Ok, that an animal-like creature has more than Int 2 and/or several spell-like or supernatual abilities, then I understand why it's considered a Magical Beast. A Griffon has Int 5, while a Pegasus has Int 10 and several spell-like abilities. Both the Basilisk and the Cockatrice have Int 2, but they can petrify you... as an Extraordinary ability, even when it's clearly spell-like in nature. (It's a spell... unless they can be cause a chemical reaction that calcifies a creature's body :P )
But... a Hippogriff has Int 2 and no Sp/Su ability and so does have an Owlbear.
So... mechanically-speaking, when should a Magical Beast be considered a simple animal? Is it to avoid being readily available for classes, or is it just because of the previous D&D rules?
It's mostly a definition mechanic for things like rangers favoured enemy and certain spell interactions.
Like whats the difference between and earth elemental, a clay golem and those weird aberations that are living rocks? It's all dirt!
Animals are creatures that could exist in the real world. They evolved the same way animals in the real word did. Magical Beasts are the result of some sort of magic. Sometimes more than one are created, and they end up breeding true. But in all cases something extra has been added to their nature. If the Magical Beast has animal level intelligence it may act like an animal, but it is not an animal.
Animals are creatures that could exist in the real world. They evolved the same way animals in the real word did. Magical Beasts are the result of some sort of magic. Sometimes more than one are created, and they end up breeding true. But in all cases something extra has been added to their nature. If the Magical Beast has animal level intelligence it may act like an animal, but it is not an animal.
A Griffon, Owlbear, and hippogriff could happen in the real world. They are just weird animals.
Animals are creatures that could exist in the real world. They evolved the same way animals in the real word did. Magical Beasts are the result of some sort of magic. Sometimes more than one are created, and they end up breeding true. But in all cases something extra has been added to their nature. If the Magical Beast has animal level intelligence it may act like an animal, but it is not an animal.A Griffon, Owlbear, and hippogriff could happen in the real world. They are just weird animals.
Actually, those creatures aren't possible in our world -- but I will admit that there is no way that a native of Golarion would be able to figure that out easily. At least in the case of the owlbear there is lore saying "A wizard did it."
In the real world animals cannot cross breed with totally unrelated species. Then there is the fact that even if they existed, griffons and hippogriffs would not be able to fly. Birds have hollow bones and other adaptations that allow them to fly. It takes more that slapping a set of wings on a quadruped creature to allow it to fly.
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Then there is the fact that even if they existed, griffons and hippogriffs would not be able to fly. Birds have hollow bones and other adaptations that allow them to fly. It takes more that slapping a set of wings on a quadruped creature to allow it to fly.
It never says they don't have hollow bones. There were a few flying pterosaurs in that size range, though they did have larger wingspans than usually depicted for griffons and such.
Then there is the fact that even if they existed, griffons and hippogriffs would not be able to fly. Birds have hollow bones and other adaptations that allow them to fly. It takes more that slapping a set of wings on a quadruped creature to allow it to fly.It never says they don't have hollow bones. There were a few flying pterosaurs in that size range, though they did have larger wingspans than usually depicted for griffons and such.
The bestiary has lions being 5-8 feet long and weighing 330 to 550 pounds. It also list griffons as measuring 8 feet long and weighing in at over 500 pounds. Since the size of the griffon and lion are about the same it seems pretty clear that griffons do not have hollow bones.
The bestiary has lions being 5-8 feet long and weighing 330 to 550 pounds. It also list griffons as measuring 8 feet long and weighing in at over 500 pounds. Since the size of the griffon and lion are about the same it seems pretty clear that griffons do not have hollow bones.Then there is the fact that even if they existed, griffons and hippogriffs would not be able to fly. Birds have hollow bones and other adaptations that allow them to fly. It takes more that slapping a set of wings on a quadruped creature to allow it to fly.It never says they don't have hollow bones. There were a few flying pterosaurs in that size range, though they did have larger wingspans than usually depicted for griffons and such.
That would only work if they maintained the same strength.
See, if by the very fact Griffons have lighter mucle mass (les strength), we have to ask where did the extra pounds go?
Remember, muscle weighs double what fat does. Even if we account for the extra wings, griffons have too much weight for same body mass. Now, extra Con could be extra pounds, it is very little more Con.
So, they could just have hollow bones, this added with the wing issue explains the lower strength they get compared to lions.
Magical Beasts are similar to animals but can have Intelligence scores higher than 2 (in which case the creature knows at least one language, but can’t necessarily speak). Magical Beasts usually have supernatural or extraordinary abilities, but are sometimes merely bizarre in appearance or habits.So a Magical Beast is an animal who might have more than two Int or might have Su or Ex abilities or might just be weird. The description is basically just "animals, without all those 'real world' restrictions".
Mechanically speaking? They're never an Animal. They're a Magical Beast. Period. If you mean in terms of behavior, things like that, that's basically just tied to Int. Int 1 or 2 is "animalistic".
I feel like it's a leftover from the Beast type from 3.0. Several Beasts became Magical Beasts and only a few became Animals, like the Roc. And speaking of "weird", the Iron Gods AP introduced alien creatures as Animals.
It's mostly a definition mechanic for things like rangers favoured enemy and certain spell interactions.
Like whats the difference between and earth elemental, a clay golem and those weird aberations that are living rocks? It's all dirt!
Well, a clay golem is an animated clay statue, as opposed for a human-shaped mass of rock.
But again, they don't seem OP compared to other Animals.
Even if they're just weird, Magical Beasts are mechanically superior to Animals: they get a better HD (d10 vs d8), better BAB (full HD vs 3/4 HD) and darkvision (which animals don't).
Like I said, I feel like it's because of the Beast type of the old days.
Animals are creatures that could exist in the real world. They evolved the same way animals in the real word did. Magical Beasts are the result of some sort of magic. Sometimes more than one are created, and they end up breeding true. But in all cases something extra has been added to their nature. If the Magical Beast has animal level intelligence it may act like an animal, but it is not an animal.
The reason I bring it up is that some Magical Beasts have something "magical" to them. If one is just a hybrid between two species, like the Owlbear or Hippogriff, then... what's so "magical" about them?
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Animal
An animal is a living, nonhuman creature, usually a vertebrate with no magical abilities and no innate capacity for language or culture. Animals usually have additional information on how they can serve as companions. An animal has the following features (unless otherwise noted).
d8 Hit Die.
Base attack bonus equal to 3/4 total Hit Dice (medium progression).
Good Fortitude and Reflex saves.
Skill points equal to 2 + Int modifier (minimum 1) per Hit Die. The following are class skills for animals: Acrobatics, Climb, Fly, Perception, Stealth, and Swim.
Vs:
Magical Beast
Magical beasts are similar to animals but can have Intelligence scores higher than 2 (in which case the magical beast knows at least one language, but can't necessarily speak). Magical beasts usually have supernatural or extraordinary abilities, but are sometimes merely bizarre in appearance or habits. A magical beast has the following features.
d10 Hit Die.
Base attack bonus equal to total Hit Dice (fast progression).
Good Fortitude and Reflex saves.
Skill points equal to 2 + Int modifier (minimum 1) per Hit Die. The following are class skills for magical beasts: Acrobatics, Climb, Fly, Perception, Stealth, Swim.
So essentially, if it hasn't magical or special powers, it is a magical beast when you want to make a creature that hit better and has more hit points.