Armadillos! (PEACH)

[LOTRfan]

Completed:
Armadillo
Dire Armadillo
Pink Fairy Armadillo
Pink Fairy Armadillo Swarm
Pangolin



Armadillo
Tiny Animal
Hit Dice: 1/2d8 (2 hp)
Initiative: +7
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares), Burrow 5 ft.
Armor Class: 17 (+2 size, +2 natural, +3 Dex), touch 15, flatfooted 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/-11
Attack: Claw +5 melee (1d3-3)
Full Attack: 2 Claws +5 melee (1d3-3)
Space/Reach: 2 1/2 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: -----
Special Qualities: Lowlight vision, scent, Defensive Curl, light sensitivity
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +1
Abilities: Str 4, Dex 17, Con 10, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 11
Skills: Hide +13, Listen +3, Jump +7
Feats: Weapon Finesse(B), Improved Initiative
Environment: Warm Plains
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 1/4
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always Neutral
Advancement: 1-2 HD (Tiny)
Level Adjustment: -----

A small creature with banded natural armor quickly leaps out of one of the many burrows that dot the landscape. It quickly escapes into the underbrush.

Armadillos are small nocturnal animals that spend most of their time underground. Armadillos are roughly twenty inches long, and weigh about 9 pounds.

Combat
Armadillos are rarely combatants, but their razor-sharp claws (usually used for digging) can make effective weapons.

Defensive Curl (Ex): As a move action, armadillos can curl themselves up into a ball. If they do not perform any actions afterwards, they gain partial cover (+4 to natural armor) until their next turn.

Light Sensitivity (Ex): Armadillos are dazzled in bright sunlight or within the radius of a daylight spell.

Feats: Armadillos gain weapon finesse as a bonus feat.

Skills: Armadillos have a +4 bonus racial to jump checks. When jumping, Armadillos use their Dexterity modifier rather than their Strength modifier.

Armadillos as Familiars
Spellcasters with armadillos as familiars gain +1 natural armor (or, if they already have natural armor, their natural armor increases by 1).

[LOTRfan]

Dire Armadillo
Small Animal
Hit Dice: 2d8+5 (14 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares)
Armor Class: 16 (+1 size, +4 natural, +1 Dex), touch 12, flatfooted 15
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/-4
Attack: Claw +4 melee (1d4-1)
Full Attack: 2 Claws +4 melee (1d4-1)
Space/Reach: 2 1/2 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: -----
Special Qualities: Lowlight vision, scent
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +5, Will +4
Abilities: Str 8, Dex 15, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 11
Skills: Jump +6, Listen +4, Spot +3
Feats: Weapon Finesse(B), Toughness
Environment: Warm Forests
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 1
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always Neutral
Advancement: 3-4 HD (Small)
Level Adjustment: -----

This creature appears to be an extravagantly large armadillo, except that its claws are sharper and more elongated, and it can walk bipedally for short periods of time.

Dire Armadillos are among the largest species of Armadillos, being over 3 feet long and weighing a little less than 60 pounds. Dire Armadillos are much larger than their most common brethren, so they are not as at home in the large, open plains where many of their smaller cousins live. Instead, they live in dense forests. Dire Armadillos occasionally forage for food during the day, and as a result are not as irritated by daylight. The plates of a Dire Armadillo are rigid, so they cannot curl into balls.

Combat
Armadillos are rarely combatants, but their razor-sharp claws (usually used for digging) can make effective weapons.

Feats: Armadillos gain weapon finesse as a bonus feat.

Skills: Armadillos have a +4 bonus racial to jump checks. When jumping, Armadillos use their Dexterity modifier rather than their Strength modifier.

Dire Armadillos as Animal Companions
A Druid can select a Dire Armadillo as an animal companion at 1st level, and Rangers may select them at 4th level.

[Eldan]

Can we also have a Glyptodon?

[LOTRfan]

If I remember correctly, they were in Frostburn. I guess I can make another version, though. I just have to be sure not to read the stats until I'm done to prevent unconscious "inspiration."

And before anyone brings it up, yes, I do realize only the South American species can curl up into the ball...

[Debihuman]

HD is missing hp. It should be 2 hp.

AC is missing Dex modifier. Should be 17 (+2 size, +2 natural +3 Dex), touch 15, 14 flat-footed.

Armadillos only sometimes curl defensively. They also jump around when cornered.

Debby

[LOTRfan]

Why is it I always seem to leave the AC incomplete?

The amradillo has a racial bonus to jump checks, but it seems I actually forgot to mention that, so it seems that the armadillo has too many skill points. I'll correct that right now (Now that I think about it, I might trade the +1 natural armor familiar benefit for a +3 bonus to jump...).

[Zaydos]

Personally I prefer the +1 to AC... possibly because it's game mechanically better, and possibly because it's just different than the normal +3 to X skill that your wizard will not use.

[Bhu]

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

http://www.worleygig.com/2009/11/pin...iry-armadillo/

The worlds only purely carnivorous armadillo. Should make a nice addition

[Blynkibrax]

Smooth on the outside, crunchy on the inside!

[Icedaemon]

I quite like this creature. Especially seeing as it fits the South American/Australian fauna flavouring coupled with there being few good familiar creatures in the list so far, I would like to use it in Walufar.

Can we also have a Glyptodon?

As LOTRfan points out, the Glyptodon (which by the way is itself is in the 'dire animals' column, thus leading to the question if the Dire Armadillo is really necessary) is in the Frostburn book. It's a pretty good creature all-around and does not seem to need a replacement, at least in my mind.

EDITED:

If Bhu's suggestion is followed, I too would like to see the Pink Fairy Armadillo's stats, for the same reason as I would like to use the already statted-out armadillo.

[LOTRfan]

Personally I prefer the +1 to AC... possibly because it's game mechanically better, and possibly because it's just different than the normal +3 to X skill that your wizard will not use.

Alright, then. I'll keep it as it is.

I quite like this creature. Especially seeing as it fits the South American/Australian fauna flavouring coupled with there being few good familiar creatures in the list so far, I would like to use it in Walufar.

Thank you, and be my guest.

As LOTRfan points out, the Glyptodon (which by the way is itself is in the 'dire animals' column, thus leading to the question if the Dire Armadillo is really necessary) is in the Frostburn book. It's a pretty good creature all-around and does not seem to need a replacement, at least in my mind.

I knew that the Glyptodon was in Frostburn, but I didn't know it was in the Dire Animal section... this shouldn't be a problem, though, as I plan on using the Giant Armaillo as the base for Dire Armadillos (think regular armadillos, but three feet long and weighing about sixty-two pounds).

If Bhu's suggestion is followed, I too would like to see the Pink Fairy Armadillo's stats, for the same reason as I would like to use the already statted-out armadillo.

I'll do it, as well. It'll probably be an anti-swarm monster of some sort, judging by the real creature's eating habits.

[Icedaemon]

How about a pink armadillo swarm, which prefers to attack insect swarms?

[LOTRfan]

I can definitely do that. It'll be much more dangerous as a swarm than an individual (though I'll probably still make the individual, anyway).

[LOTRfan]

I added the Dire Armadillo. Pink Fairies are next.

[LOTRfan]

Here is a repost of my Carbuncle conversion (they originated in either 1e or 2e D&D), with some minor edits.



Carbuncle
Small Magical Beast
Hit Dice: 1d10+1 (6 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: 15 ft. (3 squares)
Armor Class: 13 (+1 size, +2 natural), touch 11, flat footed 13
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/-4
Attack: Claw -5 melee (1d2-1 damage)
Full Attack: Claw -5 melee (1d2-1 damage)
Space/Reach: 5 ft/5 ft.
Special Attacks: Death throes
Special Qualities: Darkvision 60 ft., lowlight vision, regenerating ruby, telepathy 30 ft.
Saves: Fort +1, Ref +2, Will +3
Abilities: Str 8, Dex 10, Con 12, Int 6, Wis 12, Cha 8
Skills: Sense Motive +1, Spot +5, Listen +3
Feats: Alertness
Environment: Warm Plains
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 1
Treasure: None, except head ruby
Alignment: Often Chaotic Neutral
Advancement: 2-3 HD (Small)
Level Adjustment: -----

A small armadillo burrows out of its den. It seems like a large armadillo, except it has two small horns and a ruby attached to its forehead.

Carbuncles are small magical beasts, nearly driven to extinction by treasure hunters. Despite their animalistic appearance, Carbuncles are somewhat intelligent and can communicate via telepathy. Carbuncles mainly wish to be left alone, so they can go about their business (what exactly they do alone is unknown, but most speculate that they mainly admire themselves).

Carbuncles are most well known for the ruby growing from their foreheads. Unlike mundane rubies, this gemstone is constantly growing with the carbuncle. It values this gemstone very much, and loath to give it away. In fact, most Carbuncles use their ability to will themselves dead before handing it over. If the ruby is still attached to a carbuncle when it dies, it shatters into a million worthless pieces.

Combat
Carbuncles hate combat, and usually will themselves into a painless death when confronted (which may very well explain their very low numbers). Those who do fight tend to do so because they are protecting friends, family, treasure, or some other cause. Carbuncles do not fear death.

Death Throes (Sp): If a Carbuncle feels threatened, they may will themselves to just drop dead as a full round action. By doing this, they release a form of nonlethal death throes, in which an aura of despair sets in. Any creature within 20 ft. of the Carbuncle when this occurs must succeed on a will save (DC 13), or be affected as if hit with a crushing despair spell cast from a 10th level Sorcerer. DC is wisdom based.

Regenerating Ruby (Ex): All Carbuncles have a ruby attached to their forehead. Most of these rubies (70%) are worth 500 gp. Although rarer, some Carbuncles (25%) have rubies worth 1,000 gp. A select few (5%) have rubies worth 5,000 gp. They almost never willingly give up this ruby, but they may be convinced with a diplomacy check or forced with a charm monster spell. A Carbuncle who loses its ruby in this way finds that another starts to grow. It reaches full size 1d4 months after the loss of the last one. Roll to see the value of the new ruby.

[Bhu]

Dire Pink Armadillos would be natural land sharks

[Icedaemon]

Oddly, the land shark or Bulette, is actually the result of odd parallel evolution and more closely related to the rhinocerotoids.

[MammonAzrael]

If I breed this with a hedgehog, do I get a Sandslash?

[Lhurgyof]

If I breed this with a hedgehog, do I get a Sandslash?

No, actually. The animal sandslash is based on is the pangolin.

[LOTRfan]

Uh, the pangolin link is broken.

[LOTRfan]

I think I just created the smallest D&D creature with the Animal type ever.

The Swarm version will be up shortly. Anyone have any idea for familiar benefits?



Armadillo, Pink Fairy
Fine Animal
Hit Dice: 1/4d8 (1 hp)
Initiative: +4
Speed: 15 ft. (3 squares), burrow 5 ft.
Armor Class: 23 (+8 size, +1 natural, +4 Dex), touch 23, flatfooted 19
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/-16
Attack: Claw +12 melee (1d2-4)
Full Attack: 2 Claws +12 melee (1d2-4)
Space/Reach: 1 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: Attack Swarm
Special Qualities: Scent, lowlight vision, light sensitivity, swarm damage immunity
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +10, Will +1
Abilities: Str 3, Dex 18, Con 11, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 10
Skills: Listen +5, Hide +20
Feats: Weapon Finesse(B), Lightning Reflexes
Environment: Warm Plains
Organization: Solitary, pair, or colony (8-16)
Challenge Rating: 1/6
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always Neutral
Advancement: -----
Level Adjustment: -----

This extremely small animal is furry, with a pink shell covering it. It is digging a burrow with its small claws.

Pink Fairy Armadillos are extremely small animals, one of the smallest in the world. It is so small, in fact, that most people do not even realize they exist. Pink Fairy Armadillos usually live near ant hills or other insect nests, where they can feed constantly. Pink Fairy Armadillos get their name for their pink, leathery natural armor. Pink Fairy Armadillos are 3.5 inches long, and weigh less than .1 pounds.

Combat
Pink Fairy Armadillos always run from threats, unless attacking swarms of small insects.

Attack Swarm (Ex): Pink Fairy Armadillos have claws specifically evolved to grasp large groups of small creatures to consume. The claws of Pink Fairy Armadillos deal normal damage to swarms composed of fine-sized creatures.

Immunity to Swarm Damage (Ex): Pink Fairy Armadillos have thickened natural armor and rough hair that is specifically designed to prevent being damage by swarms of fine size. Pink Fairy Armadillos are immune to damage from swarms made up of fine-sized creatures, and are immune to their nauseate ability.

Pink Fairy Armadillos as Familiars
Masters who choose Pink Fairy Armadillos are immune to swarm damage from swarms made of diminutive creatures or smaller.

[MammonAzrael]

D'awww! Its like an armored miniature giant space hamster! Boo has a new friend!

[Bhu]

I think I just created the smallest D&D creature with the Animal type ever.

The Swarm version will be up shortly. Anyone have any idea for familiar benefits?

AC Bonus? HP is already taken

[LOTRfan]

AC Bonus? HP is already taken

I don't know about AC bonus, to be honest. I mean, the standard armadillo stats already do that, and why would you choose a weaker (and far more easy to kill) familiar for the same benefit?

EDIT: Then again, at low levels enemies will need a natural twenty to even hit a Pink Fairy....

[Zaydos]

I don't know about AC bonus, to be honest. I mean, the standard armadillo stats already do that, and why would you choose a weaker (and far more easy to kill) familiar for the same benefit?

EDIT: Then again, at low levels enemies will need a natural twenty to even hit a Pink Fairy....

I'd choose Pink Fairy over normal assuming the same bonus for multiple reasons:

1. It's cuter
2. Fine size is +6 to AC and attack rolls
3. Dex of +4 instead of +3 (also Armadillos' AC is off, should be +3 Dex instead of +2) so even better touch AC by comparison and offsets the loss of natural armor; also a +1 more to hit.
4. Tiny has no reach, same with fine, Reach, AC, and Touch attack bonus are what matter for a familiar's combat ability; that and Su/Sp abilities only available on Improved Familiar
5. Immunity to swarms/anti-swarm capabilities; only versus Fine swarms which aren't many (most are diminutive) but it's something
6. It's cuter

As a familiar pink fairy's only disadvantage is 5-ft of land speed. It's actually harder to kill since HD/hp become based off of the master's.

Edit: By the time most of these will be important game mechanically they will also cease to be important due to Share Spells + Transmutations. It's also not unheard of for familiars to double up on the same ability. Go for flavor, if you're optimizing a familiar its with Share Spell or Improved Familiar.

[LOTRfan]

Okay, I admit that I forgot about the "Hp = 1/2 master's total" thing.

Okay, but the logic is still true, just reverse the initial roles I had (having the standard armadillo be the weaker version). Perhaps I should give the standard version something else?

EDIT: I just read you're edit. What the heck? I'll keep it the same. I'll just adjust the armadillo's AC, though, to fix the math.

[Lhurgyof]

Spoiler

Show

Should work now, that's a pangolin.

Also, some pangolin stats would rock.

[unosarta]

Those Pink Fairy Armadillos could seriously mess up a commoner. 23 AC means that no one will hit them, +12 means that they will probably always hit, and the fact that they deal at least one damage on every attack means that they will be knocking a commoner unconscious in two blows, with the commoner unable to do anything. Seriously. They are worse than house cats.

[Bhu]

I meant an AC Bonus to the caster as its familiar ability LOTR

[ZardozSpeaks]

Huh, I'm no armadillo expert, but most armadillo's I've seen would be small creatures. Which makes me think Dire Armadillos should be at least medium.