Ancient king of the open ocean... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Ancient king of the open ocean... [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
The Vorpal Tribble
01-24-05, 01:26 AM Dinichthys

http://www.prehistoria.piwko.pl/Obrazki/dinichthys.jpg

Huge Animal (aquatic)
Hit Die: 17d8+102 (178 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: Swim 50 ft.
Armor Class: 23 (+1 dex, +14 natural, -2 size), touch 9, flat-footed 22
Base Attack/Grapple: +12/+31
Attack: Bite +20 melee (2d8+11)
Full attack: Bite +20 melee (2d8+11)
Space/Reach: 15 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Improved grab, swallow whole
Special Qualities: Damage reduction 5/-, Low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +17, Ref +11, Will +7
Abilities: Str 25 (+7), Dex 12, Con 20 (+5), Int 1, Wis 14, Cha 10
Skills: Spot +12, Swim +25
Feats: Diehard, Great Fortitude, Improved Sunder, Improved Toughness, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (bite)
Environment: Warm Aquatic
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 11
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always Neutral
Advancement: 18-21 (Huge), 22-40 HD (Gargantuan), 41-65 HD (Colossal)
Level Adjustment: -

This monstrous, fish-like creature is of a primitive, nightmarish design with large, scissor-like cutting jaws filled with serrated, razor-sharp bone in place of teeth. Its jointed neck attaches the great head to a scaleless body, and tnstead of scales, along its sides are hinged shields of thick bone forming an exoskeleton. Two large fins grow from each side of the body and many feathery fins grow down its eel-like tail.

Combat:
The dinichthys is nigh king of the seas, snatching up and swallowing smaller creatures, or even attacking and picking fights with larger creatures. It is said that it has even made meals out of dire sharks, the dinichthys' dense natural armoring foiling even the shark's powerful bites.

Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a dinichthys must hit with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can try to swallow the foe in the following round.

Swallow Whole (Ex): A dinichthys can try to swallow a grabbed opponent of up to one size smaller by making a successful grapple check. Once inside, the opponent takes 2d6+6 points of bludgeoning damage plus 1d8+4 points of acid damage per round from the dinichthys digestive juices. A swallowed creature can cut its way out using a light slashing or piercing weapon by dealing 30 points of damage to the dinichthys digestive tract and its outter exoskeleton (AC 14). Once the creature exits, muscular action closes the hole; another swallowed opponent must cut its own way out.

Skills: A dinichthys has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line
RavinRay
01-24-05, 07:46 AM As a vertebrate paleontologist, I'd like to throw in my 2 gp.

Dinichthys is considered a synonym for Dunkleosteus. I would raise the base size to Huge (30 feet length), and based on the Art Gallery for Monster Manual III, it looks like the armored eel fish (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/mmiii_gallery/82963.jpg) is based partly on it.
The Vorpal Tribble
01-24-05, 08:18 AM What I read said Dini was 'up to 12 feet in length'. Hrmm...

And never seen the armored eel fish... that does look like what they were going for don't it? :rolleyes:
The Vorpal Tribble
01-24-05, 11:54 AM :rofl:

Had to share this with you guys. Just noticed it while researching this beasty. Look to the right-hand side of the pic:

http://my.photosleeve.com/TheVorpalTribble-albums/album03/ace.jpg
Ogre4Hire
01-24-05, 03:19 PM Well, it's certainly a lot more balanced than some other animals I've seen posted here (the epic level version of Leiplurodon that was posted last summer comes to mind).

*walks away while whistling Mack the Knife.*
Korone
01-24-05, 04:08 PM Oh.. a single Dinichthys .. GrrRrrrr !!

Nice fish BTW.
It just make my opinion clearer when I say that my character don't want to catch fish in a little boat in sea. Alone.
Ogre4Hire
01-25-05, 01:16 PM Oh.. a single Dinichthys .. GrrRrrrr !!

Nice fish BTW.
It just make my opinion clearer when I say that my character don't want to catch fish in a little boat in sea. Alone.

So you're going out in a boat captained by a dwarf who looks like Robert Shaw?:D
savant_warlord13
11-07-05, 07:06 PM As a vertebrate paleontologist, I'd like to throw in my 2 gp.

Dinichthys is considered a synonym for Dunkleosteus. I would raise the base size to Huge (30 feet length), and based on the Art Gallery for Monster Manual III, it looks like the armored eel fish (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/mmiii_gallery/82963.jpg) is based partly on it.

yet your profile says you're a geologist......

:ahem:
RavinRay
11-08-05, 06:41 AM yet your profile says you're a geologist......
Well, yeah, my specialization in geology is paleontology. ;)
Oh, by the way, there's a Converting Prehistoric Animals (http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=67093) thread at ENWorld, so, VP, as there is no Dinichthyis entry there, you can post it there for Boz and Shade (project leaders) to peruse; or, if you're not registered there yet, I can provide a link to your version here or post it in your behalf, with your permission.
The Vorpal Tribble
11-08-05, 08:45 AM *winces*

I seriously need to go over all my old critters... so out of date and undone...

I actually posted alot of stuff on EnWorld for a time, but so few people ever visited the monster forums I just left of. I'll redo it and get it up to snuff however, then you can post it or whatever you like ;)
RavinRay
11-29-06, 10:06 PM Ok, this is an old thread, but with news from the paleontology front about the biting power of Dinichthys aka Dunkleosteus, and the armored eel fish actually the dragon eel, this critter deserves a big boost, perhaps a vorpal bite. Why? Read this: Giant "Terrible Fish" Packed Most Powerful Bite (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/11/061129-fish-bite.html)
Ogre4Hire
11-29-06, 10:35 PM No, vorpal's lame. Just give it 19-20 X4 on a crit.
Raymond_Luxury_Yacht
11-29-06, 10:36 PM Ok, this is an old thread, but with news from the paleontology front about the biting power of Dinichthys aka Dunkleosteus, and the armored eel fish actually the dragon eel, this critter deserves a big boost, perhaps a vorpal bite. Why? Read this: Giant "Terrible Fish" Packed Most Powerful Bite (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/11/061129-fish-bite.html)

Which still only comes out to about a third of the feeding bite of T. rex.
TheCrawlingSpleen
11-30-06, 12:54 AM Ok, this is an old thread, but with news from the paleontology front about the biting power of Dinichthys aka Dunkleosteus, and the armored eel fish actually the dragon eel, this critter deserves a big boost, perhaps a vorpal bite. Why? Read this: Giant "Terrible Fish" Packed Most Powerful Bite

That's just cool.

Which still only comes out to about a third of the feeding bite of T. rex.

The article says that Dunkleosteus would have been packing an 8,000 psi bite (focused at the front of the jaws anyway). I thought the estimate on T-rex's bite would have been about the same 4 tons per square inch. Of course, I'm not an expert. I'm just basing this on a documentary I saw on Animal Planet (Dinosaur Face-off or something like that)

I would also like to second the vote, made quite some time ago, that the creature be Huge instead of Large, as according to Chased by Sea Monsters (Animal Planet again) and that Nat. Geographic article, good ol' Dunkleosteus got to about 30 feet in length.
Raptorial
11-30-06, 12:57 AM I say this should be in the (for a while) inactive Dinosaur Menagerie.
RavinRay
04-24-07, 06:41 AM I'm killing two birds with one stone here. I'm saving this thread from being archived, and showing you how Dunkleosteus aka Dinichthys compares to what the BBC rates as among the most terrible sea monsters in its classic Swimming With Sea Monsters (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/prehistoric_life/tv_radio/wwseamonsters/) (from the Walking With… series). I got this picture though from a Chinese dinosaur website that refers to the BBC.

http://www.dinosaur.net.cn/_Sea_Monsters/seamonsterall.JPG
The Vorpal Tribble
04-26-07, 04:44 PM Thats pretty cool pic there, Ray. Looked up a few of them and some of those REALLY big'uns were plankton eaters and the littler guys picked on them :D

Anyways, I just updated this creature into usability. Man but it was messed up.
Domriso
04-26-07, 06:40 PM Anyone feel like making a Giant Orthocone? Anyone? I love those things.
graddlin
04-26-07, 09:54 PM Anyone feel like making a Giant Orthocone? Anyone? I love those things.

Giant Orthocones are pretty freaky creatures. I made a study on invertebrates a while ago and the orthocones were some pretty nasty predators. Granted, they were not the apex predator of the ocean, but I would still rather not meet one while deep-sea diving!:gah: (Though, since they no longer exist (to our knowledge), I doubt any of us will have to worry about that.)
By the way, I agree: I would love to see someone create a Giant Orthocone! Hmmm...I might just build one...:D

Thank you for the idea, friend!

Take care.
graddlin
04-26-07, 10:01 PM I'm killing two birds with one stone here. I'm saving this thread from being archived, and showing you how Dunkleosteus aka Dinichthys compares to what the BBC rates as among the most terrible sea monsters in its classic Swimming With Sea Monsters (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/prehistoric_life/tv_radio/wwseamonsters/) (from the Walking With… series). I got this picture though from a Chinese dinosaur website that refers to the BBC.

http://www.dinosaur.net.cn/_Sea_Monsters/seamonsterall.JPG

Swimming with Sea Monsters was an awesome show! I agree with you when you say that the beast, Dunkleosteus, should be between 23-30 feet in length (give or take).

Take care, friend.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
The Vorpal Tribble 01-24-05, 01:26 AM	Dinichthys http://www.prehistoria.piwko.pl/Obrazki/dinichthys.jpg Huge Animal (aquatic) Hit Die: 17d8+102 (178 hp) Initiative: +1 Speed: Swim 50 ft. Armor Class: 23 (+1 dex, +14 natural, -2 size), touch 9, flat-footed 22 Base Attack/Grapple: +12/+31 Attack: Bite +20 melee (2d8+11) Full attack: Bite +20 melee (2d8+11) Space/Reach: 15 ft./10 ft. Special Attacks: Improved grab, swallow whole Special Qualities: Damage reduction 5/-, Low-light vision, scent Saves: Fort +17, Ref +11, Will +7 Abilities: Str 25 (+7), Dex 12, Con 20 (+5), Int 1, Wis 14, Cha 10 Skills: Spot +12, Swim +25 Feats: Diehard, Great Fortitude, Improved Sunder, Improved Toughness, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (bite) Environment: Warm Aquatic Organization: Solitary Challenge Rating: 11 Treasure: None Alignment: Always Neutral Advancement: 18-21 (Huge), 22-40 HD (Gargantuan), 41-65 HD (Colossal) Level Adjustment: - This monstrous, fish-like creature is of a primitive, nightmarish design with large, scissor-like cutting jaws filled with serrated, razor-sharp bone in place of teeth. Its jointed neck attaches the great head to a scaleless body, and tnstead of scales, along its sides are hinged shields of thick bone forming an exoskeleton. Two large fins grow from each side of the body and many feathery fins grow down its eel-like tail. Combat: The dinichthys is nigh king of the seas, snatching up and swallowing smaller creatures, or even attacking and picking fights with larger creatures. It is said that it has even made meals out of dire sharks, the dinichthys' dense natural armoring foiling even the shark's powerful bites. Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a dinichthys must hit with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can try to swallow the foe in the following round. Swallow Whole (Ex): A dinichthys can try to swallow a grabbed opponent of up to one size smaller by making a successful grapple check. Once inside, the opponent takes 2d6+6 points of bludgeoning damage plus 1d8+4 points of acid damage per round from the dinichthys digestive juices. A swallowed creature can cut its way out using a light slashing or piercing weapon by dealing 30 points of damage to the dinichthys digestive tract and its outter exoskeleton (AC 14). Once the creature exits, muscular action closes the hole; another swallowed opponent must cut its own way out. Skills: A dinichthys has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform some special action or avoid a hazard. It can always choose to take 10 on a Swim check, even if distracted or endangered. It can use the run action while swimming, provided it swims in a straight line
RavinRay 01-24-05, 07:46 AM	As a vertebrate paleontologist, I'd like to throw in my 2 gp. Dinichthys is considered a synonym for Dunkleosteus. I would raise the base size to Huge (30 feet length), and based on the Art Gallery for Monster Manual III, it looks like the armored eel fish (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/mmiii_gallery/82963.jpg) is based partly on it.
The Vorpal Tribble 01-24-05, 08:18 AM	What I read said Dini was 'up to 12 feet in length'. Hrmm... And never seen the armored eel fish... that does look like what they were going for don't it? :rolleyes:
The Vorpal Tribble 01-24-05, 11:54 AM	:rofl: Had to share this with you guys. Just noticed it while researching this beasty. Look to the right-hand side of the pic: http://my.photosleeve.com/TheVorpalTribble-albums/album03/ace.jpg
Ogre4Hire 01-24-05, 03:19 PM	Well, it's certainly a lot more balanced than some other animals I've seen posted here (the epic level version of Leiplurodon that was posted last summer comes to mind). walks away while whistling Mack the Knife.
Korone 01-24-05, 04:08 PM	Oh.. a single Dinichthys .. GrrRrrrr !! Nice fish BTW. It just make my opinion clearer when I say that my character don't want to catch fish in a little boat in sea. Alone.
Ogre4Hire 01-25-05, 01:16 PM	Oh.. a single Dinichthys .. GrrRrrrr !! Nice fish BTW. It just make my opinion clearer when I say that my character don't want to catch fish in a little boat in sea. Alone. So you're going out in a boat captained by a dwarf who looks like Robert Shaw?:D
savant_warlord13 11-07-05, 07:06 PM	As a vertebrate paleontologist, I'd like to throw in my 2 gp. Dinichthys is considered a synonym for Dunkleosteus. I would raise the base size to Huge (30 feet length), and based on the Art Gallery for Monster Manual III, it looks like the armored eel fish (http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/mmiii_gallery/82963.jpg) is based partly on it. yet your profile says you're a geologist...... :ahem:
RavinRay 11-08-05, 06:41 AM	yet your profile says you're a geologist...... Well, yeah, my specialization in geology is paleontology. ;) Oh, by the way, there's a Converting Prehistoric Animals (http://www.enworld.org/showthread.php?t=67093) thread at ENWorld, so, VP, as there is no Dinichthyis entry there, you can post it there for Boz and Shade (project leaders) to peruse; or, if you're not registered there yet, I can provide a link to your version here or post it in your behalf, with your permission.
The Vorpal Tribble 11-08-05, 08:45 AM	winces I seriously need to go over all my old critters... so out of date and undone... I actually posted alot of stuff on EnWorld for a time, but so few people ever visited the monster forums I just left of. I'll redo it and get it up to snuff however, then you can post it or whatever you like ;)
RavinRay 11-29-06, 10:06 PM	Ok, this is an old thread, but with news from the paleontology front about the biting power of Dinichthys aka Dunkleosteus, and the armored eel fish actually the dragon eel, this critter deserves a big boost, perhaps a vorpal bite. Why? Read this: Giant "Terrible Fish" Packed Most Powerful Bite (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/11/061129-fish-bite.html)
Ogre4Hire 11-29-06, 10:35 PM	No, vorpal's lame. Just give it 19-20 X4 on a crit.
Raymond_Luxury_Yacht 11-29-06, 10:36 PM	Ok, this is an old thread, but with news from the paleontology front about the biting power of Dinichthys aka Dunkleosteus, and the armored eel fish actually the dragon eel, this critter deserves a big boost, perhaps a vorpal bite. Why? Read this: Giant "Terrible Fish" Packed Most Powerful Bite (http://news.nationalgeographic.com/news/2006/11/061129-fish-bite.html) Which still only comes out to about a third of the feeding bite of T. rex.
TheCrawlingSpleen 11-30-06, 12:54 AM	Ok, this is an old thread, but with news from the paleontology front about the biting power of Dinichthys aka Dunkleosteus, and the armored eel fish actually the dragon eel, this critter deserves a big boost, perhaps a vorpal bite. Why? Read this: Giant "Terrible Fish" Packed Most Powerful Bite That's just cool. Which still only comes out to about a third of the feeding bite of T. rex. The article says that Dunkleosteus would have been packing an 8,000 psi bite (focused at the front of the jaws anyway). I thought the estimate on T-rex's bite would have been about the same 4 tons per square inch. Of course, I'm not an expert. I'm just basing this on a documentary I saw on Animal Planet (Dinosaur Face-off or something like that) I would also like to second the vote, made quite some time ago, that the creature be Huge instead of Large, as according to Chased by Sea Monsters (Animal Planet again) and that Nat. Geographic article, good ol' Dunkleosteus got to about 30 feet in length.
Raptorial 11-30-06, 12:57 AM	I say this should be in the (for a while) inactive Dinosaur Menagerie.
RavinRay 04-24-07, 06:41 AM	I'm killing two birds with one stone here. I'm saving this thread from being archived, and showing you how Dunkleosteus aka Dinichthys compares to what the BBC rates as among the most terrible sea monsters in its classic Swimming With Sea Monsters (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/prehistoric_life/tv_radio/wwseamonsters/) (from the Walking With… series). I got this picture though from a Chinese dinosaur website that refers to the BBC. http://www.dinosaur.net.cn/_Sea_Monsters/seamonsterall.JPG
The Vorpal Tribble 04-26-07, 04:44 PM	Thats pretty cool pic there, Ray. Looked up a few of them and some of those REALLY big'uns were plankton eaters and the littler guys picked on them :D Anyways, I just updated this creature into usability. Man but it was messed up.
Domriso 04-26-07, 06:40 PM	Anyone feel like making a Giant Orthocone? Anyone? I love those things.
graddlin 04-26-07, 09:54 PM	Anyone feel like making a Giant Orthocone? Anyone? I love those things. Giant Orthocones are pretty freaky creatures. I made a study on invertebrates a while ago and the orthocones were some pretty nasty predators. Granted, they were not the apex predator of the ocean, but I would still rather not meet one while deep-sea diving!:gah: (Though, since they no longer exist (to our knowledge), I doubt any of us will have to worry about that.) By the way, I agree: I would love to see someone create a Giant Orthocone! Hmmm...I might just build one...:D Thank you for the idea, friend! Take care.
graddlin 04-26-07, 10:01 PM	I'm killing two birds with one stone here. I'm saving this thread from being archived, and showing you how Dunkleosteus aka Dinichthys compares to what the BBC rates as among the most terrible sea monsters in its classic Swimming With Sea Monsters (http://www.bbc.co.uk/sn/prehistoric_life/tv_radio/wwseamonsters/) (from the Walking With… series). I got this picture though from a Chinese dinosaur website that refers to the BBC. http://www.dinosaur.net.cn/_Sea_Monsters/seamonsterall.JPG Swimming with Sea Monsters was an awesome show! I agree with you when you say that the beast, Dunkleosteus, should be between 23-30 feet in length (give or take). Take care, friend.