in areas of tall grass or heavy undergrowth.

A spotted hyena can become an Animal Companion for a Druid at a -3 penalty.

[Debihuman]

The Grapple is +16 for the Dire Hyena.

Debby

[Lyndworm]

Thanks for that. I seem to have forgotten to mark it down.