Post/Author/DateTime	Post
The Vorpal Tribble 08-08-05, 10:51 PM	Is there some sort of bird that dwarfs even a roc? Some kind of thunderbird or dire eagle or something? I'm working on a deity of the Spirit World, and was wanting to apply the Spirit Animal template to a really huge animal for its Herald, as all the other Heralds are at least 20th level or so.
Tevish Szat 08-08-05, 10:59 PM	A roc is big... but i believe the biggest bird-like creature in D&D is the Chaos Roc, weighign in at Colossal, and tougher than its standard cousin. Monster Manual 2.
The Vorpal Tribble 08-08-05, 11:10 PM	Aye, looked over the chaos roc but though its appropriately high leveled (CR of 22 :mymy: ) its intelligence is only 2, which means it can't be much of a herald. I think I'll probably use the Behemoth Eagle from the Epic Level Handbook. Its only 18th level, but that should work fine. Its got an intelligence of 17 and that should be plenty high ;)
Tevish Szat 08-08-05, 11:20 PM	and what says ye cannot enhance THIS chaos roc's int if ye want? eh... its a fair bit of work, i imagine...
The Vorpal Tribble 08-08-05, 11:36 PM	Aye, thats so I suppose. His favorite herald can be a chaos roc and his planar allies leskylors, moon dogs, and behemoth eagles. Looks good to me. Btw, wheres that 'awakened animal' template to be found?
Tevish Szat 08-08-05, 11:55 PM	um... I think its Savage Species. that's one of the few books i don't own, but i recall it beign related to both anthro and awakened animals.
The Vorpal Tribble 08-09-05, 12:13 AM	Oh, bleh, never mind then, not gonna bother with that book ;)
Borris 08-09-05, 12:30 AM	The thing with the Spirit Animal template (which is from Frostburn) is that it can only be applied to an animal. And all animals have an intelligence score of 1 or 2. If it look like an animal but have a higher intelligence, then it's most likely a magical beast, like the giant eagle and owl or the worg. Since you're asking, there is a Thunderbird monster in Sandstorm. It's a huge CR 12 magical beast with Int 12, but you could advance it from 15 HD to 33 HD in order to make it gargantuan and make it CR 18. Or you could make it CR 19 with 36 HD, CR 20 with 39 HD, etc.
wi1dfire_b1ue 08-09-05, 01:50 AM	Awakened Animal Template? Can't be too hard. I'll right it write now: HD: An awakened animal gains two bonus animal HD. It gains skills, feats, save and base attak bonus as normal for a creature advanced by hit die. Size and Type: Type changes to Magical beast (augmented animal). Do not recalculate skills, saves, hit points, or attack. An awakened creature cannot serve as an animal companion, as it is not an animal any longer. Abilities: Intelligence becomes 3d6, and Charisma gains +1d3. Otherwise, same as base creature. Skills: An animal gains 2 x (2 + its intelligence bonus) skill points due to it's increased HD. Any skills listed in it's entry, or are class skills for the awakening spellcaster, are considered class skills. All other skills are cross-class. Languages: An awakened animal speaks one language of the awakening caster, plus one additional language per point of its intelligence bonus. Environment: As base creature. Advancement: By class level. Usually this is ranger or druid, but the DM shoud take into account an individual animal's talents and decide. For instance, a badger's favored class is barbarian, while an horse's might be fighter, and wolverines would favor paladin. Alignment: Same as awakening caster. Level Adjustment: Same as the base HD +0. At the DM's option, an awakened animal may trade it's two bonus HD for a class level in a PC class, or two levels of NPC. (Stuff in bold is my own fancy. Feel free to ignore it.) Example Creature-Scoppio the Badger: Small Magical beast (Augmented animal) Hit Dice: 3d8+6 (19 hp) Initiative: +3 Speed: 30 ft. (6 squares), burrow 10 ft. Armor Class: 15 (+1 size, +3 Dex, +1 natural), touch 14, flat-footed 12 Base Attack/Grapple: +2/–3 Attack: Claw +6 melee (1d2–1) Full Attack: 2 claws +6 melee (1d2–1) and bite +4 melee (1d3–1) Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft. Special Attacks: Rage Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent Saves: Fort +5, Ref +6, Will +2 Abilities: Str 8, Dex 17, Con 15, Int 10, Wis 12, Cha 8 Skills: Escape Artist +7, Listen +5, Spot +5 Feats: TrackB, Weapon Finesse, Multiattack Environment: Temperate forests Organization: Solitary Challenge Rating: 1 Advancement: By class level Level Adjustment: — Scoppio is a furry animal with a squat, powerful body. His strong forelimbs are armed with long claws for digging. He's 3 feet long and weighs 34 pounds. Combat Scoppio attacks with his sharp claws and teeth. Rage (Ex): A badger that takes damage in combat flies into a berserk rage on its next turn, clawing and biting madly until either it or its opponent is dead. It gains +4 to Strength, +4 to Constitution, and –2 to Armor Class. Unlike most bagers, Scoppio may attempt to end his rage voluntarily, but it requires a DC 20 Will save. Skills: Scoppio has a +4 racial bonus on Escape Artist checks. Scoppio's favored skill is barbarian.
Echoes of Deception 08-09-05, 05:10 AM	Since, we're alerady looking at an Epic creature, add the paragon template to the Chaos Roc. Inelligence issue solved. And, since it is a paragon, it would not be unreasonable to make it 1/4th bigger or so. Or, you could make it a Legendary Chaos Roc. That's still an animal, too, but I don't know where the Legendary template is.
Echoes of Deception 08-09-05, 05:11 AM	Since we're already looking at an Epic creature, add the paragon template to the Chaos Roc. Intelligence issue solved. And, since it is a paragon, it would not be unreasonable to make it 1/4th bigger or so. Or, you could make it a Legendary Chaos Roc. That's still an animal, too, but I don't know where the Legendary template is. I do know as a rule, though, Legendary creatures are giant compared to their un-Legendary cousins. This is, if the Chaos Roc is still an animal, I don't know, because I don't have that book.
The Vorpal Tribble 08-09-05, 09:16 AM	I just needed a creature around 20th level for the herald of the god, and the chaos roc is CR 22, so I don't need it any more powerful ;)
The Vorpal Tribble 08-09-05, 01:05 PM	However, thanks for pointing out to me the paragon template. Making this guy's herald a roc paragon. Big ole beasty :evillaugh