Lightweight Carnosaurs (Coelophysoids)
Coelophysoids and other Lightweight Carnosaurs
The Coelophysidae are a primitive group of predatory dinosaurs with a particularly lightweight built. Their stats could be used for any modest sized carnivorous dinosaurs with a similar build - shortish arms, slim and light body, long necks and small heads - although some such creatures, such as Compsognathus, are advanced enough they should really have slightly modified stats.
I've included poisonous variants of some Coelophysoids, inspired by the Jurassic Park novels which made several members of this group (Procompsognathus and Dilophosaurus) venomous. While there is absolutely no evidence for this trait, it makes for an interesting ability, so I thought it worth having stats for them.
Coelophysis
Late Triassic (225-210 MYA)
Small Animal
Hit Dice: 1d8 (4 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 50 ft. (10 squares)
Armor Class: 15 (+1 size, +3 Dex, +1 natural), touch 14, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/–5
Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d4-1)
Full Attack: Bite +4 melee (1d4-1) and 2 claws –1 melee (1d2-1)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: — (Poison?)
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +1
Abilities: Str 9, Dex 17, Con 10, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 10
Skills: Hide +8, Listen +5, Spot +5, Survival +5
Feats: Endurance, Track(B), Weapon Finesse(B)
Environment: Warm forests or plains
Organization: Solitary, pair, pack (3-12) or flock (10-60)
Challenge Rating: 1/3
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 2 HD (Small); 3 HD (Medium)
Level Adjustment: —
A small bipedal dinosaur with lean legs and short arms, with a very long tail more than half its entire length, a slim body and long, S-curved neck. Its smallish, narrow head is as whippet-thin as the rest of its body, with large eyes and jaws full of slicing teeth.
Coelophysis is one of the earliest known dinosaurs. They have an extremely light build, with hollow bones to save weight, making them fragile but remarkably swift. They are opportunistic hunters and scavengers, roaming the land in search of carrion or vulnerable prey. A lone Coelophysis rarely preys on anything larger than a lizard, but these animals often congregate in flocks, and have been known to bring down victims of considerable size by swarming over them.
A group of Coelophysis does not have a leadership hierarchy as such, they move in concert through a flocking instinct. It may appear that the biggest, oldest Coelophysis have a commanding role in the flock, but this is simply because their greater experience means they are most likely to spot potential food first, and are strong enough to push to the front in order to reach it.
Despite their delicate appearance these are fairly resilient little creatures, able to survive in harsh condition. There are claims they will sometimes resort to cannibalism of their own young.
The above statistics represent an adolescent or young adult Coelophysis. In a typical population, there is a 2 Hit Dice mature adult for every four such young adults, and a 3 Hit Dice elder Coelophysis for every twenty young adults. Depending on how recent and successful the breeding season was, there may be additional ½HD Tiny juveniles equal in number to the young adults or a greater number of Diminutive or Fine sized hatchlings. See below for typical stats for such creatures.
A young adult Coelophysis is 5 or 6 feet long, weighing about 10 pounds.
Combat
When fighting an opponent near its own size, a Coelophysis will instinctively try to circle around to bite its foe from the flanks. A flock of Coelophysis will cooperate to attack prey but do not coordinate tactics beyond rushing in en masse to bite a wounded or otherwise vulnerable victim.
[Poison (Ex): If you choose to use the venomous Coelophysoid option, the Coelophysis has a poisonous bite that does 1d3 Strength damage as both initial and secondary damage, with a DC10 Fortitude save. Coelophysis venom is painful and debilitating, but rarely fatal – assuming the dinosaurs don't eat you while you're helpless. The save DC is Constitution-based.
A venomous Coelophysis has a Challenge Rating of 1/2 ?]
Skills
A Coelophysis has a +4 racial bonus on Listen, Spot, and Survival checks.
Coelophysis, Mature Adult
Small Animal
Hit Dice: 2d8 (9 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 50 ft. (10 squares)
Armor Class: 15 (+1 size, +3 Dex, +1 natural), touch 14, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/–3
Attack: Bite +5 melee (1d4)
Full Attack: Bite +5 melee (1d4) and 2 claws +0 melee (1d2)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: — [Poison? [DC11, 1d3 Str]?]
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +3, Ref +6, Will +1
Abilities: Str 11, Dex 17, Con 10, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 10
Skills: Hide +8, Listen +5, Spot +6, Survival +5
Feats: Endurance, Track(B), Weapon Finesse(B)
Environment: Warm forests or plains
Organization: Solitary, pair, pack (3-12) or flock (10-60)
Challenge Rating: 1/2 [CR1 with poison?]
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: —
Level Adjustment: —
A mature adult Coelophysis is from 7 to 8 feet long and weighs about 30 pounds.
Coelophysis, Big
Medium Animal
Hit Dice: 3d8+3 (16 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 50 ft. (10 squares)
Armor Class: 15 (+3 Dex, +2 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +2/+3
Attack: Bite +5 melee (1d6+1)
Full Attack: Bite +5 melee (1d6+1) and 2 claws +0 melee (1d3)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: — [Poison? [DC12, 1d4 Str]?]
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +2
Abilities: Str 13, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 10
Skills: Hide +5, Listen +7, Spot +8, Survival +6
Feats: Alertness, Endurance, Track(B), Weapon Finesse(B)
Environment: Warm forests or plains
Organization: Solitary, pair, pack (3-12) or flock (10-60)
Challenge Rating: 1 (CR2 with poison?)
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: —
Level Adjustment: —
These are simply Coelophysis that have lived long enough to grow to unusual size.
A big Coelophysis is about 10 feet long and 60 pounds or so, they stand roughly a yard tall.
Coelophysis, Juvenile
Tiny Animal
Hit Dice: ½d8 (2 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 50 ft. (10 squares)
Armor Class: 15 (+2 size, +3 Dex), touch 15, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/–10
Attack: Bite +5 melee (1d3-2)
Full Attack: Bite +5 melee (1d3-2)
Space/Reach: 2½ ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: — [Poison? [DC10, 1d2 Str]?]
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +1
Abilities: Str 6, Dex 17, Con 10, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 10
Skills: Hide +12, Listen +5, Spot +5, Survival +5
Feats: Endurance, Track(B), Weapon Finesse(B)
Environment: Warm forests or plains
Organization: Solitary, pair, pack (3-12) or flock (10-60) or swarm (see below)
Challenge Rating: 1/8 [CR 1/4 with poison?]
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: —
Level Adjustment: —
The above represents a juvenile Coelophysis aged about a year or less. The same stats could be used in a pinch for other tiny-sized lightweight theropods such as Procompsognathus from the Late Triassic (220-210 MYA) or Compsognathus from the Late Jurassic (150 MYA). However, while Procompsognathus is likely to be a Coelophysoid, Compsognathus is not, being a Coelurosaur. It probably deserves somewhat tweaked stats, as given below.
A typical juvenile Coelophysis is 4-5 feet long and weighs 5-6 pounds or so.
Coelophysis Swarm
Late Triassic (210 MYA)
Tiny Animal (Swarm)
Hit Dice: 9d8 (40 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 50 ft. (10 squares)
Armor Class: 15 (+2 size, +3 Dex), touch 15, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +6/–
Attack: Swarm (2d6)
Full Attack: Swarm (2d6)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: Distraction [Poison [DC14, 1d6 Str]?]
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +11, Will +6
Abilities: Str 6, Dex 17, Con 10, Int 1, Wis 12, Cha 10
Skills: Hide +12, Listen +9, Spot +9, Survival +8
Feats: Lightning Reflexes, Endurance, Iron Will, Skill Focus (Survival), Track(B), Weapon Finesse(B)
Environment: Warm forests or plains
Organization: Solitary, pair, pack (3-12) or flock (10-60) or swarm (see below)
Challenge Rating: 4 [CR 5 with poison?]
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: —
Level Adjustment: —
A large number of infant Coelophysis flocking together for mutual protection and survival, they can strip a mid-sized prosauropod to the bone in a welter of little slashing teeth. Such a swarm can also be used for a flock of adult Procompsognathus as in the latter Jurassic Park films. Note that there is no scientific justification for hunting flocks of Procompsognathus, and although Coelophysis may have lived in flocks the fossilized groups were of a wide range of ages.
Combat
A Coelophysis swarm simply mobs any potential meal they see, fleeing if they suffer serious (25-50%) losses.
Distraction (Ex): Any living creature that begins its turn with a Coelophysis swarm in its space must succeed on a DC 14 Fortitude save or be nauseated for 1 round. The save DC is Constitution-based.
[Poison (Ex): If you choose to use the venomous Coelophysoid option, a Coelophysis swarm has a poisonous swarm-attack that does 1d6 Strength damage as both initial and secondary damage, with a DC14 Fortitude save. Coelophysis venom is painful and debilitating, but rarely fatal – assuming the dinosaurs don't eat you while you're helpless. The save DC is Constitution-based.
A venomous Coelophysis swarm has a Challenge Rating of 5 ?]
Skills
A Coelophysis swarm has a +4 racial bonus on Listen, Spot, and Survival checks.
Compsognathus
Late Jurassic (150-140 MYA)
Tiny Animal
Hit Dice: ½d8 (2 hp)
Initiative: +4
Speed: 60 ft. (12 squares)
Armor Class: 16 (+2 size, +4 Dex), touch 15, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +0/–10
Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d3-3)
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d3-3) and claws +6 melee (1d2-3)
Space/Reach: 2½ ft./0 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +2, Ref +5, Will +1
Abilities: Str 5, Dex 19, Con 10, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 10
Skills: Hide +13, Listen +6, Spot +6, Survival +5
Feats: Run, Track(B), Weapon Finesse(B)
Environment: Warm forests or plains
Organization: Solitary
Challenge Rating: 1/8
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: —
Level Adjustment: —
Compsognathus is an alert and (comparatively) intelligent little dinosaur with large eyes and a relatively big brain. It is particularly fond of eating lizards. They are lightweight and powerful for their size, making them incredibly fast animals.
A typical adult Compsognathus is about 4 feet long but only weighs 1 or 2 pounds.
Dilophosaurus
Early Jurassic (190-185 MYA)
Large Animal
Hit Dice: 6d8+18 (45 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 60 ft. (12 squares)
Armor Class: 16 (–1 size, +2 Dex, +5 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 14
Base Attack/Grapple: +4/+13
Attack: Bite +9 melee (1d8+5)
Full Attack: Bite +9 melee (1d8+5) and 2 claws +6 melee (1d4+2)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Improved grab
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +7, Will +3
Abilities: Str 21, Dex 15, Con 16, Int 1, Wis 13, Cha 10
Skills: Hide +9, Listen +8, Spot +8, Survival +5
Feats: Multiattack, Weapon Focus (bite), Run(B), Track
Environment: Warm forests or plains
Organization: Solitary or pair
Challenge Rating: 3
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 7-12 HD (Large)
Level Adjustment: —
A Dilophosaurus is a predatory dinosaur with a very slim, lightweight build. It has two long curved crests along its snout.
An adult Dilophosaurus stands about 5-6 feet tall, with a total length of 15-20 feet and an average weight around 600 pounds. A particularly large individual may weigh half a ton.
Combat
A Dilophosaurus seeks to grab hold of an opponent and tear it apart with their claws and teeth. They usually hunt prey smaller than themselves, relying on their impressive speed to chase down prey and escape their enemies.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a Dilophosaurus must hit with a claw or bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity.
Skills
A Dilophosaurus has a +4 racial bonus on Hide, Listen, Spot, and Survival checks.
Venomous Dilophosaurus (Fictional)
Early Jurassic (190-185 MYA)
Medium Animal
Hit Dice: 4d8+8 (26 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 50 ft. (10 squares)
Armor Class: 16 (+3 Dex, +3 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 13
Base Attack/Grapple: +3/+5
Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d6+2 plus poison) or spit +6 ranged touch (poison)
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (1d6+2 plus poison) and 2 claws +4 melee (1d3+1) or spit +14 ranged touch (poison)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Improved grab, poison, scare
Special Qualities: Low-light vision, scent
Saves: Fort +6, Ref +7, Will +3
Abilities: Str 15, Dex 17, Con 14, Int 2, Wis 15, Cha 12
Skills: Hide +8* [+16 in undergrowth], Intimidate +6, Listen +7, Move Silently +6, Spot +7, Survival +6
Feats: Multiattack, Ability Focus (poison), Track, Weapon Finesse(B)
Environment: Warm forests
Organization: Solitary or pair
Challenge Rating: 3
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 4-7 HD (Medium); 8-12 HD (Large)
Level Adjustment: —
A species of Dilophosaurus unknown to science, sometimes called Dilophosaurus nedryphagous by cryptozoologists ("Nedry-eating two-crested lizard"). As well as the twin curved head-crests of a regular Dilophosaurus, the venomous Dilophosaurus has an erectile ruff of skin supported by cartilaginous spines around the back of its head. This frill usually lies folded back against its neck, but the dinosaur can erect with great speed to startle or intimidate opponents with its bright patterns.
A typical venomous Dilophosaurus has a total length of 12 feet and weighs 120 pounds or so. They grow slowly throughout their adult live, so can reach twice that length and a weight of 1000 pounds.
Combat
A Dilophosaurus nedryphagous tries to stalk within spitting distance (literally!) of its prey and spit venom into their face, they then wait for their poison to take effect and try to eviscerate the blinded and weakened opponent. If threatened by an enemy of significant size they use their neck-frill in a bid to startle the enemy into hesitating in their attack, then spit in their face and flee, possibly returning to attack if their foe appears to be seriously poisoned.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, a Dilophosaurus must hit with a claw or bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity.
Poison (Ex): A venomous Dilophosaurus has poisonous spittle it uses to weaken and blind its prey.
Injury — bite, Fort DC16, initial and secondary damage 1d6 Str.
Spit — ranged touch, Fort DC16, initial damage dazzled for 2d4 minutes, secondary damage 1d4 Strength and blindness for 2d4 minutes.
Scare (Ex): As a move-equivalent action, a Dilophosaurus nedryphagous can erect its frill and shriek, this alone is usually sufficient to scare away foes or cause them to hesitate in their attacks (treat as a Intimidate check with a +6 bonus, including a +4 racial bonus).
As a standard action, the Dilophosaurus can focus this unsettling display on a single creature within 40 feet, producing an effect that resembles a cause fear spell from a 4th-level caster (Will DC 13 partial). Creatures with more Hit Dice than the Dilophosaurus are immune to this effect, as are other Dilophosaurus nedryphagous. If the subject succeeds on a Will save, it is shaken for 1 round, if it fails it is frightened for 1d4+1 rounds.
A creature that successfully saves against a venomous Dilophosaurus's scare ability cannot be affected again by the same dinosaur for 24 hours.
This is a mind-affecting fear effect. The save DC is Charisma-based.
Skills
A venomous Dilophosaurus has a +4 racial bonus on Hide, Intimidate, Listen, Spot, and Survival checks.
*Its racial bonus to Hide increases to +12 in thick undergrowth.
