Stats for absent OD&D WIlderness Animals

I've been lax with Dungeons & Dragons-related work again this week, and I was kept busy on the weekend, but I really am trying to keep up with weekly posts for the blog this year.  So, as I did with the dungeon monsters last week, I'm dashing out some stats for the wilderness animals that didn't get any in the original D&D rules.

Discounting the prehistoric animals and the Martian encounters, we have the following list for which I need to create OD&D-compatible stats: Spiders, Centipedes, Lizards, Toads, Ants, Weasels, Apes, Beetles, Scorpions, Lions, Boars, and Snakes.  Of these, only three weren't covered in my last post for dungeon monsters: Apes, Lions, and Boars.

I could just say that the Apes here are White Apes, and that the Boars are the same as Giant Hogs (both in the dungeon monsters list and already written up).  Instead, I'm going to base the Apes on Advanced D&D's Carnivorous Apes, and the Boars on AD&D's Giant Boars.  Lions, of course, will just be lions.

This is a bit of a lazy post, because I'm just taking the AD&D stats for three monsters and tweaking them slightly for original D&D.  There's nothing inspired here.  I was planning on doing the dinosaurs and prehistoric animals as well, but it's late, and that will have to wait for another post.  For now, it's Apes and Lions and Boars (and one half-assed blogger, oh my).

APE

Number Appearing: 2-8

Armor Class: 6

Move in Inches: 12

Hit Dice: 5

% in Lair: 10%

Type or Amount of Treasure: C

Carnivorous apes are a larger, stronger, and more aggressive relative of the gorilla. They have a fair intelligence, being very cunning, and they have a particular hunger for human flesh.  Their keen eyesight, hearing, and sense of smell means that they are only surprised on a roll of 1.  Apes attack twice per round, and if they hit the same opponent with both attacks they will rend their victim for an additional 1-6 damage.

LION

Number Appearing: 2-12

Armor Class: 5 or 6

Move in Inches: 12

Hit Dice: 5+2

% in Lair: Nil

Type or Amount of Treasure: Nil

 

Lions inhabit warmer climates, and thrive in terrains including desert, jungle, swamp, and savannah.  They hunt in prides, with the lioness doing most of their hunting.  Even so, the males are ferocious fighters and will defend the pride's territory.  A typical pride consists of 1-3 males and 1-9 females.  Their lair will also have 1-10 cubs (non-combatants) and an additional 1-4 females which will immediately attack to defend their cubs.

 

All lions can leap up to 30 ft.  Male lions have an AC 6 for their forequarters, and AC 5 for their hindquarters.  Female lions have a uniform AC of 6. Lions attack twice per round, and if both attacks hit the same victim in a single round they will also rake with their rear claws for a further 1-6 damage.  They do not climb trees well and dislike swimming.

BOAR, GIANT

Number Appearing: 2-8

Armor Class: 6

Move in Inches: 12

Hit Dice: 7

% in Lair: Nil

Type or Amount of Treasure: Nil

 

Due to their size and aggression, as well as their enormous tusks, giant boars deal 2d6 damage on a successful hit.  If their hit points are reduced to 0 to -5 hit points, they will continue to fight for another 1-4 melee rounds.  They will die immediately if reduced to -6 hit points or below.

 

If more than 3 are encountered, there is a 25% chance that there will be 1-4 young.  Young giant boars have from 2 to 6 Hit Dice; those with 2-3 HD will deal 1-6 damage, those with 4-5 HD will deal 1-6+1 damage, and those with 6 HD will deal 1-6+2.  Male and female giant boars fight equally well.