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Medium Animal
Hit Dice: 3d8+3 (16 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares), climb 20 ft.
Armor Class: 14 (+1 dex, +3 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 13
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/+2
Attack: Bite +3 melee (1d6)
Full Attack: Bite +3 melee (1d6) and 2 claws +1 melee (1d4)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Drop, rage
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +4, Will +3
Abilities: Str 11, Dex 12, Con 13, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 6
Skills: Climb +8, Hide +4, Listen +4, Spot +4
Feats: Alertness, Multiattack, Weapon Finesse(B)
Environment: Warm Forests
Organization: Solitary, Mates, or Plummet (3-8 )
Challenge Rating: 2
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always Neutral
Advancement: 3-5 HD (Medium)
Level Adjustment: -
Hiding within the tops of the trees, hidden amongst its smaller cousins, waits the dropbear. Despite its flesh-tearing fangs and lengthened claws a dropbear is not easily distinguishable from a normal koala until it falls, crushing in the head of its prey. Its hind quarters are specially padded with muscle and thickened skin so that it takes little damage from its falls.
Combat
A dropbear waits patiently until a potential meal walks beneath, it then allows itself to fall, attempting to knock out its prey. If unsuccessful it clings, biting madly as it holds on like death itself.
Drop (Ex):
A dropbear located above a flat-footed victim can attempt to fall and strike its victim as a ranged touch attack. If successful the drop bear deals 1d6 damage and can make an immediate grapple check to remain clinging to its victim. A drop bear gets a +4 bonus to grapple checks when doing so during a drop. For every round it grapples it may also attempt a bite attack without penalty. A dropbear takes no damage itself from the first 20 feet fallen, and only nonlethal damage at 30 feet. Greater heights deal damage as normal.
Rage (Ex): A dropbear that takes damage in combat flies into a berserk rage on its next turn, clawing and biting madly until either it or its opponent is dead. It gains +4 to Strength, +4 to Constitution, and –2 to Armor Class. The creature cannot end its rage voluntarily.
Skills: Dropbears have a +4 racial bonus on Climb checks and can always choose to take 10 on Climb checks, even if rushed or threatened. They use their Dexterity modifier for Climb checks.
Unskilled writers use "said" and "asked".
Amateur writers use "whispered", "shouted" and "questioned"
Skilled writers use "demonstrated", "ejaculated", "murmured", "explained", "queried" and "demanded"
Masterful writers use "said" and "asked".
Dreamer Pony is by Akrim.elf.
Spoiler
Baiyan, God of Joy, by GryffonDurime, while the C.U.T.E Scardycat and Dreamer are by Tomb Raven.
2) Wis seems a little high - any particular reason for the 14?
3) Why a special mechanism for Drop damage vs. just using DR? Say DR5/piercing during a Drop?
4) Are koalas really that big? I thought they were only 3-4 feet tall.
5) Otherwise, seems very well balanced. Another fine creature brought to you by the twisted mind of the Vorpal Tribble.
2) Animals have high Wisdom scores.
4) These are meant to be bigger than koalas. Even I noticed that in the flavour text...
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Unskilled writers use "said" and "asked".
Amateur writers use "whispered", "shouted" and "questioned"
Skilled writers use "demonstrated", "ejaculated", "murmured", "explained", "queried" and "demanded"
Masterful writers use "said" and "asked".
Dreamer Pony is by Akrim.elf.
Spoiler
Baiyan, God of Joy, by GryffonDurime, while the C.U.T.E Scardycat and Dreamer are by Tomb Raven.
2) Wis seems a little high - any particular reason for the 14?
A little high? A toad has a Wis 14 :P
Quote:
3) Why a special mechanism for Drop damage vs. just using DR? Say DR5/piercing during a Drop?
Because the way I did it is more in line with standard rules. Also, DR 5 would mean it'd still take damage for the rest of the way dropped. This way it ignores up to 16 points of falling damage.
Quote:
4) Are koalas really that big? I thought they were only 3-4 feet tall.
The legend of the dropbear is that they are a good deal bigger than koalas (and also, a dwarf is Medium and its only 4 feet ;) )
2) I looked at all the bears in the SRD, all had Wis 12. Random sampling of other animals all had 12 or less as well, with one 13 (boar).
4) Flavor text states "a dropbear is not easily distinguishable from a normal koala"
It also says "hidden amongst its smaller cousins".
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Unskilled writers use "said" and "asked".
Amateur writers use "whispered", "shouted" and "questioned"
Skilled writers use "demonstrated", "ejaculated", "murmured", "explained", "queried" and "demanded"
Masterful writers use "said" and "asked".
Dreamer Pony is by Akrim.elf.
Spoiler
Baiyan, God of Joy, by GryffonDurime, while the C.U.T.E Scardycat and Dreamer are by Tomb Raven.
Nice adaptation from the d20 Modern Menace Manual.
I like the way you defined its drop ability. The original was a little too ambiguous on what exactly was considered pouncing. Giving the drop bear rage is also a nice touch. You might want to include Balance and Move Silently in its skill list.
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"When the world recognizes good as good, it becomes evil." -Lao Tzu
Man, I don't know if this war is a good idea. Koalas are scary.
I mean, look at those teeth! Those are, like... fanglies. If I saw teeth like that, I'd probably back away slowly.
Awesome dropbear, by the way. I am amused that a group of dropbears is called a Plummet.
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That is not dead which can eternal lie
And with strange aeons even death may die.
Expand for quotes.
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sophismata
You are a bad, bad man, Abd.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lycanthromancer
'Psionics' is just tapping into the core of magic within yourself, whereas the mumbo-jumbo dancing, gibbering, and flinging around esoteric material components is like trying to paint-by-numbers when the guy next to you is rendering works from Picasso by memory alone.
The Grue is from an old text adventure game called Zork.
...and now you know!
That artist's conception of a grue looks awfully familiar.
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The High Priestess's daughter has returned, but clouds are on the horizon.
When death strikes in the Seat of Stars, will the Border hold?
Elsabeth's path is set, for she is the Chosen of the Goddess;
Chosen of Harrekh.
And here was me thinking Zork took it from somewhere else...
For the record; I played Zork Grand Inquisitor, so much fun. I have fond memories of climbing down a weel and getting eaten by a grue.
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Cogwheel
Also, are you even human any more, or did you just transcend into some sort of in-joke singularity?
__________________
That is not dead which can eternal lie
And with strange aeons even death may die.
Expand for quotes.
Spoiler
Quote:
Originally Posted by Sophismata
You are a bad, bad man, Abd.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lycanthromancer
'Psionics' is just tapping into the core of magic within yourself, whereas the mumbo-jumbo dancing, gibbering, and flinging around esoteric material components is like trying to paint-by-numbers when the guy next to you is rendering works from Picasso by memory alone.
Wow, drop bears, grue, quiche, and pointy hats. This thread, really, has everything!
BTW, VT, you're The Man! And I don't mean that in the sense of "The Man" that's constantly oppressing us lowly types and profiting off of our misfortune. I mean that in the sense of the "The Man" that's about as cool and sophisticated as a scholar and a gentleman can be! Like James Bond...but with a lazer gun that shoots drop bears at evil minions.
Yeah, an anthromorphic bat or toad pc has +4 racial wisdom and no level adjustment. You'd have to be a cloystered cleric to take advantage because otherwise you'd be pretty awful at fighting. (Not that it would stop you being awful, just make it matter less). Hmm... if I had a place in my campaign for a giant man eating koala I would use it, but as it is I'm still trying to find a place to fit in that Megatherium from fiend folio. "Is that a dire tree sloth I see?" "No, its a dire ground sloth, it it tried to get up in a tree it would snap the branches right off."
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G'day mate... AGHHHHHHHHHH! (PEACH)
