I did the biguana for Rolemaster, and now I'm doing it up for Pathfinder. The thing is, I don't think I got everything fixed up for it.
Here's a picture of the Biguana: http://www-cache.daz3d.com/store/item_file/5455/image_large.jpg
Naturally I bought the animal from DAZ, and naturally, I'm using it in illustrations. Here are it's stats:
BIGUANA
This reptilian steed does not thunder, but runs across the grassy plain with some grace. However, it is handy to get around rocky, desert terrain.
N Gargantuan Animal
Init +2; Senses: Low Light Vision, scent; Perception +4
DEFENSE
AC 15, touch 8, flat-footed 15 (+19 natural, -4 size)
Hp 70 (9d8 + 3)
Fort +6, Ref +6, Will +3
OFFENSE
Speed 60 ft., climb 30 ft.
Melee bite +28 (2d8+16), tail +24 (2d6+16)
Space 20 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
STATISTICS
Str 34, Dex 12, Con 22, Int 4, Wis 10, Cha 8
Base Atk +16; CMB +21; CMD 22 (26 vs. trip)
Feats Endurance, Great Fortitude, Run, Skill Focus (Perception), Toughness
Skills Climb +13, Perception +11; Racial Modifiers +4 climb
ECOLOGY
Environment Warm desert, cool desert, plains, or scrub
Organization solitary, pair, or pack (3-8)
Treasure none
I think I got the size right, since I compared the animal to a military vehicle -- the SR31 Mobile Missile Launcher http://www.daz3d.com/i/shop/itemdetails/?item=8358 -- they were the right size.
I'd like some help.
I'm not sure how much help I'd be, but I'll try...
I'd pin it as Huge, as it's main body is roughly the size of four to six Medium riders. Size categories are double the last one each time, and I think it goes Medium, Large, Huge. I also think tails are largely discounted, or at least I would ignore this thing's tail unless that's its primary method of fighting or vital to its survival. Otherwise, I would assume it's just curled around in it's space (much like the picture).
I'd determine Strength based on how much you imagine that thing carrying, not on what the Bestiary says the size category should do to it. Remember that Size modifies carrying capacity, as well as the fact that it's a quadruped. I could see this thing carrying a fair amount, but Strength 34 as Gargantuan Quadruped will have him hauling a Platinum howdah full of well-equipped Lizardmen Heavy Armor Fighters. I'd take it down a notch, maybe up the Dexterity score to make it a uniquely nimble large animal.
Small Catch: Animals, in their "Natural" state, don't have Int scores over 2. As Animal Companions or Magical Beasts, that's perfectly acceptable, otherwise knock the Int score down a bit.
Math seems off in a few places. Hit points are odd... Assuming you get full hit points for 1st HD and take averages after that, I'm getting around 107 (+6 per HD from Con Mod, +1 per HD from Toughness). Fort save seems weird too. I don't have the book in front of me, but I think the racial bonus to climb checks is +8, not +4. It would be under the section for having a Climb Speed.
I would define the space to be something like 20'/10', Reach 5'. It also seems like its tail should have a farther reach than that, but I'm not sure if I like how powerful the tail slap is to begin with...
Overall, looks fun! I would enjoy seeing an aquatic variant as well. Gnomish island-hoppers and marsh-folk riding gigantic aquatic reptiles sounds fun. Especially when the party sees waves in the quay, thinks they're allies, and it's actually another type of giant aquatic reptile...
Thank you.
It seems that the Bestiary rules for creating monsters is a bit confusing.
Thank you.
It seems that the Bestiary rules for creating monsters is a bit confusing.
To be fair, I haven't ground-up created any monsters using Pathfinder's rules, only 3.5's, so there might be some legacy mistakes on my part. It's more my style just to take something close and apply templates until it's more what I want (it helps that I have more than my own weight in 3rd party books, so I'm not lacking for monsters or templates).
I'll check later today for you, though.
Working on creating a stat-block, along with a design decision process to follow along with as I go so you can see why I choose things, but I've got a few questions about how you want to use the Biguana.
How many people, max, do you see riding it at once? Maybe both a typical battle loadout (perhaps 3 people? One lancer, one bowman and a swordsman?) and an "emergency escape" load (looks like maybe six people, squished and in for a bumpy ride).
Do you want it to be very battle-capable, the stuff only elite shock troops get? Or is it something an entire culture makes use of, better than horses but common (might see two pulling a house-wagon for nomads)?
How dangerous do you want this thing to be? If one broke loose, or was cursed, or otherwise attacked the party, what level should they be to take it on with little problem?
Are there many breeds, like horses?
I got delayed yesterday, but I'll definitely come up with something soon.
Working on creating a stat-block, along with a design decision process to follow along with as I go so you can see why I choose things, but I've got a few questions about how you want to use the Biguana.
How many people, max, do you see riding it at once? Maybe both a typical battle loadout (perhaps 3 people? One lancer, one bowman and a swordsman?) and an "emergency escape" load (looks like maybe six people, squished and in for a bumpy ride).
Do you want it to be very battle-capable, the stuff only elite shock troops get? Or is it something an entire culture makes use of, better than horses but common (might see two pulling a house-wagon for nomads)?
How dangerous do you want this thing to be? If one broke loose, or was cursed, or otherwise attacked the party, what level should they be to take it on with little problem?
Are there many breeds, like horses?
I got delayed yesterday, but I'll definitely come up with something soon.
Based on its body plan, about 4 in an emergency. The model is very flexible, indicating that it has a flexible spine. It looks like it can carry one person on it's shoulders and one person on it's haunches that are human adult sized comfortably. However, it is suggested that they carry only one person because of it's climbing abilities.
According to the textures, there are at least three different species: a more colorful jungle version, a desert version - females are green, males are brown - and an amphibian version. With Albinism showing up in all three species. There is little variation in the body plan, so its possible that the desert version mixed with the amphibian version creating the colorful jungle Biguana sometime in the past. I don't imagine that the three different versions would mix now.
It's a riding lizard, so it must be easily domesticated. If it existed today, it would have been used by the Navajo, the Israelites and other peoples of the Fertile Crescent, the Egyptians, and the Aborigines of Australia. The more colorful version would be used by the Caucasians, ancient Indians (of India), and some of the tribes in Africa. The amphibious version would have been used by the Minoans and the coastal, littorian peoples (i.e. the Sea Peoples and the Mycenaean Greeks). It would also be used in the Pacific Islands on small atolls as a way to get across the lagoon.
I can also see it being used in Malaysia and Bali (either version). Any climate above the Caucasus, horses would be used. You won't see it used in France or England, for instance. The 45° degree parallel would be the limit for these animals. The winters get harsher, and the longer it will go torpid. At the 60 degree parallel, the winters are too harsh for the Biguana. Although there were dinosaurs found in Alaska, that doesn't mean that a domesticated biguana will survive up there.
Based on it's teeth, it's a meet eater, so it would have quite a temper. Since it's (mostly) domesticated, it wouldn't be more dangerous than a german shepherd or Alsatian breed. Its as big as a giant frilled lizard, but a 4th level party should be able to control it.
Breeds: Common spike back, common frill back, Desert spike back, Amphibian frill back. There maybe more, but that will mean changing the body plan a little bit. Remember, there are also albino types.
All right, got a basic Google document here with my design decisions outlined in stream-of-consciousness. File is here.
For a preview, here's the results of the design (I admit, I made a few mistakes when I looked over your stats above, and admitted them in my Document).
BIGUANA
This reptilian steed does not thunder, but runs across the grassy plain with some grace. However, it is handy to get around rocky, desert terrain.N Huge Animal CR ~6
Init +4; Senses: Low Light Vision; Perception +11DEFENSE
AC 18, touch 8, flat-footed 18 (+10 natural, -2 size)
Hp 85 (9d8 + 45)
Fort +10, Ref +6, Will +3OFFENSE
Speed 50 ft., climb 30 ft.
Melee bite +11 (2d6 + 7), tail +6 (2d6 + 3)
Space 20 ft.; Reach 10 ft.STATISTICS
Str 24, Dex 10, Con 18, Int 2, Wis 10, Cha 10
Base Atk +6; CMB +15; CMD 15 (19 vs. trip)Feats: Improved Initiative, Run, Toughness, Skill Focus (Perception), Alertness
Skills: Acrobatics +6, Climb +21*, Perception +11, Sense Motive +2, Stealth -8
*Racial Modifiers +8 Climb, can always take 10 on Climb, even when rushed or threatenedECOLOGY
Environment Warm desert, cool desert, plains, or scrub
Organization solitary, pair, or pack (3-8)
Treasure none
I did run with some assumptions of my own, as I started statting before I realized you had replied to my questions.
World building is partly improvised. :)
I was thinking of using the Giant Frilled Lizard in the Bestiary as a guide. After all, I'm not stating a Camarasaur. Digital I did not make any barding for the creature, since it was too exotic (heck, no one modeled any barding!).
Interesting, that they won't let me edit my post now. Oh well, Se la vie. I examined your helpful file quite closely and I think it's pretty good although your stats might need a little help.
From the frilled lizard entry "Many species of giant lizard exist . . ." The problem was I used the dragon as a template, and that wasn't right. I can use your suggestions and design around the Frilled Lizard. :)
The giant frilled lizard is CR 5.
Ergo, you're right, the Biguana should be CR 4 or 5. I'll take the best of your design, and rework the Biguana stats (biguana is an amalagam of big and iguana. :D )
Thank you for helping me out, Parka. that was great!
Interesting, that they won't let me edit my post now. Oh well, Se la vie. I examined your helpful file quite closely and I think it's pretty good although your stats might need a little help.
Yeah, I realized as I was posting it I didn't include the size penalty in the attacks, and backtracked to edit the document. That took a bit of punch out of it. I just realized today that I calculated CMD wrong, it was low by 10 points(!). That would also make it a bit of a pushover.
But, just like with writers, programmers and others, when you go back and look at your work later you always see how it can be improved. Glad you found some help in it at least.
As far as why you can't edit your post- you can only do so for a certain time frame, then your post is frozen. I think the window is about half an hour or so.
Interesting, that they won't let me edit my post now. Oh well, Se la vie. I examined your helpful file quite closely and I think it's pretty good although your stats might need a little help.Yeah, I realized as I was posting it I didn't include the size penalty in the attacks, and backtracked to edit the document. That took a bit of punch out of it. I just realized today that I calculated CMD wrong, it was low by 10 points(!). That would also make it a bit of a pushover.
But, just like with writers, programmers and others, when you go back and look at your work later you always see how it can be improved. Glad you found some help in it at least.
As far as why you can't edit your post- you can only do so for a certain time frame, then your post is frozen. I think the window is about half an hour or so.
Send me your real name so I can give you proper credit.
Oh yes, would you also like to playtest my adventure?
Oh yes, would you also like to playtest my adventure?
Possibly, but I hope you don't mind that I don't post my contact information directly onto the messageboards. I can't seem to find any way to message you via Private Message on these boards, nor send an e-mail to you through your blog (though I often have trouble searching for books in the library by myself, so it's probably just something I'm missing).
Oh yes, would you also like to playtest my adventure?Possibly, but I hope you don't mind that I don't post my contact information directly onto the messageboards. I can't seem to find any way to message you via Private Message on these boards, nor send an e-mail to you through your blog (though I often have trouble searching for books in the library by myself, so it's probably just something I'm missing).
Leave a comment on my blog with your email in this form: name dot name at provider dot com. That way, spam-a-lot bots and trojan horses won't be attacking your email.