Cryosaurs [Archive] - Wizards Community - Pages Merged by Solauren

Cryosaurs [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Rohano
11-04-06, 12:05 AM I was putting together some ideas for creatures that have extraordinary breath weapons and I drew up a lizard thing that breathes liquid nitrogen. You might think I based it on the pygmy pyrosaur (which I statted to d20 from mtg, link in sig somewhere) but I didn't. I started from scratch but I'm still not very used to statting monsters.
I originally called these things "nitrosaurs" but I decided on "cryosaurs" for now.
I don't use any of those silly acronyms as I ask people to criticize my work but please... Constructive criticism only. If you want to yell and get mad and call me a complete retard, you can do that in a PM or something and I can dig that. ;)

Cryosaurs
Cryosaurs are pudgy raptor-like lizards walking on two legs with underdeveloped forlegs that are known for their blue colorations, their cliffside nests and their very disturbing ability to spit liquid nitrogen. No one's quite sure how they came to spit liquid nitrogen but gnomish biologists from the arctic hypothesize that a disturbed arctic wizard may have created the cryosaurs centuries ago. The cryosaurs are not common and different family groups rarely meet. A cryosaur typically lives in its parents' nest until growing to full size (the hatchlings mature in slightly more than a year for the larger varities, in only two weeks for the miniature variety), at that point simply choosing a direction and walking away, never to return after choosing its own nesting place. Evil alchemists in arctic areas typically build fences around cliffs that nest cryosaurs, occasionally attacking them to harvest their precious secretions. To gather liquid nitrogen from cryosaurs, they must be subdued and the gatherer must make a Heal check at DC 12 to massage the glands and collect the nitrogen in a vial. A cryosaur only has as much nitrogen as it had uses left for the day, and the potency of the collected nitrogen is equal to the damage of its breath weapon. One use/day of nitrogen fills a single vial.

Cryosaur, Miniature
Tiny Animal
Hit Dice: 1d8 (4 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 20, Climb 20
Armor Class: 13 (+2 size, +1 Dex), touch 13, flat-footed 12
Base Attack: +0
Attack: Bite -2 melee (1d4–2)
Full Attack: Bite -2 melee (1d4–2)
Space/Reach: 2-1/2 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: Line of Liquid Nitrogen
Special Qualities: Low-light vision
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +3, Will -2
Abilities: Str 7, Dex 13, Con 10, Int 1, Wis 6, Cha 2
Skills: Balance +1, Climb +6, Hide +3, Listen 0, Spot -2, Swim 0
Feats: Athletic
Environment: Cold hills, cold mountains
Organization: Solitary, pair or nest (4-9)
Challenge Rating: 1/2
Advancement: -
Level Adjustment: -
The miniature cryosaur is an offshoot species of the regular cryosaur, small creatures resembling pudgy tyrannosaurs. They're typically blue in color but can range from aqua to purple to almost black. Gnome biologists hypothesize that the miniature cryosaurs can be trained and ridden as war mounts but a rider would need to be miniscule or fine to ride them. Miniature cryosaurs do not grow larger than tiny.
Combat
Cryosaurs don't usually wander far from their nests in the cliffs of cool hills and mountains but when confronted with a foe they typically spit liquid nitrogen and retreat, only biting when engaged in melee battle.
Line of Liquid Nitrogen (Ex): Twice per day a miniature cryosaur can, as a standard action, eject a 10' line of liquid nitrogen from glands in its mouth. Victims may make a reflex save against a DC of 12 to evade the fluid. Struck victims take 1d6 cold damage.
Skills: Miniature cryosaurs have a +6 racial bonus on Climb checks.

Cryosaur
Small Animal
Hit Dice: 1d8 (4 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 30
Armor Class: 12 (+1 size, +1 Dex), touch 12, flat-footed 11
Base Attack: +0
Attack: Bite -1 melee (1d6–1)
Full Attack: Bite -1 melee (1d6–1)
Space/Reach: 5/5
Special Attacks: Line of Liquid Nitrogen
Special Qualities: Low-light vision
Saves: Fort +1, Ref +3, Will -2
Abilities: Str 9, Dex 13, Con 9, Int 1, Wis 6, Cha 2
Skills: Balance +1, Climb +1, Hide +3, Listen 0, Spot -2, Swim +1
Feats: Athletic
Environment: Cold hills
Organization: Solitary, pair or nest (3-6)
Challenge Rating: 1/2
Advancement: -
Level Adjustment: -
The cryosaurs are small creatures resembling pudgy tyrannosaurs. They're typically blue in color but can range from aqua to purple to almost black. Cryosaurs are the most common of several breeds of the same species. Cryosaurs do not grow larger than small.
Combat
Cryosaurs don't usually wander far from their nests at the bases of cliffs on cool hills and mountains but when confronted with a foe they typically spit liquid nitrogen and retreat, only biting when engaged in melee battle.
Line of Liquid Nitrogen (Ex): Twice per day a cryosaur can, as a standard action, eject a 15' line of liquid nitrogen from glands in its mouth. Victims may make a reflex save against a DC of 14 to take half damage. Struck victims take 1d8 cold damage.

Cryosaur, Greater
Medium Animal
Hit Dice: 2d8 (8 hp)
Initiative: +1
Speed: 30
Armor Class: 11 (+1 Dex), touch 11, flat-footed 10
Base Attack: +1
Attack: Bite +1 melee (1d8+0)
Full Attack: Bite +1 melee (1d8+0)
Space/Reach: 5/5
Special Attacks: Line of Liquid Nitrogen
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, Cold Resistance 5
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +4, Will -2
Abilities: Str 11, Dex 13, Con 11, Int 1, Wis 6, Cha 2
Skills: Balance +1, Climb +2, Hide +3, Listen 0, Spot -1, Swim +2
Feats: Athletic
Environment: Cold hills
Organization: Solitary, pair or nest (3-6)
Challenge Rating: 2
Advancement: -
Level Adjustment: -
Greater cryosaurs are pony-sized creatures resembling pudgy tyrannosaurs. They're typically blue in color but can range from aqua to purple to almost black. Greater cryosaurs are the rarest natural breed of the same species. Greater cryosaurs do not grow larger than medium.
Combat
Cryosaurs don't usually wander far from their nests at the bases of cliffs on cool hills and mountains but when confronted with a foe they typically spit liquid nitrogen and retreat, only biting when engaged in melee battle.
Line of Liquid Nitrogen (Ex): Twice per day a greater cryosaur can, as a standard action, eject a 20' line of liquid nitrogen from glands in its mouth. Victims may make a reflex save against a DC of 16 to take half damage. Struck victims take 2d6 cold damage.

Cryosaur, Coldhate
Large Animal
Hit Dice: 4d8 (16 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 40
Armor Class: 11 (+1 Dex, +1 natural, -1 size), touch 11, flat-footed 10
Base Attack: +3
Attack: Bite +7 melee (2d6+4) or 2 claws +7 melee (1d4+4)
Full Attack: Bite +7 melee (2d6+4) and 2 claws +7 melee (1d4+4)
Space/Reach: 5/5
Special Attacks: Cone of Liquid Nitrogen
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, Cold Resistance 10
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +6, Will -2
Abilities: Str 18, Dex 15, Con 11, Int 1, Wis 6, Cha 2
Skills: Balance +3, Climb +6, Hide +4, Listen 0, Spot 0, Swim +6
Feats: Athletic, Lightning Reflexes
Environment: Cold mountains
Organization: Solitary, pair or nest (3-6)
Challenge Rating: 5
Advancement: -
Level Adjustment: -
Coldhate cryosaurs are horse-sized creatures resembling pudgy tyrannosaurs. They're typically blue in color but can range from aqua to purple to almost black, and usually have spines growing along their jaws and forelimbs. Coldhate cryosaurs are considered by biologists to be unnatural, probably created by some kind of wild magic interference with greater cryosaurs. Coldhate cryosaurs do not grow larger than large.
Combat
Coldhate cryosaurs often wander far from their nests at the bases of cliffs in frozen regions and when confronted with a foe they typically spit liquid nitrogen and leap upon their prey, thrashing wildly. The coldhate variety of cryosaurs feature the only true "hunters" of the species, and often hunt creatures larger than themselves. They feast similar to predatory cats, fighting over kills, the strongest cryosaur eating its fill then leaving the rest to its peers and family. Female cryosaurs only take prey back to their nests when their offspring are still unable to hunt for themselves during the first year of life.
Cone of Liquid Nitrogen (Ex): Twice per day a greater cryosaur can, as a standard action, eject a 25' cone of liquid nitrogen from glands in its mouth. Victims may make a reflex save against a DC of 18 to take half damage. Struck victims take 4d6 cold damage.

Cryosaur, Dire
Huge Animal
Hit Dice: 6d8 (24 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 40
Armor Class: 13 (+2 Dex, +2 natural, -2 size), touch 13, flat-footed 11
Base Attack: +4
Attack: Bite +9 melee (2d6+5) and 2 claws +9 melee (1d6+5)
Full Attack: Bite +9 melee (2d6+5) and 2 claws +9 melee (1d6+5)
Space/Reach: 10/5
Special Attacks: Cone of Liquid Nitrogen
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, Cold Resistance 10
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +7, Will -1
Abilities: Str 20, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 1, Wis 6, Cha 2
Skills: Balance +4, Climb +8, Hide +4, Listen +3, Spot +2, Swim +8
Feats: Athletic, Lightning Reflexes, Alertness
Environment: Anywhere cold
Organization: Solitary, pair or nest (2 and 3-6 greater cryosaurs)
Challenge Rating: 7
Treasure: 1/2 standard
Advancement: -
Level Adjustment: -
Dire cryosaurs are horse-sized creatures resembling pudgy tyrannosaurs. They're typically blue in color but can range from aqua to purple to almost black, with black spines growing along their jaws, forelimbs and tails. Dire cryosaurs have long talons and long fangs.
Combat
Dire cryosaurs often wander far from their nests at the bases of cliffs in frozen regions and when confronted with a foe they typically spit liquid nitrogen and leap upon their prey, thrashing wildly. They feast similar to predatory cats, fighting over kills, the strongest cryosaur eating its fill then leaving the rest to its peers and family. Female dire cryosaurs only take prey back to their nests when their offspring are still unable to hunt for themselves during the first year of life.
Cone of Liquid Nitrogen (Ex): Twice per day a greater cryosaur can, as a standard action, eject a 25' cone of liquid nitrogen from glands in its mouth. Victims may make a reflex save against a DC of 20 to take half damage. Struck victims take 6d6 cold damage.

Upcoming breeds in the 'cryosaur' line:
Legendary Cryosaur
I might make a few cryosaurs that are templated but you all can apply templates without my help, right?
I didn't use any of the dire templates floating around for the dire cryosaur because I haven't found one that I like yet. I will do the pet stats soon (training and egg prices, etc.) and probably add more on cryosaur family/nest communities at that time.
RavinRay
11-04-06, 06:22 PM Um, does it imply that because the breath weapon uses liquid nitrogen (or the equivalent of liquid nitrogen in a fantasy setting), the cold damage is greater than that for other cold-based breath weapons? There's a feat in Frostburn (and a analogous feat in Sandstorm) that allows cold damage to affect even creatures immune to cold. Maybe your lizard can have something like that.
Rohano
11-05-06, 08:04 PM No, I didn't mean to imply that.
Cold damage doesn't affect cold-immune creatures in any of my campaigns unless I were to make up a cold equivalent to Hellfire (the fire damage that isn't fire damage! huzzah!).
However, if anyone ever plays an awakened cryosaur, they'd be welcome to take a feat like that if they wanna chill out the ice people.
Rohano
11-05-06, 10:51 PM I revised the existing entries with a few details and added 3 more varieties. I'll get to the training information sometime soon, I swear!

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Rohano 11-04-06, 12:05 AM	I was putting together some ideas for creatures that have extraordinary breath weapons and I drew up a lizard thing that breathes liquid nitrogen. You might think I based it on the pygmy pyrosaur (which I statted to d20 from mtg, link in sig somewhere) but I didn't. I started from scratch but I'm still not very used to statting monsters. I originally called these things "nitrosaurs" but I decided on "cryosaurs" for now. I don't use any of those silly acronyms as I ask people to criticize my work but please... Constructive criticism only. If you want to yell and get mad and call me a complete retard, you can do that in a PM or something and I can dig that. ;) Cryosaurs Cryosaurs are pudgy raptor-like lizards walking on two legs with underdeveloped forlegs that are known for their blue colorations, their cliffside nests and their very disturbing ability to spit liquid nitrogen. No one's quite sure how they came to spit liquid nitrogen but gnomish biologists from the arctic hypothesize that a disturbed arctic wizard may have created the cryosaurs centuries ago. The cryosaurs are not common and different family groups rarely meet. A cryosaur typically lives in its parents' nest until growing to full size (the hatchlings mature in slightly more than a year for the larger varities, in only two weeks for the miniature variety), at that point simply choosing a direction and walking away, never to return after choosing its own nesting place. Evil alchemists in arctic areas typically build fences around cliffs that nest cryosaurs, occasionally attacking them to harvest their precious secretions. To gather liquid nitrogen from cryosaurs, they must be subdued and the gatherer must make a Heal check at DC 12 to massage the glands and collect the nitrogen in a vial. A cryosaur only has as much nitrogen as it had uses left for the day, and the potency of the collected nitrogen is equal to the damage of its breath weapon. One use/day of nitrogen fills a single vial. Cryosaur, Miniature Tiny Animal Hit Dice: 1d8 (4 hp) Initiative: +1 Speed: 20, Climb 20 Armor Class: 13 (+2 size, +1 Dex), touch 13, flat-footed 12 Base Attack: +0 Attack: Bite -2 melee (1d4–2) Full Attack: Bite -2 melee (1d4–2) Space/Reach: 2-1/2 ft./0 ft. Special Attacks: Line of Liquid Nitrogen Special Qualities: Low-light vision Saves: Fort +2, Ref +3, Will -2 Abilities: Str 7, Dex 13, Con 10, Int 1, Wis 6, Cha 2 Skills: Balance +1, Climb +6, Hide +3, Listen 0, Spot -2, Swim 0 Feats: Athletic Environment: Cold hills, cold mountains Organization: Solitary, pair or nest (4-9) Challenge Rating: 1/2 Advancement: - Level Adjustment: - The miniature cryosaur is an offshoot species of the regular cryosaur, small creatures resembling pudgy tyrannosaurs. They're typically blue in color but can range from aqua to purple to almost black. Gnome biologists hypothesize that the miniature cryosaurs can be trained and ridden as war mounts but a rider would need to be miniscule or fine to ride them. Miniature cryosaurs do not grow larger than tiny. Combat Cryosaurs don't usually wander far from their nests in the cliffs of cool hills and mountains but when confronted with a foe they typically spit liquid nitrogen and retreat, only biting when engaged in melee battle. Line of Liquid Nitrogen (Ex): Twice per day a miniature cryosaur can, as a standard action, eject a 10' line of liquid nitrogen from glands in its mouth. Victims may make a reflex save against a DC of 12 to evade the fluid. Struck victims take 1d6 cold damage. Skills: Miniature cryosaurs have a +6 racial bonus on Climb checks. Cryosaur Small Animal Hit Dice: 1d8 (4 hp) Initiative: +1 Speed: 30 Armor Class: 12 (+1 size, +1 Dex), touch 12, flat-footed 11 Base Attack: +0 Attack: Bite -1 melee (1d6–1) Full Attack: Bite -1 melee (1d6–1) Space/Reach: 5/5 Special Attacks: Line of Liquid Nitrogen Special Qualities: Low-light vision Saves: Fort +1, Ref +3, Will -2 Abilities: Str 9, Dex 13, Con 9, Int 1, Wis 6, Cha 2 Skills: Balance +1, Climb +1, Hide +3, Listen 0, Spot -2, Swim +1 Feats: Athletic Environment: Cold hills Organization: Solitary, pair or nest (3-6) Challenge Rating: 1/2 Advancement: - Level Adjustment: - The cryosaurs are small creatures resembling pudgy tyrannosaurs. They're typically blue in color but can range from aqua to purple to almost black. Cryosaurs are the most common of several breeds of the same species. Cryosaurs do not grow larger than small. Combat Cryosaurs don't usually wander far from their nests at the bases of cliffs on cool hills and mountains but when confronted with a foe they typically spit liquid nitrogen and retreat, only biting when engaged in melee battle. Line of Liquid Nitrogen (Ex): Twice per day a cryosaur can, as a standard action, eject a 15' line of liquid nitrogen from glands in its mouth. Victims may make a reflex save against a DC of 14 to take half damage. Struck victims take 1d8 cold damage. Cryosaur, Greater Medium Animal Hit Dice: 2d8 (8 hp) Initiative: +1 Speed: 30 Armor Class: 11 (+1 Dex), touch 11, flat-footed 10 Base Attack: +1 Attack: Bite +1 melee (1d8+0) Full Attack: Bite +1 melee (1d8+0) Space/Reach: 5/5 Special Attacks: Line of Liquid Nitrogen Special Qualities: Low-light vision, Cold Resistance 5 Saves: Fort +3, Ref +4, Will -2 Abilities: Str 11, Dex 13, Con 11, Int 1, Wis 6, Cha 2 Skills: Balance +1, Climb +2, Hide +3, Listen 0, Spot -1, Swim +2 Feats: Athletic Environment: Cold hills Organization: Solitary, pair or nest (3-6) Challenge Rating: 2 Advancement: - Level Adjustment: - Greater cryosaurs are pony-sized creatures resembling pudgy tyrannosaurs. They're typically blue in color but can range from aqua to purple to almost black. Greater cryosaurs are the rarest natural breed of the same species. Greater cryosaurs do not grow larger than medium. Combat Cryosaurs don't usually wander far from their nests at the bases of cliffs on cool hills and mountains but when confronted with a foe they typically spit liquid nitrogen and retreat, only biting when engaged in melee battle. Line of Liquid Nitrogen (Ex): Twice per day a greater cryosaur can, as a standard action, eject a 20' line of liquid nitrogen from glands in its mouth. Victims may make a reflex save against a DC of 16 to take half damage. Struck victims take 2d6 cold damage. Cryosaur, Coldhate Large Animal Hit Dice: 4d8 (16 hp) Initiative: +2 Speed: 40 Armor Class: 11 (+1 Dex, +1 natural, -1 size), touch 11, flat-footed 10 Base Attack: +3 Attack: Bite +7 melee (2d6+4) or 2 claws +7 melee (1d4+4) Full Attack: Bite +7 melee (2d6+4) and 2 claws +7 melee (1d4+4) Space/Reach: 5/5 Special Attacks: Cone of Liquid Nitrogen Special Qualities: Low-light vision, Cold Resistance 10 Saves: Fort +3, Ref +6, Will -2 Abilities: Str 18, Dex 15, Con 11, Int 1, Wis 6, Cha 2 Skills: Balance +3, Climb +6, Hide +4, Listen 0, Spot 0, Swim +6 Feats: Athletic, Lightning Reflexes Environment: Cold mountains Organization: Solitary, pair or nest (3-6) Challenge Rating: 5 Advancement: - Level Adjustment: - Coldhate cryosaurs are horse-sized creatures resembling pudgy tyrannosaurs. They're typically blue in color but can range from aqua to purple to almost black, and usually have spines growing along their jaws and forelimbs. Coldhate cryosaurs are considered by biologists to be unnatural, probably created by some kind of wild magic interference with greater cryosaurs. Coldhate cryosaurs do not grow larger than large. Combat Coldhate cryosaurs often wander far from their nests at the bases of cliffs in frozen regions and when confronted with a foe they typically spit liquid nitrogen and leap upon their prey, thrashing wildly. The coldhate variety of cryosaurs feature the only true "hunters" of the species, and often hunt creatures larger than themselves. They feast similar to predatory cats, fighting over kills, the strongest cryosaur eating its fill then leaving the rest to its peers and family. Female cryosaurs only take prey back to their nests when their offspring are still unable to hunt for themselves during the first year of life. Cone of Liquid Nitrogen (Ex): Twice per day a greater cryosaur can, as a standard action, eject a 25' cone of liquid nitrogen from glands in its mouth. Victims may make a reflex save against a DC of 18 to take half damage. Struck victims take 4d6 cold damage. Cryosaur, Dire Huge Animal Hit Dice: 6d8 (24 hp) Initiative: +2 Speed: 40 Armor Class: 13 (+2 Dex, +2 natural, -2 size), touch 13, flat-footed 11 Base Attack: +4 Attack: Bite +9 melee (2d6+5) and 2 claws +9 melee (1d6+5) Full Attack: Bite +9 melee (2d6+5) and 2 claws +9 melee (1d6+5) Space/Reach: 10/5 Special Attacks: Cone of Liquid Nitrogen Special Qualities: Low-light vision, Cold Resistance 10 Saves: Fort +5, Ref +7, Will -1 Abilities: Str 20, Dex 15, Con 13, Int 1, Wis 6, Cha 2 Skills: Balance +4, Climb +8, Hide +4, Listen +3, Spot +2, Swim +8 Feats: Athletic, Lightning Reflexes, Alertness Environment: Anywhere cold Organization: Solitary, pair or nest (2 and 3-6 greater cryosaurs) Challenge Rating: 7 Treasure: 1/2 standard Advancement: - Level Adjustment: - Dire cryosaurs are horse-sized creatures resembling pudgy tyrannosaurs. They're typically blue in color but can range from aqua to purple to almost black, with black spines growing along their jaws, forelimbs and tails. Dire cryosaurs have long talons and long fangs. Combat Dire cryosaurs often wander far from their nests at the bases of cliffs in frozen regions and when confronted with a foe they typically spit liquid nitrogen and leap upon their prey, thrashing wildly. They feast similar to predatory cats, fighting over kills, the strongest cryosaur eating its fill then leaving the rest to its peers and family. Female dire cryosaurs only take prey back to their nests when their offspring are still unable to hunt for themselves during the first year of life. Cone of Liquid Nitrogen (Ex): Twice per day a greater cryosaur can, as a standard action, eject a 25' cone of liquid nitrogen from glands in its mouth. Victims may make a reflex save against a DC of 20 to take half damage. Struck victims take 6d6 cold damage. Upcoming breeds in the 'cryosaur' line: Legendary Cryosaur I might make a few cryosaurs that are templated but you all can apply templates without my help, right? I didn't use any of the dire templates floating around for the dire cryosaur because I haven't found one that I like yet. I will do the pet stats soon (training and egg prices, etc.) and probably add more on cryosaur family/nest communities at that time.
RavinRay 11-04-06, 06:22 PM	Um, does it imply that because the breath weapon uses liquid nitrogen (or the equivalent of liquid nitrogen in a fantasy setting), the cold damage is greater than that for other cold-based breath weapons? There's a feat in Frostburn (and a analogous feat in Sandstorm) that allows cold damage to affect even creatures immune to cold. Maybe your lizard can have something like that.
Rohano 11-05-06, 08:04 PM	No, I didn't mean to imply that. Cold damage doesn't affect cold-immune creatures in any of my campaigns unless I were to make up a cold equivalent to Hellfire (the fire damage that isn't fire damage! huzzah!). However, if anyone ever plays an awakened cryosaur, they'd be welcome to take a feat like that if they wanna chill out the ice people.
Rohano 11-05-06, 10:51 PM	I revised the existing entries with a few details and added 3 more varieties. I'll get to the training information sometime soon, I swear!