Do you guys remember the cave dinosaurs from 3.5 that were created by yuan ti and used to guard their underground lairs? Well, I was wondering if "The RPG Company That Cannot Be Named" owned the rights to cave dinosaurs or yuan ti and also whether or not anyone has bothered to convert either. I think I remember seeing yuan ti in a 4e book, so odds are they're unavailable but I figured that the cave dinosaurs could've been specially bred by another subterranean race like troglodytes or derro. Any feedback would be appreciated. Thanks!
Since "cave dinosaurs" were introduced in a non-OGL source, they're absolutely not allowed for Pathfinder or a 3rd party company to publish under that name.
That said, dinosaurs underground are absolutely a trope of subterranean fantasy fiction. And in Pathfinder, there are explicitly vaults deep below the earth full of prehistoric monsters. And there's the young template, which makes creatures one size smaller.
So young template + dinosaurs + trog riders = 100% OGL compatible cave dinos.
Since "cave dinosaurs" were introduced in a non-OGL source, they're absolutely not allowed for Pathfinder or a 3rd party company to publish under that name.
That said, dinosaurs underground are absolutely a trope of subterranean fantasy fiction. And in Pathfinder, there are explicitly vaults deep below the earth full of prehistoric monsters. And there's the young template, which makes creatures one size smaller.
So young template + dinosaurs + trog riders = 100% OGL compatible cave dinos.
I was thinking of using that template, as well as giving the cave dinos darkvision and maybe create a table of random mutations they could have.
Second question: Since the name "cave dinosaur" can't be used, what would be a suitable replacement term to use for them?
I have some great ideas for these guys and I'll probably start statting some of them tomorrow.
"Subterran" sounds good to me. And I was going to use the cave creature template, but anything that uses that template also gains two claw attacks and I felt that it wouldn't be necessary. I'll just use the young template and then add the rest myself. I'll post the first one later.
SHOO! Finally, I put some stats together for the first cave-err..."subterran" dinosaur. I decided against using a template (aside from the young creature template) for them and decided to give each one a unique special attack or special quality. In this case, I gave the ankylosaur Hunker because I imagine it being heavy and hard to push around. I also gave it a burrow speed of 5ft because I could see underground races using it as somewhat of a living excavator. Anyway, let me know if I messed any of the numbers up or anything. Here's the first one.
This bulky reptile is low to the ground and covered in a thick hide of armored plates and spikes. Trailing behind it is a lengthy tail ending in a mace-like club of solid bone..
Subterran Ankylosaurus CR 5
XP 1,600
N Large Animal
Init +2; Senses Darkvision 60 ft., low-light vision, scent; Perception +11
Weakness light sensitivity
----- Defense -----
AC 23, touch 11, flat-footed 21 (+2 Dex, +12 natural, -1 size)
hp 49 (9d8+9)
Fort +10, Ref +8, Will +6
----- Offense -----
Speed 30 ft., burrow 5 ft.
Melee tail +13 (1d12+9 plus stun)
Space 10 ft.; Reach 10 ft.
----- Statistics -----
Str 23, Dex 14, Con 13, Int 1, Wis 13, Cha 8
Base Atk +6; CMB +13; CMD 25 (29 vs. bull rush, overrun, and trip)
Feats Great Fortitude, Improved Bull Rush, Iron Will, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (Tail)
Skills Perception +11
SQ hunker
----- Ecology -----
Environment any underground
Organization solitary, pair, or herd (3-12)
----- Special Abilities -----
Stun (Ex) The subterran ankylosaurus's tail can deliver a powerful, stunning blow. A creature struck by this attack must make a DC 20 save or be dazed for 1 round.
If the strike is a critical hit and the target fails its save, it is instead stunned for 1d4 rounds. The save DC is Strength-based.
Hunker (Ex) The subterran ankylosaurus gains a +4 bonus to its CMD to avoid bull rush or overrun attempts.