Roleplaying Notes
Originally Posted by
Nilbog of the Wizards Community forums.
An
epanterias appears similar to a tyrannosaurus, but it is slighter in build.
Its head is somewhat smaller, but its arms are long and powerful, ending in
dangerous claws. It weighs up to 5 tons. It is often considered to be even
more dangerous than its more famous cousin.
| Epanterias | |
| Size/Type. | Huge Animal |
| Hit Dice | 17d8+91 (167 hp) |
| Initiative | +1 |
| Speed | 50 ft. (10 squares) |
| Armor Class | 17 (-2 size, +2 Dex, +7 natural), touch 10, flat-footed 15 |
| Base Attack/Grapple | +12/+29 |
| Attack | Bite +19 melee (3d6+9) |
| Full Attack | Bite +19 melee (3d6+9), 2 claws +14 melee (1d8+4) |
| Space/Reach | 15 ft./10 ft. |
| Special Attacks | Improved grab, swallow whole |
| Special Qualities | Low-light vision, scent |
| Saves | Fort +16, Ref +12, Will +8 |
| Abilities | Str 28, Dex 12, Con 21, Int 2, Wis 15, Cha 10 |
| Skills | Hide -2, Listen +15, Spot +15 |
| Feats | Alertness, Improved Natural Attack (bite), Run, Toughness (2), Track |
| Environment | Warm forests, hills, and plains |
| Organization | Solitary or pair |
| Challenge Rating | 8 |
| Treasure | None |
| Alignment | Always neutral |
| Advancement | 18-33 HD (Huge); 34-51 HD (Gargantuan) |
| Level Adjustment | — |
Combat
An epanterias tends to hunt large prey. When attacking armed humanoids, it will try to capture and devour the largest individual first.
Improved Grab (Ex): To use this ability, an epanterias must hit an opponent of up to one size smaller with its bite attack. It can then attempt to start a grapple as a free action without provoking an attack of opportunity. If it wins the grapple check, it establishes a hold and can try to swallow the foe the following round.
Swallow Whole (Ex): An epanterias can try to swallow a grabbed opponent of up to two sizes smaller by making a successful grapple check. The swallowed creature takes 2d6+8 points of bludgeoning damage and 7 points of acid damage per round from the epanterias’s gizzard. A swallowed creature can cut its way out by using a light slashing or piercing weapon to deal 25 points of damage to the gizzard (AC 13). Once the creature exits, muscular action closes the hole; another swallowed opponent must cut its own way out.
A Huge epanterias’s gizzard can hold 1 Medium, 4 Small, 16 Tiny, or 64 Diminutive or smaller opponents.
Skills
An epanterias has a +4 racial bonus on Listen and Spot checks.
(Yes, it is based off the tyrannosaurus - add claw attacks, boost Dex and natural armor, reduce HD by 1, drop one Toughness feat, increase racial bonus to skills.)
NOTE: Epanterias is often considered to be the same genus as Allosaurus, but it is almost certainly a distinct species (despite the claims of some taxonomic extremes.)