Cleon
Legend
Hi-ho sea silver!
Converting monsters from Dragon magazine
Hi-ho sea silver!
Cleon
Legend
Merhorse Original Stats
Merhorse
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Subarctic to tropical waters
FREQUENCY: Rare
ORGANIZATION: Solitary
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Carnivore
INTELLIGENCE: Animal
TREASURE: Nil
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
NO. APPEARING: 1-2
ARMOR CLASS: 5
MOVEMENT: Sw 30
HIT DICE: 14
THAC0: 7
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 4-16
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: G (60’-100’)
MORALE: Steady (12)
XP VALUE: 4,000
Merhorse: This creature is built like a slender-bodied plesiosaur, but appears to be a form of enormous sea lion. It gets its name from an impressive horselike mane of reddish hair on its neck. Since most aquatic mammals have almost no hair, it has been suggested that these “hairs” are really respiratory organs in the form of filaments, absorbing air from the water and enabling the beast to remain under longer. (Some frogs are known to have this arrangement.) The Merhorse’s head is horselike, but also quite wide, giving it a diamond-shaped (and snakelike) appearance when viewed directly from the front. Its forward-facing eyes are huge, demonstrating that it hunts in the darker depths of the sea. The eyes are black, though they may seem red or green when light strikes them directly. The mouth is wide, edged with thick, light-colored lips, and surrounded by bristles. The face is very hairy, possibly giving the thing a moustache.
The medium to long neck supports the mane. Some observers report a jagged crest on the back, but this is probably just tufts of hair sticking together. The Merhorse has a pair of front flippers, with rear flippers that have either joined together in a vertical plane to form a false tail, or have disappeared entirely and been replaced by a two-lobed tail with a jagged rear edge. It has smooth, shiny skin like a sea lion, which may be covered with short fur. The whole animal, aside from the mane, is uniformly dark brown, steel gray, or black. Merhorses reported in warm water are a mahogany color. It apparently lives on large fish and squid, as tales from such disparate locations as Scandinavia and the South Pacific tell of enmity between sea serpents and squids. Except for the Indian Ocean and the polar regions, it has been reported all over the world.
Originally appeared in Dragon #190 (1990).
Merhorse
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: Subarctic to tropical waters
FREQUENCY: Rare
ORGANIZATION: Solitary
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Carnivore
INTELLIGENCE: Animal
TREASURE: Nil
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
NO. APPEARING: 1-2
ARMOR CLASS: 5
MOVEMENT: Sw 30
HIT DICE: 14
THAC0: 7
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 4-16
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: G (60’-100’)
MORALE: Steady (12)
XP VALUE: 4,000
Merhorse: This creature is built like a slender-bodied plesiosaur, but appears to be a form of enormous sea lion. It gets its name from an impressive horselike mane of reddish hair on its neck. Since most aquatic mammals have almost no hair, it has been suggested that these “hairs” are really respiratory organs in the form of filaments, absorbing air from the water and enabling the beast to remain under longer. (Some frogs are known to have this arrangement.) The Merhorse’s head is horselike, but also quite wide, giving it a diamond-shaped (and snakelike) appearance when viewed directly from the front. Its forward-facing eyes are huge, demonstrating that it hunts in the darker depths of the sea. The eyes are black, though they may seem red or green when light strikes them directly. The mouth is wide, edged with thick, light-colored lips, and surrounded by bristles. The face is very hairy, possibly giving the thing a moustache.
The medium to long neck supports the mane. Some observers report a jagged crest on the back, but this is probably just tufts of hair sticking together. The Merhorse has a pair of front flippers, with rear flippers that have either joined together in a vertical plane to form a false tail, or have disappeared entirely and been replaced by a two-lobed tail with a jagged rear edge. It has smooth, shiny skin like a sea lion, which may be covered with short fur. The whole animal, aside from the mane, is uniformly dark brown, steel gray, or black. Merhorses reported in warm water are a mahogany color. It apparently lives on large fish and squid, as tales from such disparate locations as Scandinavia and the South Pacific tell of enmity between sea serpents and squids. Except for the Indian Ocean and the polar regions, it has been reported all over the world.
Originally appeared in Dragon #190 (1990).
Cleon
Legend
As I believe I mentioned earlier, I'm inclined to include the "Long-Necked Sea Serpent" in the Merhorse entry, as (a) its stats are nigh identical and (b) otherwise we'd have 11 Sea Monster entries if we had the Grandfather-of-all-the-Turtles separate from the Father-of-all-the-Turtles entries, which I'd prefer.
Here's the entry:
Long-necked: This creature is about the size of the Merhorse, and some people mistakenly assume they are different sexes of the same species. However, the differences are too great for that. For example, aside from a few whiskers on the muzzle and a hairy crest making a short ridge along the spine, no hairs are visible on the Long-necked sea serpent. Its neck is also far more slender than that of the Merhorse, and is quite long. Though it may look like a plesiosaur, it, too, is a giant form of sea lion. Its eyes are too small to be seen unless the observer is very close, and a pair of short hornlike tubes project from the top of the head. These are probably breathing tubes, erectable at will, enabling the creature to take air while remaining virtually invisible at the surface. If extended while below the surface, these tubes let the Long-necked exhale under water without blinding itself with the stream of bubbles.
The Long-necked has a very small round head, with a tapering muzzle like a seal’s, often compared to the head of a horse, giraffe, or camel. Its neck is cylindrical and is flexible enough to bend in any direction or to stick out of the water perpendicularly. As mentioned before, it has no mane, but a fold in its skin behind the head seems to form a sort of collar. It has a thick, fat body with visible rolls of fat that can form from 1-3 humps as the animal bends its body while swimming. It has four seallike flippers, and its tail is either non-existent or a mere stump. The skin looks smooth when wet, but rough and wrinkled when dry or when viewed up close. Coloration on top is dark brown, with gray, black, or whitish mottling; the underside is a much lighter, dirty yellow hue.
The Long-necked is just as fast as the Merhorse, and, except for the fact that its bite only does 1-8 points of damage, its stats are the same. It has been reported in all but the coldest waters, and it seems to prefer cool waters in summer and the tropics in winter.
Originally appeared in Dragon #190 (1990).
Here's the entry:
Long-necked: This creature is about the size of the Merhorse, and some people mistakenly assume they are different sexes of the same species. However, the differences are too great for that. For example, aside from a few whiskers on the muzzle and a hairy crest making a short ridge along the spine, no hairs are visible on the Long-necked sea serpent. Its neck is also far more slender than that of the Merhorse, and is quite long. Though it may look like a plesiosaur, it, too, is a giant form of sea lion. Its eyes are too small to be seen unless the observer is very close, and a pair of short hornlike tubes project from the top of the head. These are probably breathing tubes, erectable at will, enabling the creature to take air while remaining virtually invisible at the surface. If extended while below the surface, these tubes let the Long-necked exhale under water without blinding itself with the stream of bubbles.
The Long-necked has a very small round head, with a tapering muzzle like a seal’s, often compared to the head of a horse, giraffe, or camel. Its neck is cylindrical and is flexible enough to bend in any direction or to stick out of the water perpendicularly. As mentioned before, it has no mane, but a fold in its skin behind the head seems to form a sort of collar. It has a thick, fat body with visible rolls of fat that can form from 1-3 humps as the animal bends its body while swimming. It has four seallike flippers, and its tail is either non-existent or a mere stump. The skin looks smooth when wet, but rough and wrinkled when dry or when viewed up close. Coloration on top is dark brown, with gray, black, or whitish mottling; the underside is a much lighter, dirty yellow hue.
The Long-necked is just as fast as the Merhorse, and, except for the fact that its bite only does 1-8 points of damage, its stats are the same. It has been reported in all but the coldest waters, and it seems to prefer cool waters in summer and the tropics in winter.
Originally appeared in Dragon #190 (1990).
freyar
Extradimensional Explorer
Not much in the way of stats for the long-necked sea serpent, really. I agree to combine them; if we want a separate entry for the long-necked sea serpent, let's just write an underbar to note that there are some that don't have as much bite damage.
So, for our merhorse, shall we stick with Gargantuan and 14 HD? That feels slightly low for a Gargantuan critter, but it's not out of the question.
So, for our merhorse, shall we stick with Gargantuan and 14 HD? That feels slightly low for a Gargantuan critter, but it's not out of the question.
Cleon
Legend
I think we might as well start at 14 HD Gargantuan, since we didn't "up Hit Dice" the Marine Saurian which had a similar problem.
We don't have much interesting with this beastie. I guess we could say the "respiratory filaments" justify giving it the Amphibious trait.
What do you think we should do statwise. It's supposed to be a massive seal, so we could up-size the official 3E seal from Stormwrack and Frostburn to Gargantuan as a foundation?
Seal
Medium Animal
Hit Dice: 2d8+4 (13 hp)
Initiative: +2
Speed: 20 ft. (4 squares), swim 40 ft.
Armor Class: 15 (+2 Dex, +3 natural), touch 12, flat-footed 13
Base Attack/Grapple: +1/+2
Attack: Bite +3 melee (1d4+1)
Full Attack: Bite +3 melee (1d4+1)
Space/Reach: 5 ft./5 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Hold breath, low-light vision
Saves: Fort +4, Ref +6, Will +2
Abilities: Str 13, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills: Listen +5, Spot +6, Swim +9
Feats: Alertness, Weapon Finesseᴮ
Environment: Cold aquatic
Organization: Solitary, pair, or herd (5–14)
Challenge Rating: 1/3
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 3–4 HD (Medium); 5–6 HD (Large)
Level Adjustment: —
Hold Breath (Ex): A seal can hold its breath for a number of rounds equal to 6 × its Constitution score before it risks drowning. For a typical seal, this is 84 rounds, or over 8 minutes.
Skills: A seal has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform a 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.
Cleon
Legend
If we use the Seal it'll end up with 4 more Str, 6 more Con and 1 more natural armour due to the differences in size and ability scores.
Cleon
Legend
Fine. I'll launch the Working Draft then.
Cleon
Legend
Merhorse Working Draft
Merhorse
Gargantuan Animal
Hit Dice: 14d8+112 (175 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: Swim 80 ft.
Armor Class: 16 (-4 size, +10 natural), touch 6, flat-footed 16
Base Attack/Grapple: +10/+33
Attack: Bite +18 melee (2d6+16)
Full Attack: Bite +18 melee (2d6+16)
Space/Reach: 20 ft./15 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Hold breath, low-light vision
Saves: Fort +19, Ref +9, Will +5
Abilities: Str 33, Dex 11, Con 26, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills: Listen +11, Spot +16, Swim +21
Feats: Alertness, Endurance, Great Fortitude, Snatch, Weapon Focus (bite)
Environment: Any aquatic
Organization: Solitary or pair
Challenge Rating: 7
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 15–21 HD (Gargantuan); 22–42 HD (Colossal)
Level Adjustment: —
Driving through the water is the horselike head of a creature with a striking red mane. Its only limbs are a pair of flippers at the front of its long, slim body. The mane runs down its neck to merge into a rough crest along its back that ends near the base of its two-lobed tail. The sea beast's face has enormous dark eyes and a wide, pale-lipped mouth edged with bristles.
The merhorse is a giant aquatic mammal whose closest living relatives are probably sea lions. It is thought their long manes help them stay underwater for longer by absorbing oxygen from the water. Like sea lions, they feed off fish and squid, although at a much larger scale.
A Merhorse is typically 60 feet long and weighs about 45 tons, but they can grow up to 100 feet long.
Combat
Merhorses are shy creatures, usually only attacking familiar prey animals - mostly fish and squid. They tend to flee and hide from anything dangerous or strange (like PCs!). However, most humanoids are small enough to appear as food to a really hungry merhorse.
Hold Breath (Ex): A merhorse can hold its breath for a number of rounds equal to 15 × its Constitution score before it risks drowning. For a typical long-necked, this is 390 rounds, or 39 minutes.
Skills: A merhorse has a +4 racial bonus on Spot checks. A merhorse has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform a 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.
Long-Necked
A sea beast with a tiny round head upon a very long neck. Its long, sausage-like body bends into humps as it swims along. The creature has a pair of stubby hornlike tubes atop its head.
The long-necked "sea serpent" is another giant aquatic mammal that is likely to be descended from seals. It has the same statistics as a merhorse except for the changes given below.
A long-necked's bite attack is treated as a secondary attack that adds only half the long-necked’s Strength bonus to damage. A diving long-necked cannot hold its breath for as long as a merhorse since it lacks the merhorse's oxygen-absorbing mane, but its "horns" are snorkels that allow it to breathe while barely breaking the surface of the water.
Attack: Bite +13 melee (1d8+5)
Skills: Hide –12* (+13 when snorkeling), Listen +12, Spot +11, Swim +21
Challenge Rating: 5
Hold Breath (Ex): A long-necked can hold its breath for a number of rounds equal to 8 × its Constitution score before it risks drowning. For a typical long-necked, this is 208 rounds, or over 20 minutes.
Skills: A long-necked has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform a 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.
*A long-necked can lie in the water with only the tip of its horns showing, gaining a +25 cover bonus on Hide checks.
Merhorse
Gargantuan Animal
Hit Dice: 14d8+112 (175 hp)
Initiative: +0
Speed: Swim 80 ft.
Armor Class: 16 (-4 size, +10 natural), touch 6, flat-footed 16
Base Attack/Grapple: +10/+33
Attack: Bite +18 melee (2d6+16)
Full Attack: Bite +18 melee (2d6+16)
Space/Reach: 20 ft./15 ft.
Special Attacks: —
Special Qualities: Hold breath, low-light vision
Saves: Fort +19, Ref +9, Will +5
Abilities: Str 33, Dex 11, Con 26, Int 2, Wis 13, Cha 6
Skills: Listen +11, Spot +16, Swim +21
Feats: Alertness, Endurance, Great Fortitude, Snatch, Weapon Focus (bite)
Environment: Any aquatic
Organization: Solitary or pair
Challenge Rating: 7
Treasure: None
Alignment: Always neutral
Advancement: 15–21 HD (Gargantuan); 22–42 HD (Colossal)
Level Adjustment: —
Driving through the water is the horselike head of a creature with a striking red mane. Its only limbs are a pair of flippers at the front of its long, slim body. The mane runs down its neck to merge into a rough crest along its back that ends near the base of its two-lobed tail. The sea beast's face has enormous dark eyes and a wide, pale-lipped mouth edged with bristles.
The merhorse is a giant aquatic mammal whose closest living relatives are probably sea lions. It is thought their long manes help them stay underwater for longer by absorbing oxygen from the water. Like sea lions, they feed off fish and squid, although at a much larger scale.
A Merhorse is typically 60 feet long and weighs about 45 tons, but they can grow up to 100 feet long.
Combat
Merhorses are shy creatures, usually only attacking familiar prey animals - mostly fish and squid. They tend to flee and hide from anything dangerous or strange (like PCs!). However, most humanoids are small enough to appear as food to a really hungry merhorse.
Hold Breath (Ex): A merhorse can hold its breath for a number of rounds equal to 15 × its Constitution score before it risks drowning. For a typical long-necked, this is 390 rounds, or 39 minutes.
Skills: A merhorse has a +4 racial bonus on Spot checks. A merhorse has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform a 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.
Long-Necked
A sea beast with a tiny round head upon a very long neck. Its long, sausage-like body bends into humps as it swims along. The creature has a pair of stubby hornlike tubes atop its head.
The long-necked "sea serpent" is another giant aquatic mammal that is likely to be descended from seals. It has the same statistics as a merhorse except for the changes given below.
A long-necked's bite attack is treated as a secondary attack that adds only half the long-necked’s Strength bonus to damage. A diving long-necked cannot hold its breath for as long as a merhorse since it lacks the merhorse's oxygen-absorbing mane, but its "horns" are snorkels that allow it to breathe while barely breaking the surface of the water.
Attack: Bite +13 melee (1d8+5)
Skills: Hide –12* (+13 when snorkeling), Listen +12, Spot +11, Swim +21
Challenge Rating: 5
Hold Breath (Ex): A long-necked can hold its breath for a number of rounds equal to 8 × its Constitution score before it risks drowning. For a typical long-necked, this is 208 rounds, or over 20 minutes.
Skills: A long-necked has a +8 racial bonus on any Swim check to perform a 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.
*A long-necked can lie in the water with only the tip of its horns showing, gaining a +25 cover bonus on Hide checks.
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