Converting "Real World" Animals and Vermin

Cleon

Legend
Boobrie
Climate/Terrain: Temperate lakes
Frequency: Rare
Organization: Solitary
Activity Cycle: Day
Diet: Carnivore
Intelligence: Animal (1)
Treasure: (O, W)
Alignment: Nil
No. Appearing: 1-2
Armor Class: 7
Movement: 2, Fl 20, Sw 6
Hit Dice: 4 + 4
THAC0: 17
No. of Attacks: 1
Damage/Attack: 2d4 or 1d6
Special Attacks: Wing buffet
Special Defenses: Nil
Magic Resistance: Nil
Size: M (20’ wingspan)
Morale: Unsteady (5-7)
XP Value: 420

The boobrie is a giant bird, looking much like a loon or northern diver which has grown to the size of a man. It is completely black in color. It haunts the lakesides of western Scotland and supplements its diet of fish by devouring lambs and calves that stray too close to the waterside. It has been known to wait in ambush in the reeds by the side of a lake and attack anything the size of a sheep or smaller—including young children—which wanders within reach. Its call is harsh and loud and can carry for several miles.

Combat: The boobrie attacks with its 2-foot beak, and can also rear up to deliver a wing-buffet once every three rounds. The wing-buffet automatically hits any creature directly in front of the boobrie and not more than 5 feet away. It causes 1d6 damage, and the opponent must make a Dexterity ability check or be knocked down, dropping any hand-held items.

Habitat/Society: Boobries inhabit upland lakes in the more remote parts of northern and western Europe. In the spring they form pairs and build nests of floating vegetation which can be up to 20 feet across. They lay 1d4 eggs, and throughout the late spring and early summer they are busy gathering food for their young. Any treasure they have will be in the nest at this time of year, having been brought there on the bodies of human prey.

Ecology: Boobries eat fish and any mammals they can catch. They have no natural enemies other than dragons, wyverns, and other such monsters, and humans who often try to kill boobries to protect their livestock.

Originally appeared in HR3 - Celts Campaign Sourcebook (1992).

Avian - Boobrie
Climate/Terrain: Subtropical/Swamps
Frequency: Rare
Organization: Solitary
Activity Cycle: Day
Diet: Carnivore
Intelligence: Animal (1)
Treasure: Nil
Alignment: Neutral
No. Appearing: 1-2
Armor Class: 5
Movement: 15, Fl 15 (D)
Hit Dice: 9
THAC0: 11
No. of Attacks: 3
Damage/Attack: 1-6 (x2)/2-16
Special Attacks: Surprise
Special Defenses: Immune to poison
Magic Resistance: Nil
Size: L (12’ tall)
Morale: Steady (11-12)
XP Value: 2,000

Avians, whether magical or mundane in nature, are among the most interesting creatures ever to evolve. Their unique physiology sets them apart from all other life, and their grace and beauty have earned them a place of respect and adoration in the tales of many races.

Boobrie
The boobrie is a giant relative of the stork. Its origins are lost in mists of ancient time and arcane lore. Although some scholars suggest that there is a link between the boobrie and the roc, there seems to be little that the two species have in common (apart from their great size.)

An adult boobrie stands roughly 12 feet tall and may weigh as much as 300 pounds. Although its weight may seem low for such a huge creature, it is important to remember that this animal, like most fliers, is built very light. When a boobrie is threatened or comes across a creature too powerful for it to fight, it fluffs up its feathers to look even more imposing than it already is. When it does this, a number of long feathers on the back of the boobrie’s neck become erect, making it look as though the creature were two or three feet taller.

The boobrie stands on two long, slender legs. Its feet are split into four slender toes that stretch very wide to enable the creature to move quickly through marshes and swamps. Although these legs enable the creature to run at a very high speed, they are fairly weak when used in combat. A boobrie will hunt primarily with its beak, which is shaped much like that of a heron, with a hook like that of an eagle. In addition, its powerful jaw muscles and the sharp, serrated edge of its beak give it a vicious bite.

A boobrie’s diet is largely made up of giant catfish and other large denizens of the wetlands. On occasion, though, it hunts for other prey. When times are rough, the boobrie feeds on all manner of snakes, lizards, and, if it finds them, giant spiders. Its occasional dependence on a diet of creatures that can deliver a toxic bite has, over the centuries, caused the boobrie to develop an immunity to all manner of toxins.

When a boobrie hunts, it finds a grove of tall marsh grass or similar vegetation and slips into it. Once within its hunting blind, it remains perfectly still, often for hours at a time, until prey comes within sight. Then, with a speed which seems uncanny in such a large creature, it springs forth and attacks. When employing this means of ambush, a boobrie forces its opponents to suffer a -3 penalty to their surprise rolls.

If two boobrie are encountered, they are usually (75%) a mated pair. These adult boobries always have at least 5 hit points per Hit Die. If the boobries are not adults (25% chance), they are young with 4 or fewer hit points per Hit Die.

Originally appeared in MC11 - Monstrous Compendium Forgotten Realms Appendix (1991).
 

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Cleon

Legend
There's also the original 1st edition AD&D version from Monster Manual II, which is pretty much the same as the MC11 version.

BOOBRIE
FREQUENCY: Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-2
ARMOR CLASS: 5
MOVE: 15”/15” (MC: D)
HIT DICE: 9
% IN LAIR: Nil
TREASURE TYPE: Nil
NO. OF ATTACKS: 3
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-6/1-6/2-16
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Surprises 2 in 6
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Immune to poison
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Animal
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: L (12’ tall)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense: Nil/nil
LEVEL/XP VALUE: VI/900 + 12/hp

The gigantic boobrie resembles a smaller, marsh-dwelling relative of the roc. Its favorite foods, other than the huge marsh catfish, are humans and sheep. Its long legs permit fast running and easy movement through swampy ground, but its claws are relatively weak.

The boobrie's flight is slow. Its principal attack is by means of its long, hooked beak. These birds are totally immune to all forms of poison, and if favored forms of prey are not available they will eat snakes, lizards, and even spiders of sufficient size. They achieve surprise by crouching amidst tall grasses. If 2 are encountered they will be either a mated pair of adults (at least 5 points per hit die) or a pair of young (4 or fewer points per hit die).

A boobrie looks as if it were a huge heron with a beak resembling a cross between that of a heron and an eagle. There are a number of small, sharp teeth along the edges of the beak.

Originally appeared in Monster Manual II (1983).
 

freyar

Extradimensional Explorer
The MMII version seems to be missing the "puff up" ability of the MC11 version, but I see what you mean.

So: do a "celtic boobrie" and a standard or great boobrie? Start with the celtic one?
 

Cleon

Legend
The MMII version seems to be missing the "puff up" ability of the MC11 version, but I see what you mean.

So: do a "celtic boobrie" and a standard or great boobrie? Start with the celtic one?

I'd rather call the smaller version a "Black Boobrie" rather than refer to it by a real-world culture.

The Monster Manual II version was the original, so I think it deserves to go first. I'd "officially" call it a Boobrie but mention it's sometimes called the Great Boobrie in the background info.
 


Cleon

Legend
Sure, we can start the (great) boobrie first.

9HD Large Animal?

Yeah I would think so.

We could use the Creature Catalog's Giant Crane conversion as a foundation, I suppose. It's the same size as the Celtic version, so we'll need to enlarge it for the "Great Boobrie", and I don't think it needs such a high Wisdom.

Do we want to make these Dire Animals?
 

Cleon

Legend
Boobrie Working Draft

Boobrie
Large Animal
Hit Dice: 9d8+18 (58 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 40 ft. (8 squares), fly 50 ft. (poor), swim 30 ft.
Armor Class: 17 (-1 size, +2 Dex, +8 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 15
Base Attack/Grapple: +6/+15
Attack: Bite +10 melee (2d8+5/19-20×3)
Full Attack: Bite +10 melee (2d8+5/19-20×3) and 2 claws +4 (1d6+2)
Space/Reach: 10 ft./10 ft.
Special Attacks: Augmented critical, improved grab
Special Qualities: Immunity to poison, low-light vision
Saves: Fort +8, Ref +8, Will +5
Abilities: Str 20, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 10
Skills: Hide +8, Intimidate +4, Listen +8, Move Silently +8, Spot +10, Swim +13
Feats: Alertness, Stealthy, Power Attack, Weapon Focus (bite)
Environment: Warm marshes
Organization: Solitary, pair, or nest (2 plus 1-2 eggs or non-combative young)
Challenge Rating: 4
Treasure: None
Advancement: 10-12 HD (Large); 13-18 HD (Huge)
Level Adjustment:

A giant stork-like bird whose enormous saw-toothed beak combines the length of a heron's bill with the hooked tip of an eagle. Twice a man's height, it stands upright on long, slim legs whose splayed-out feet have equally elongated toes. The bird has a ruff on long feathers on the back of its neck, resembling the crest of some rocs.

A boobrie is a giant water bird found in hot swamps and marshes. It is often called a "Great Boobrie" to distinguish it from a smaller species of boobrie found in cooler climates, the "Black Boobrie". Scholars of nature are divided on whether a boobrie is a giant relative of the stork or a small marsh-dwelling cousin of the roc, but all agree this avian is a dangerous predator that will prey upon humanoids and their livestock.

The beak of a great boobrie is a terrible weapon with both sharply serrated edges and a number of small teeth along its sides. A boobrie's favorite prey are catfish but it is not fussy about its victims. Boobries often eat venomous creatures such as vipers or monstrous spiders, since these avians are immune to poison.

Boobries form mated pairs to breed and raise their young. Pairs of boobrie prefer to hunt and guard their nest together. They lay one or two oversized eggs that hatch very quickly. Young boobries are precocious and fast growing, and soon grow large enough to leave their parents. They often hunt with their sibling until they become adults and seek their own mate and territory.

A boobrie stands roughly 12 feet tall and weighs about 600 pounds.

COMBAT
Great boobries try to attack from ambush, tearing into prey with beak and claw. A boobrie will sometimes grab a smaller opponent with its beak and drag them into the marsh to deal with.

Like most sensible predators, a great boobrie may flee from a losing fight. Boobries sometimes puff out their head-feathers in an intimidating display that may demoralize prey or startle an enemy long enough for the bird to escape.

Augmented Critical (Ex): A boobrie's bite attack threatens a critical on a 19-20 and does triple damage if the critical is confirmed.

Improved Grab (Ex): If a boobrie hits a smaller opponent with its bite attack it can attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity.

Skills: A boobrie has a +4 racial bonus to Hide, Intimidate and Spot checks.

A boobrie 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.

Originally appeared in the Monster Manual II (1983)

Boobrie, Black
Medium Animal
Hit Dice: 4d8+4 (22 hp)
Initiative: +3
Speed: 10 ft. (2 squares), fly 60 ft. (average), swim 30 ft.
Armor Class: 15 (+3 Dex, +2 natural), touch 13, flat-footed 12
Base Attack/Grapple: +3/+5
Attack: Bite +6 melee (2d4+2) or wing-buffet +5 melee (1d6+2)
Full Attack: Bite +6 melee (2d4+2) and wing-buffet +0 melee (1d6+1); or wing-buffet +5 melee (1d6+2) and bite +1 melee (2d4+1)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: Trip
Special Qualities: Low-light vision
Saves: Fort +5, Ref +7, Will +3
Abilities: Str 14, Dex 17, Con 12, Int 2, Wis 14, Cha 10
Skills: Hide +5, Intimidate +2, Listen +7, Spot +10, Swim +10
Feats: Alertness, Weapon Focus (bite)
Environment: Temperate marshes
Organization: Solitary, pair, or nest (2 plus 1-4 eggs or non-combative young)
Challenge Rating: 2
Treasure: 1/10 coins; 50% goods; 50% items
Advancement: 5-6 HD (Medium)
Level Adjustment:

A waterbird about as big a human, completely black in color except for its blood-red eyes. Its streamlined body resembles that of a loon or diving duck, with a feather-crest on its head and neck like a merganser. The bird clearly hunts live prey, for its chisel-shaped beak has saw-toothed edges to hold struggling food. Its body stands half-upright on short legs that end in feet with four elongated toes connected by webbing.

A black boobrie is a dangerous waterbird of unusual size that dwell in temperate lakes and marshes. They mainly eat fish, but have been known to attack any creature smaller than themselves - such as lambs, calves, children or gnomes. Black boobries prefer to live in reed beds, which give them plenty of cover from which to lunge at prey and hide from enemies.

Black boobries form mated pairs in spring and build floating nests in which they lay from 1 to 4 eggs. These nests of woven vegetation can be of considerable size, and have been known to reach 20 feet in diameter. The nest contains the remains of the boobries' victims, which may include treasure. The young disperse in early summer as soon as they are large enough to fight for themselves.

A black boobrie stands roughly 6 feet tall and weighs about 75 pounds.

COMBAT
Black boobries usually ambush prey by lunging out from reed beds. They typically try to wing-buffet their opponent to the ground, then stab them with their beaks. Like most sensible predators, a black boobrie may flee from a losing fight. Boobries sometimes puff out their head-feathers in an intimidating display that may demoralize prey or startle an enemy long enough for the bird to escape.

Trip (Ex): A black boobrie that hits with a wing-buffet attack can attempt to trip the opponent (+2 check modifier) as a free action without making a touch attack or provoking an attack of opportunity. If the attempt fails, the opponent cannot react to trip the boobrie.

Skills: A black boobrie has a +2 racial bonus to Intimidate checks and a +4 racial bonus to Spot checks.

A black boobrie 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.

Note: The Black Boobrie originally appeared as the "Boobrie" in the Celts Campaign Sourcebook. Renamed to avoid confusion with the Boobrie from the Monster Manual II and Forgotten Realms Monstrous Compendium.

Originally appeared in HR3 - Celts Campaign Sourcebook (1992).
 
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freyar

Extradimensional Explorer
Let's see how it looks before deciding on Dire.

I'd probably push the Wis down to 10-11. Cha could go up to average also.

I suppose I'd put the physical stats in the 14-16 range. Sound reasonable?
 

Cleon

Legend
Let's see how it looks before deciding on Dire.

I'd probably push the Wis down to 10-11. Cha could go up to average also.

While I think the CC Giant Crane's Wis 16 is too high, 10-11 is too low.

I was thinking 14, like the Hawk, Eagle, Giant Eagle and Giant Owl in the SRD

I suppose I'd put the physical stats in the 14-16 range. Sound reasonable?

The Giant Eagle and Giant Owl are both Str 18, Dex 17 and are Large-sized like the Boobrie. However, they're a bit shorter than the 12' Boobrie (9' for a Giant Owl, 10' for an Eagle) and the Boobrie is described as a clumsy flyer.

So, maybe a notch up on the Str and a notch down on the Dex for Str 20, Dex 15?
 


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