Don't let that stop you from doing a build!
Jab's Dinosaur Builds!: Prosauropods! Plateosaurus!
Re: Jab's Animal Builds (Great Auk! Bustards! Cranes! Penguins!)
Re: Jab's Animal Builds (Great Auk! Bustards! Cranes! Penguins!)
You could probably just subtract Shrinking and add 1 or 2 ranks of Growth to the Emperor Penguin to get one of the Megas, or a reasonable approximation.
"I'm sorry. I love you. I'm not sorry I love you."
Re: Jab's Animal Builds (Great Auk! Bustards! Cranes! Penguins!)
pengys and pinipeds have always fascinated me because of that one element. this floppy wobbly thing on land that putters about and the it gets into the water and its like HOLY CRAP suddenly this thing is like an acrobat or ballerina or combination of the two, even the walrus which is so enormous but in water its nearly graceful as anything
Dr. Silverback has wryly observed that this is like trying to teach lolcats about Shakespeare
Showdown at the Litterbox
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Giant Penguins
GIANT PENGUINS
Role: Giant Penguin
PL 3 (18)- Minion Rank 2, Sidekick Rank 4
Normal Version: PL 1-2
STRENGTH 0 STAMINA 3 AGILITY 0
FIGHTING 1 DEXTERITY 0
INTELLIGENCE -4 AWARENESS 0 PRESENCE -3
Skills:
Expertise (Survival) 5 (+5)
Perception 3 (+3)
Advantages:
Close Attack 2, Favored Environment (Underwater)
Powers:
"Animal Senses" Senses 2 (Acute Scent, Low-Light Vision) [2]
Swimming 5 (8 mph) [5]
"Giant Beak" Strength-Damage +2 [2]
"Undersea Specialists"
Enhanced Skills 8: Athletics 8 (+7) (Flaws: Limited to Underwater) [2]
Enhanced Advantages 2: Evasion, Improved Initiative (Flaws: Limited to Underwater) [1]
Immunity 2 (Drowning, Pressure) (Flaws: Limited to Half-Effect) [1]
Offense:
Unarmed +3 (+1 Damage, DC 16)
Giant Beak +3 (+3 Damage, DC 18)
Initiative +0
Defenses:
Dodge +2 (DC 12), Parry +3 (DC 13), Toughness +3, Fortitude +4, Will +1
Complications:
Disabled (Animal)- Birds cannot speak to humans, nor use their talons to easily manipulate objects.
Disabled (Ungainly)- Penguins are extremely-clumsy and ungainly on land.
Total: Abilities: -8 / Skills: 8--4 / Advantages: 3 / Powers: 12 / Defenses: 6 (18)
Era: Modern
Range: Antarctica
Stereotypes: Cute, friendly.
Colouring: Grey & Brown.
Size: Up to 5-6 feet tall (120-200 lbs.)
Encounter Groups: Mixed-sex herds
Diet: Fish.
Tactics: Flee using speed.
-Living upwards of 30 million years ago were a variety of species of GIGANTIC PENGUINS, though very little is known about them. Typically now drawn with giant, elongated beaks, they could be up to 4'11" and probably weighed as much as some adult humans. Their fins were more flexible than the superior, rigid swimming flippers of modern penguins, and we still don't know exactly how they were built, but they were probably a bit thinner.
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Ratites
RATITES:
-Easily the closest to dinosaurs in general appearance, Ratites all look like weird Carnosaurs of varying types, with a few exceptions. Nearly every one of these things is a different order- from the largest bird alive, the Ostrich, to the smaller Rhea (5 feet tall), Emu (6.5 feet tall) and Cassowary (5.5 feet, but evil as hell), to the miniature flightless Kiwis of New Zealand, with their funny skinny bills. Some are fairly majestic (the Emu), while others are more gawky and silly-looking, but none of them are to be underestimated- their powerful kicks can disembowel a human being, or otherwise just ruin their day.
-Easily the closest to dinosaurs in general appearance, Ratites all look like weird Carnosaurs of varying types, with a few exceptions. Nearly every one of these things is a different order- from the largest bird alive, the Ostrich, to the smaller Rhea (5 feet tall), Emu (6.5 feet tall) and Cassowary (5.5 feet, but evil as hell), to the miniature flightless Kiwis of New Zealand, with their funny skinny bills. Some are fairly majestic (the Emu), while others are more gawky and silly-looking, but none of them are to be underestimated- their powerful kicks can disembowel a human being, or otherwise just ruin their day.
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Kiwi
KIWIS
Role: Ground-Based Birds, Symbols of New Zealand
PL 0 (13)- Minion Rank 1, Sidekick Rank 3
Normal Version: PL 0
STRENGTH -4 STAMINA -4 AGILITY 0
FIGHTING 0 DEXTERITY 0
INTELLIGENCE -4 AWARENESS 0 PRESENCE -3
Skills:
Athletics 8 (+4)
Expertise (Survival) 6 (+6)
Intimidation 8 (+1 Size)
Perception 4 (+4)
Stealth 0 (+9 Size)
Advantages:
Close Attack 2
Powers:
"Animal Senses" Senses 2 (Extended & Acute Scent) [2]
"Tiny Size" Shrinking 8 (Feats: Innate) (Extras: Permanent +0) -- (1 foot) [17]
(-2 Strength, +4 Defenses, +8 Stealth, -4 Intimidation, -1 Speed)
Offense:
Unarmed +2 (-4 Damage, DC 11)
Initiative +0
Defenses:
Dodge +4 (DC 14), Parry +4 (DC 14), Toughness -4, Fortitude +0, Will +1
Complications:
Disabled (Animal)- Birds cannot speak to humans, nor use their wings & beaks to easily manipulate objects.
Disabled (Poor Vision)- Kiwis have tiny eyes and do not see well.
Total: Abilities: -26 / Skills: 26--13 / Advantages: 2 / Powers: 19 / Defenses: 5 (13)
Era: Modern Day
Range: New Zealand.
Stereotypes: Australian-sounding.
Colouring: Brown.
Size: Up to 30 inches long (1-7 lbs.)
Encounter Groups: Solitary.
Diet: Grubs, small insects.
Tactics: Flee rapidly. Defend with clawed toes.
-There are actually multiple species of Kiwis, who are considered symbolic of New Zealand, to the point where a colloquial term for New Zealanders is "Kiwis". They are Ratites like Ostriches, Emus & Rheas, and as such are also flightless, but are extremely tiny. The Greater Spotted Kiwi, the largest of them, is only 8 lbs. at maximum. The Northern & Southern Brown Kiwis are the most common, but only 35,000 strong for each species. The Okarito Kiwi lives in only one small part of New Zealand, and numbers only 600. The Little Spotted Kiwi is smallest, only 2-4 lbs. Despite their tiny size, Kiwis are the closest living relatives of the Elephant Birds, the largest avians to ever live.
-Kiwis lay huge eggs for their comparative body size- up to 26% of the weight of the female (the equivalent of an adult human giving birth to a six-year old child). They can live up to 30 or 40 years, and mate for life, producing couplings that last for decades.
-Kiwis are like smaller, less pointy chickens, but actually have manageable claws on their feet, which can be used to fend off Stoats and other predators.
Last edited by Jabroniville on Sun Oct 24, 2021 5:00 am, edited 1 time in total.
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Rhea
RHEA (Rhea americana)
Role: South American Bird
PL 2 (14)- Minion Rank 1, Sidekick Rank 3
Normal Version: PL 0-1
STRENGTH 0 STAMINA 1 AGILITY 2
FIGHTING 2 DEXTERITY 0
INTELLIGENCE -4 AWARENESS 0 PRESENCE -3
Skills:
Athletics 7 (+7)
Close Combat (Kick) 1 (+3)
Expertise (Survival) 5 (+5)
Perception 5 (+5)
Advantages:
Improved Critical (Kick)
Powers:
"Animal Senses" Senses 2 (Extended & Low-Light Vision) [2]
Speed 2 (8 mph) [2]
"Powerful Kick" Strength-Damage +1 [1]
Offense:
Unarmed +2 (+0 Damage, DC 15)
Kick +3 (+1 Damage, DC 16)
Initiative +2
Defenses:
Dodge +2 (DC 12), Parry +3 (DC 13), Toughness +1, Fortitude +2, Will +1
Complications:
Disabled (Animal)- Birds cannot speak to humans, nor use their talons to easily manipulate objects.
Total: Abilities: -4 / Skills: 18--9 / Advantages: 1 / Powers: 5 / Defenses: 3 (14)
Era: Modern
Range: South America
Stereotypes: None (too unknown)
Colouring: Grey & Brown.
Size: Up to 5.5 feet tall (30-66 lbs.)
Encounter Groups: Mixed-sex herds
Diet: Seeds & flowers, sometimes insects
Tactics: Flee using speed, or kick with powerful legs.
-Rheas are similar to Ostriches, but are much smaller and have three toes on each foot, rather than two. They're not that well-known, but are hardcore enough to dismebowel farmcats that harass them. They are the largest birds of South America. A significantly-sized group showed up in Germany, likely from escaped animals at an exotic meat ranch, and actually hit over 600 in number before localized hunting was allowed, thinning their numbers to less than half that- they were deemed a threat to crops and other species.
-Rheas are not overly powerful, but solidly-built PL 2 animals.
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Emu
EMU (Dromaius novaehollandae)
Role: Aussie Bird
PL 3 (28)- Minion Rank 2, Sidekick Rank 6
Normal Version: PL 1-2
STRENGTH 2 STAMINA 3 AGILITY 2
FIGHTING 2 DEXTERITY 0
INTELLIGENCE -4 AWARENESS 0 PRESENCE -3
Skills:
Athletics 5 (+7)
Close Combat (Kick) 1 (+3)
Expertise (Survival) 5 (+5)
Intimidation 4 (+1)
Perception 5 (+5)
Advantages:
Improved Critical (Kick)
Powers:
"Animal Senses" Senses 2 (Extended & Low-Light Vision) [2]
Speed 2 (8 mph) [2]
"Powerful Kick" Strength-Damage +1 [1]
Offense:
Unarmed +2 (+2 Damage, DC 17)
Kick +3 (+3 Damage, DC 18)
Initiative +2
Defenses:
Dodge +2 (DC 12), Parry +3 (DC 13), Toughness +3, Fortitude +4, Will +2
Complications:
Disabled (Animal)- Birds cannot speak to humans, nor use their talons to easily manipulate objects.
Total: Abilities: 8 / Skills: 20--10 / Advantages: 1 / Powers: 5 / Defenses: 4 (28)
Era: Modern
Range: Australia
Stereotypes: Skittish & Panicky.
Colouring: Grey & Brown.
Size: Up to 6.5 feet tall (80-160 lbs.)
Encounter Groups: Mixed-sex herds
Diet: Seeds & flowers, sometimes insects
Tactics: Flee using speed, or kick with powerful legs.
-Emu are a smaller, more-drab version of an Ostrich (though are more closely related to Cassowaries), and only live in Australia, where they are important enough culturally to be on the coat of arms and appear frequently in Aborigine myth. They are actually numerous enough to be a considerable pest in some areas, being able to get into grain supplies, and large enough to fend off many dogs and cats that come walking by. Its modern threats are few, but in the past would have had to deal with giant lizards (Megalania), the Thylacine (marsupial wolf), Thylacoleo (marsupial lion) and more. Now it's mostly just packs of Dingoes that are dangerous.
-The second-tallest bird in the world, Emus are effectively PL 3 fighters, differentiated from most other birds by virtue of toughness and hitting power- only the Ostrich is stronger among modern birds.
Re: Jab's Animal Builds (Giant Penguins! Kiwi! Rhea! Emu!)
And of course Australia actually went to war with Emu's and the Aussies lost.
'A shared universe, like any fictional construct, hinges on suspension of disbelief. When continuity is tossed away, it tatters the construct. Undermines it'
Re: Jab's Animal Builds (Giant Penguins! Kiwi! Rhea! Emu!)
Tru fax *nod nod*
Dr. Silverback has wryly observed that this is like trying to teach lolcats about Shakespeare
Showdown at the Litterbox
Catsi stories
Showdown at the Litterbox
Catsi stories
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Re: Kiwi
Elephant birds are not the largest (height 3m or 9.8 ft), that belongs to the Moa (3.6m or 12 ft), they were however the heaviest bird (730 kg or 1,600 lb)Jabroniville wrote: ↑Thu Oct 21, 2021 3:42 am Despite their tiny size, Kiwis are the closest living relatives of the Elephant Birds, the largest avians to ever live.
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Re: Kiwi
BOO I'M COUNTING WEIGHTbrothersale wrote: ↑Sat Oct 23, 2021 9:41 pmElephant birds are not the largest (height 3m or 9.8 ft), that belongs to the Moa (3.6m or 12 ft), they were however the heaviest bird (730 kg or 1,600 lb)Jabroniville wrote: ↑Thu Oct 21, 2021 3:42 am Despite their tiny size, Kiwis are the closest living relatives of the Elephant Birds, the largest avians to ever live.
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Cassowary
When you have to use a riot control shield to defend yourself against a BIRD.
CASSOWARY (Casuarius casuarius)
Role: Deceptively-Mighty Kicker
PL 5 (35)- Minion Rank 3, Sidekick Rank 7
Normal Version: PL 2-3
STRENGTH 1 STAMINA 2 AGILITY 3
FIGHTING 4 DEXTERITY 0
INTELLIGENCE -4 AWARENESS 0 PRESENCE -3
Skills:
Athletics 6 (+7)
Close Combat (Kick) 3 (+7)
Expertise (Survival) 5 (+5)
Intimidation 7 (+4)
Perception 3 (+3)
Advantages:
All-Out Attack, Great Endurance, Improved Critical (Kick) 2, Power Attack, Startle
Powers:
"Animal Senses" Senses 2 (Extended & Low-Light Vision) [2]
Speed 3 (16 mph) [3]
"Powerful Kick" Strength-Damage +2 [2]
Offense:
Unarmed +3 (+1 Damage, DC 16)
Kick +7 (+3 Damage, DC 18)
Initiative +3
Defenses:
Dodge +4 (DC 14), Parry +6 (DC 16), Toughness +2, Fortitude +4, Will +4
Complications:
Disabled (Animal)- Birds cannot speak to humans, nor use their talons to easily manipulate objects.
Total: Abilities: 6 / Skills: 24--7 / Advantages: 6 / Powers: 7 / Defenses: 9 (35)
Era: Modern
Range: Australia & New Guinea
Stereotypes: None (too unknown).
Colouring: Dark grey with blue heads
Size: Up to 5.5 feet tall (37-155 lbs.)
Encounter Groups: Solitary unless breeding
Diet: Fallen fruits, small vertebrates.
Tactics: Flee using speed, or kick with powerful legs.
-Cassowaries are smaller-sized ratites who live in deep forests and typically avoid humans. They have distinctive large casques on top of their heads, as well as turkey-like waddles/carbunkles on their blue throats. They also carry a NASTY secret- their powerful legs and sharp claws are capable of inflicting serious wounds on human beings, to the point where confronting them is a dangerous prospect. Australian authorities have problems with tourists feeding them- much like most animals, they will then associate humans with food, and get VERY ornery if a human they meet doesn't HAVE any. This can have disastrous results, to say the least. There are three species in total- the Northern, Southern & Dwarf Cassowary.
-Cassowaries aren't overly hardcore, but are still quite dangerous, as PL 5 creatures. Batman fought one in Batman: The Animated Series, and actually had to cheat to win, using a poisoned Hummingbird (guess which villain?). They're really not THAT tough in real life, as there's only one single human fatality on record, that of a 16-year old who got knocked over and had his throat opened, but feel free to go nuts with a Villain's Minion monster group or something.
Re: Jab's Animal Builds (Kiwi! Rhea! Emu! Cassowary!)
I got very close to one of these at the zoo once, it was just behind a chest-high wooden fence. It was like being in the presence of a dinosaur, the great scaly, clawed feet squishing in the mud of its enclosure (the enclosure was almost completely filled with solid undergrowth about ten feet high, I'd never have seen it if it hadn't come out to have a close look back at me).
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Dwarf Cassowary
DWARF CASSOWARY (Casuarius bennetti)
Role: Deceptively-Mighty Kicker
PL 3 (23)- Minion Rank 2, Sidekick Rank 5
Normal Version: PL 2-3
STRENGTH -2 STAMINA 0 AGILITY 3
FIGHTING 3 DEXTERITY 0
INTELLIGENCE -4 AWARENESS 0 PRESENCE -3
Skills:
Athletics 6 (+7)
Close Combat (Kick) 3 (+7)
Expertise (Survival) 5 (+5)
Intimidation 7 (+4)
Perception 3 (+3)
Advantages:
All-Out Attack, Great Endurance, Improved Critical (Kick) 2, Power Attack, Startle
Powers:
"Animal Senses" Senses 2 (Extended & Low-Light Vision) [2]
Speed 3 (16 mph) [3]
"Powerful Kick" Strength-Damage +2 [2]
Offense:
Unarmed +5 (-2 Damage, DC 13)
Kick +6 (+0 Damage, DC 15)
Initiative +3
Defenses:
Dodge +4 (DC 14), Parry +6 (DC 16), Toughness +0, Fortitude +2, Will +4
Complications:
Disabled (Animal)- Birds cannot speak to humans, nor use their talons to easily manipulate objects.
Total: Abilities: -6 / Skills: 24--7 / Advantages: 6 / Powers: 7 / Defenses: 9 (23)
Era: Modern
Range: Papua New Guinea
Stereotypes: None (too unknown).
Colouring: Dark grey with blue heads
Size: Up to 3.5 feet tall (37-60 lbs.)
Encounter Groups: Solitary unless breeding
Diet: Fallen fruits, small vertebrates.
Tactics: Flee using speed, or kick with powerful legs.
-The smallest Cassowary species hails from Papua New Guinea, and are a lot smaller than adult humans. I went with PL 3 for this one- accurate and stronger than most things in its weight class, but still far diminished from the larger Ratites.