Time for week 2 of Dino-vember! Telodzrum asked for an herbivore, so here we are! This weeks dinosaur is Protoceratops, a Medium-sized herbivore that favors dry and arid environments.
Protoceratops CR 3
XP 800
N Medium animal
Init +1; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +10
DEFENSE
AC 15, touch 13, flat-footed 13 (+1 Dex, +4 natural)
hp 30 (4d8+12)
Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +3
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee bite +7 (1d6+4 plus Grab)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
Special Attacks: Gouge
STATISTICS
Str 16, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 9
Base Atk +3; CMB +6 (+10 Grapple); CMD 18 (20 vs Trip)
Feats Alertness, Endurance
Skills Perception +9; Racial Modifiers +4 Perception
ECOLOGY
Environment Warm Deserts, Arid Plains
Organization solitary, pair, or colony (3-30)
Treasure none
Attach: When a protoceratops hits with a bite attack, it automatically grapples its foe, dealing automatic bite damage each round.
These pony-sized dinosaurs are often used as pack animals among desert peoples. While they prefer to avoid combat, protoceratops fearlessly defend their nests, using their powerful jaws and sharp beaks latch onto opponents with unyielding ferocity.
A typical protoceratops is between 6 and 8 feet long, and weighs roughly 900 lbs.
Remember! Cold Dinosaur Games is on Facebook!
(Not sure if I can post a link)
I must say I was expecting a little more reaction then what I've been getting. Even if everyone was out camping for Veterans day.
I must say I was expecting a little more reaction then what I've been getting. Even if everyone was out camping for Veterans day.
Let me start with the fact that I love this project and will be one of the people buying the finished product.
That said....
You made a CR3 Dino. woo?
did it fill a spot that as a DM I need? well.... no, not really.
Yes it is nifty, and in a dino themed game I would use them, but really it's "Filler" not trying to be a dick here. Just giving you an honest oppinion.
what people need are more aquatic stuff, more fliers. and more High CR stuff.
Really just look at what dinos there are, figure out what is missing, and make those.
Also, and I'll admit I'm not sure if you can event do this.
But "This creature is summonable with Summon Nature's ally XXX"
would be really cool.
Hell even if there was a feat that opened up those summons that would be fine.
Or make the feat do that AND give some small bonus to all dinos you summon. (as just more options is not really worth a feat)
I disagree with the above unenthusiastic response to a CR 3 terrestrial herbivore. Sure, it's not the most thrilling, but it's more useful to most games than a high CR dinosaur would be. Besides which, there's a pretty strong constraint on dinosaur CRs considering how many of them have already been statted. If a brachiosaurus is CR 10, there aren't too many things you can slot in above that and have any semblance of realism.
The stat-block has a few inconsistencies. The melee section reads that it has grab as an SA, but it has attach down in the Special Abilities line. In addition, there's reference to a "gouge" special attack that isn't present in the Special Abilities. Remember that Alertness gives it a bonus to Sense Motive checks as well.
Any particular reason Protoceratops ended up a CR 3? Since just about the only direct taphonomic evidence of dino vs. dino action is the "fighting dinosaurs" Velociraptor and Protoceratops which killed each other, and because there's a decided lack of dinosaurs with low CRs, I'd personally have aimed for a CR 2 (to match that of a young Deinonychus, the Pathfinder equivalent of a Velociraptor). Not that it's really a problem (it's not like it's a CR 14 or something!), I'm just curious for the rationale.
Its true. Protoceratops isn't the biggest or meanest on the list. But its the only herbivore I had ready. As far as a high CR? That sounds like a request for next week...
And the 'Summon Natures Ally/Monster XXX' will all be put in a table over in the player's section.
Edit: Well this is embarassing...I really did miss changing grab back to attach. Gouge was what I planned to call it until I realized I could use Attach, which already existed.
As for the CR, I felt it should be a little tougher than a cow. Most of many dinosaurs' threat comes from how big they are more than actual aggression.
I disagree with the above unenthusiastic response to a CR 3 terrestrial herbivore. Sure, it's not the most thrilling, but it's more useful to most games than a high CR dinosaur would be. Besides which, there's a pretty strong constraint on dinosaur CRs considering how many of them have already been statted. If a brachiosaurus is CR 10, there aren't too many things you can slot in above that and have any semblance of realism.
The stat-block has a few inconsistencies. The melee section reads that it has grab as an SA, but it has attach down in the Special Abilities line. In addition, there's reference to a "gouge" special attack that isn't present in the Special Abilities. Remember that Alertness gives it a bonus to Sense Motive checks as well.
Any particular reason Protoceratops ended up a CR 3? Since just about the only direct taphonomic evidence of dino vs. dino action is the "fighting dinosaurs" Velociraptor and Protoceratops which killed each other, and because there's a decided lack of dinosaurs with low CRs, I'd personally have aimed for a CR 2 (to match that of a young Deinonychus, the Pathfinder equivalent of a Velociraptor). Not that it's really a problem (it's not like it's a CR 14 or something!), I'm just curious for the rationale.
I totally agree that as a CR 3 it will get use. and it's not a bad CR 3.
My issue is that there are loads of low CR land based dinos.
The author (I assume) wants to sell this product.
All I am saying is that in order to do that you have to offer something I do not already have.
Fill a niche that up to now is not filled.
Yes I'll admit that high CR dinos are a problem, If a T-Rex is only CR 9 then what the crap would be CR 15?
And frankly I don't have a clue. but then again I am not trying to sell a PDF :)
In a world with dragons and Linnorms I am sure there is some yet to be discovered monster.
I am not bashing the project. in fact i plan to buy it, however I am also hopeful that there will be more then low CR plant eaters :)
All right, here is a cleaned up stat block for the Protoceratops.
Protoceratops CR 3
XP 800
N Medium animal
Init +1; Senses low-light vision, scent; Perception +10
DEFENSE
AC 15, touch 13, flat-footed 13 (+1 Dex, +4 natural)
hp 30 (4d8+12)
Fort +7, Ref +5, Will +3
OFFENSE
Speed 30 ft.
Melee bite +7 (1d6+4 plus Attach)
Space 5 ft.; Reach 5 ft.
STATISTICS
Str 16, Dex 13, Con 16, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 9
Base Atk +3; CMB +6 (+10 Grapple); CMD 18 (20 vs Trip)
Feats Alertness, Endurance
Skills Perception +9 Sense Motive +4; Racial Modifiers +4 Perception
ECOLOGY
Environment Warm Deserts, Arid Plains
Organization solitary, pair, or colony (3-30)
Treasure none
Attach: When a protoceratops hits with a bite attack, it automatically grapples its foe, dealing automatic bite damage each round.
These pony-sized dinosaurs are often used as pack animals among desert peoples. While they prefer to avoid combat, protoceratops fearlessly defend their nests, using their powerful jaws and sharp beaks latch onto opponents with unyielding ferocity.
A typical protoceratops is between 6 and 8 feet long, and weighs roughly 900 lbs.
Hey, any chance for an Archaeopteryx?