Buy me a coffeeDicynodont, Diictodon
“Unearthing the Enigmatic Diictodon: Witnesses to a Lost World’s Secrets, Small Wonders Hold Clues to the Permian Era Mysteries!”
Appearance: The Diictodon, a small herbivorous synapsid, boasts a robust body covered in coarse, pebbly scales, and sports distinctive tusks protruding from its lower jaw. Its compact size, resembling a cross between a lizard and a rodent, allows it to navigate its environment with agility.
Behavior: Diictodons, despite their diminutive stature, are tenacious foragers, utilizing their sturdy tusks to uproot plants for sustenance. Social creatures, they form familial burrows, engaging in communal activities to safeguard against predators, showcasing a surprising level of cooperation.
Habitat: Thriving in the lush landscapes of the Permian Era, they favor warm, temperate climates, seeking refuge in burrows during extreme weather conditions. Often found near water sources, these creatures are adept at adapting to varied ecosystems.
Modus Operandi: Diictodons employ their tusks for both offense and defense, warding off predators with swift, coordinated strikes. Their burrows serve as strategic retreats, and their communal nature enhances the chances of survival against larger threats.
Motivation: Driven by survival instincts, Diictodons focus on sustaining their families and securing resources in a dynamic and ever-changing prehistoric world. Their motivations center around the pursuit of safety, nourishment, and the perpetuation of their species.
Diictodon 5e
Diictodon 3.5
Diictodon
Small Beast, Unaligned
Armor Class 11 (Natural Armor)
Hit Points 16 (3d6 + 6)
Speed 30 ft., Burrow 10 ft.
| STR | DEX | CON | INT | WIS | CHA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 12 (+1) | 14 (+2) | 14 (+2) | 2 (-4) | 13 (+1) | 5 (-3) |
Senses Darkvision 60 ft., Passive Perception 11
Languages —
Challenge 1/4 (50 XP)
Keen Smell. It has advantage on Wisdom (Perception) checks that rely on smell.
Tusks. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 1) piercing damage.
Burrow. It can burrow through sand, dirt, and other soft materials at a speed of 10 feet.
Actions
Multiattack. It makes two tusk attacks.
Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +3 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 3 (1d4 + 1) piercing damage.
Traits
Pack Tactics. The diictodon has advantage on an attack roll against a creature if at least one of the diictodon’s allies is within 5 feet of the creature and the ally isn’t incapacitated.
Communal Burrow. Diictodons live in communal burrows. While within 30 feet of another diictodon, they gain a +1 bonus to AC and saving throws.
Diictodons are small, herbivorous creatures resembling a blend of lizard and rodent. Despite their modest appearance, they thrive in familial burrows, exhibiting keen teamwork to fend off threats. Their tusks serve as versatile tools for both foraging and defense, making them resilient survivors in the primordial landscapes of the fantasy realm.
This little creature looks a bit like a gopher with a parrot’s head, though its legs are splayed out like a reptile’s. A pair of small fangs is situated directly behind its beak.
Originally Posted by Shade of the En World forums.
Diictodon is a dicynodont, an herbivorous therapsid (mammal-like reptile). Dicynodonts are characterized by their parrot-like beaks, two tusks in the upper jaw, and barrel shaped bodies with splayed legs. They are one of the most abundant of all dicynodonts.
Burrowing animals, similar to modern gophers. A mated pair shares one burrow. Diictodons commonly make burrows near seasonal floodplains, where food is more abundant than out in the open desert. During cooler parts of the day, they emerge from their burrows to forage.
They survive drought conditions by digging up and eating plant roots and tubers, these often being enough to sustain a pair until the next rainy season. Males have larger tusks than females – the most ancient known example of sexual dimorphism. They are a foot and a half long and weighs about four pounds. A diictodon familiar grants its master a +3 bonus on Survival checks.
| Dicynodont, Diictodon | |
| Tiny animal | |
| Hit Dice | 1d8+1 (5 hp) |
| Initiative | +1 |
| Speed | 15 ft. (3 squares), burrow 10 ft. |
| Armor Class | 13 (+2 size, +1 Dexterity), touch 13, flat-footed 12 |
| Base Attack/Grapple | +0/-11 |
| Attack | Bite +3 melee (1d3-3) |
| Full Attack | Bite +3 melee (1d3-3) |
| Space/Reach | 2-1/2 ft./0 ft. |
| Special Attacks | — |
| Special Qualities | Arid adaptation, Low-Light Vision, Scent |
| Saves | Fort +3, Ref +3, Will +1 |
| Abilities | Strength 5, Dexterity 12, Constitution 13, Intelligence 2, Wisdom 12, Charisma 4 |
| Skills | Hide +9, Listen +5, Spot +5, Survival +9 |
| Feats | Alertness, Weapon Finesse (B) |
| Environment | Temperate or warm deserts |
| Organization | Solitary or pair |
| Challenge Rating | 1/4 |
| Treasure | None |
| Alignment | Always neutral |
| Advancement | 2 HD (Tiny), 3 HD (Small) |
| Level Adjustment | — |
COMBAT
A diictodon encountered on the surface will scurry as fast as it can back to its burrow if it is spooked, giving an alarm call to warn its mate or any other diictodons in the area. If cornered, it will bite.
Arid Adaptation (Ex): It does not need to make Fortitude saves to avoid taking nonlethal damage in conditions between 90 degrees and 140 degrees. In conditions of extreme heat (above 140 degrees) it must make Fortitude saves like any other creature, but gains a +4 racial bonus on this save. In addition, a diictodon needs to drink only half as much water as similarly-sized creatures.
Skills: A diictodon has a +8 racial bonus on Survival checks.
Originally appeared as “dicynodont” in Dragon Magazine #112 (1986).