Buy me a coffeeDinosaur, Dilophosaurus
The weak skulll of this monster prevents strong jaw muscle attachments, so it uses its taloned hind feet, especially its spurs, to inflict horrible wounds on its prey while its snakey neck darts into inflict smaller bite damage.
Originally Posted by Shade of the En World forums.
This slender biped has a long neck, powerful rear legs and a long darting tail. Its most noticeable feature are its two bony frills running the length of its skull.
Dilophosaurus are large carnivorous dinosaurs that have evolved several unusual hunting strategies.
A dilophosaurus stands about 5 feet high at the shoulder, and is nearly 20 feet long, although much of this is tail. It weighs about 1,000 pounds. Its head is its most unusual feature; the lower jaw is unusually thin and weak for a creature of its size, and the upper jaw has a distinctive kink near the tip of the snout, where the creature’s venom glands are located. Two bone plates run along the length of the head. Dilophosaurs are an intermediate species between ceratosaurs and coelophysises.
Dilophosaurus
Large beast, unaligned
Armor Class: 13 (natural armor)
Hit Points: 45 (6d10 + 12)
Speed: 40 ft., climb 20 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 (+4) | 14 (+2) | 14 (+2) | 2 (-4) | 12 (+1) | 6 (-2) |
Skills: Stealth +4
Senses: passive Perception 11
Languages: –
Challenge: 2 (450 XP)
Actions:
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (2d6 + 4) piercing damage.
Spit Acid. Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 30/90 ft., one target. Hit: 9 (2d8) acid damage.
Frightful Presence. Each creature of the Dilophosaurus’s choice within 30 feet of it and aware of it must succeed on a DC 12 Wisdom saving throw or become frightened for 1 minute. A creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Reactions:
Opportunistic Attack. If a creature moves within 5 feet of the Dilophosaurus on its turn, the Dilophosaurus can use its reaction to make a bite attack against that creature.
This Dilophosaurus is a fierce and cunning predator, using its speed and agility to hunt down its prey. Its primary attack is a powerful bite that can cause severe damage to its target. In addition, it can spit acid to damage foes from a distance and frighten them with its terrifying presence. The Dilophosaurus is also an opportunist, using its quick reflexes to strike at any creature that comes within range of its deadly bite.
Dinosaur, Dilophosaurus
| Dinosaur, Dilophosaurus | |
| Large animal | |
| Hit Dice | 7d8+14 (45 hp) |
| Initiative | +6 |
| Speed | 50 ft. (10 squares) |
| Armor Class | 16 (-1 size, +2 Dexterity, +5 natural), touch 11, flat-footed 14 |
| Base Attack/Grapple | +5/+14 |
| Attacks | Talons +10 melee (2d6+5) |
| Full Attack | Talons +10 melee (2d6+5) and bite +8 melee (1d4+2 plus poison) |
| Space/Reach | 10 ft./5 ft. |
| Special Attacks | Poison, pounce |
| Special Qualities | Low-Light Vision, Scent |
| Saves | Fort +7, Ref +7, Will +4 |
| Abilities | Strength 20, Dexterity 15, Constitution 14, Intelligence 2, Wisdom 15, Charisma 11 |
| Skills | Listen +11, Spot +11, Survival +6 |
| Feats | Ability Focus (poison), Multiattack (B), Run, Track |
| Environment | Warm forest, plains and desert |
| Organization | Solitary or pair |
| Challenge Rating | 5 |
| Treasure | None |
| Alignment | Always neutral |
| Advancement | 8-14 HD (Large), 15-21 HD (Huge) |
| Level Adjustment | – |
COMBAT
Dilophosaurus are not particularly Stealthy hunters, but they do not need to be. They rely on their speed to chase down potential prey, and rake at it with their strong hind legs. On particularly large and strong prey, they deliver a venomous bite and retreat, waiting for the poison to take its effect before finishing off the wounded animal.
Poison (Ex): Bite, Fortitude DC 17, initial damage 1d6 Strength plus permanent blindness, secondary damage 1d6 Strength. The save DC is Constitution-based.
Pounce (Ex): If a dilophosaurus charges a foe, it can make a full attack.
Spitting Dilophosaurus
A variant dilophosaurus has a retractable neck frill and is capable of spitting its venom once every 3 rounds as a ranged touch attack with a maximum range of 10 feet.
Originally appeared in Monster Manual II (1983).