Epic Monsters: Drop Bears (5E)

Epic Monsters: Drop Bears (5E) | EN World | Dungeons & Dragons | Tabletop Roleplaying Games

If you have somehow not yet heard of Thylarctos plummetus you are in for a treat. I first learned about Drop Bears in August of 2013 via the (excellent) webcomic Penny Arcade but they were already something of an in-joke between Australians–if any of you Aussies can speak up with more information please do so! That PA comic came a few months after the Australian Geographic did a spoof article in conjunction with the Australian Museum which has a proper entry for them just like any other species.

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Drop Bear
Medium beast, unaligned

Armor Class 14 (natural)
Hit Points 42 (5d8+20)
Speed 40 ft., climb 35 ft.

STR​	DEX​	CON​	INT​	WIS​	CHA​
17 (+3)​	18 (+4)​	19 (+4)​	5 (-3)​	13 (+1)​	10 (+0)​

Skills Athletics +7, Perception +3, Stealth +8, Survival +3
Damage Resistances poison
Senses darkvision 60 ft., passive Perception 13
Languages —
Challenge 3 (700 XP)

Cunning Action. On each of its turns, the drop bear can use a bonus action to take the Dash, Disengage, or Hide action.

Drop Bear Weaknesses. The drop bear has the following flaws:

• Fork Aversion. The drop bear has disadvantage on attack rolls made against creatures with two or more forks worked into their hair or fur.
• Spread Revulsion. The drop bear cannot stand Vegemite or toothpaste. When a creature that spreads either substance behind its ears or armpits gets within 30 feet of a drop bear, the drop bear growls uncontrollably and has disadvantage on Dexterity (Stealth) checks while doing so.
• Urine Disgust. The drop bear does not like the taste or smell of urine. When the drop bear is presented with one or more creatures soiled with urine, it becomes agitated and attacks wildly, charging at the nearest non-urinated target (or the target with the least urine if all targets have soiled themselves).

Sneak Attack (1/Turn). The drop bear deals an extra 7 (2d6) damage when it hits a target with a weapon attack and has advantage on the attack roll, or when the target is within 5 feet of an ally of the drop bear that isn’t incapacitated and the drop bear doesn’t have disadvantage on the attack roll.

ACTIONS

Multiattack. The drop bear attacks once with its bite and once with its claws.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (1d8+3) piercing damage.

Claw. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 6 (1d6+3) slashing damage.

REACTIONS

Vicious Rend. When the drop bear hits the same target with its bite and claw attacks on its turn, it can use its reaction to deal an extra 10 (4d4) slashing damage.

Drop Bear           CR 2

XP 600
N Small animal
Init +7; Senses low-light vision, Perception +5, scent

Defense

AC 14, touch 13, flat-footed 12 (+1 size, +2 Dex, +1 natural)
hp 19 (3d8+6)
Fort +5, Ref +5, Will +4
Defensive Abilities drop-proof

Offense

Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.
Melee bite +5 (1d4+2), 2 claws +5 (1d3+2 plus grab)
Special Attacks grab (Medium creatures),pounce, rake (2 claws +5, 1d3+2), vertical charge

Statistics

Str 14, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 11
Base Atk +2; CMB +3 (+7 grapple); CMD 15 (19 against trip)
Feats Improved Initiative,Iron Will
Skills Acrobatics +10,Climb +19, Perception +5, Stealth +10; Racial Modifiers +4 Acrobatics, +4 Climb
SQ innocent guise

Ecology

Environment warm and temperate forests
Organization solitary, pair, pack (3-8) or mixed pack (3-8 plus 4-12 koalas)
Treasure incidental

Special Abilities

• Drop-Proof (Ex) A drop bear ignores falling damage from any fall of 30 feet or less.
• Innocent Guise (Ex) A drop bear looks so much like an ordinary koala that a DC 20 Knowledge (nature) or Perception check is required to notice it before it attacks for the first time.
• Vertical Charge (Ex) As long as a drop bear begins a charge 10 feet or more above an opponent, it does not take a penalty to Armor Class when charging. 

Drop Bears as Animal Companions

Starting Statistics: Size Small; Speed 20 ft., climb 20 ft..; AC +1 natural armor; Attack bite (1d4), 2 claws (1d3); Ability Scores Str 14, Dex 15, Con 14, Int 2, Wis 12, Cha 11; Special Attacks rake (1d3); Special Qualities drop-proof,low-light vision, scent

4th-Level Advancement: Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.; Ability Scores Str +2, Dex +2, Con +2; Special Attacks grab (Medium creatures),pounce, vertical charge