Common Animals

Below are descriptions of a few com-
monly encountered beasts. Use these as
guidelines when assigning statistics to ani-
mals not listed here.
Apes
Apes are intelligent – too intelligent to
be really predictable. Animal Handling
rolls are at -1 with such creatures. Apes
attack in close combat by grappling and
biting, rather than by punching or kicking.
Chimpanzee
A peaceful plant-eater. A chimp
won’t fight unless it or its young are
threatened.
ST 11; DX 12; IQ 6; HT 12.
Will 10; Per 10; Speed 6; Dodge 9;
Move 7.
SM 0; 140 lbs.
Traits: Arm ST +3; Bad Grip 2;
Brachiator; DR 1; Sharp Teeth;
Wild Animal.
Skills: Climbing-14.
Gorilla
A great ape.
ST 15; DX 12; IQ 6; HT 12.
Will 10; Per 10; Speed 6; Dodge 9;
Move 7.
SM +1; 400 lbs.
Traits: As chimpanzee.
Skills: Climbing-14.
Bears
When making reaction rolls for
bears, remember that grizzly, polar,
and cave bears are mostly carnivorous
and ill-tempered. Any mother bear
with cubs will be aggressive: -3 to
reactions!
Animal and Monster Statistics
Creature statistics in this chapter appear in an abbreviated form.
Attributes: These are racial averages, suitable for a typical encounter.
The GM might wish to increase ST for especially large specimens, or
decrease it for young or scrawny examples. Find racial attribute modi-
fiers for templates by subtracting 10 from the racial average score; e.g.,
the ST 14 listed for a black bear means its racial template would have
ST+4.
Secondary Characteristics: These, too, are racial averages. They are
derived from attributes using the usual formulas – but note that many
animals have racial Will, Perception, and Move modifiers. For damage,
see Damage for Animals (p. 460). Calculate Basic Lift normally, if need-
ed. Assume that HP equal ST and FP equal HT, unless noted otherwise.
Dodge is based on Basic Speed, and includes the +1 for Combat
Reflexes, if applicable. Size Modifier (SM) and average weight also
appear here.
Traits: A summary of the creature’s most important meta-traits,
advantages, and disadvantages, from the perspective of interacting with
humans. Most creatures have other traits, but these only matter when
creating a full-fledged racial template.
Skills: The creature’s significant skills, at racial average levels.
Assume that a creature with the Wild Animal meta-trait will also have
Survival skill in its native habitat at a level equal to its Perception.
A bear walking or running on four
legs is a two-hex creature. When it
stands on its hind legs to fight, it is a
one-hex creature.
Black Bear
A small, omnivorous bear.
ST 14; DX 11; IQ 4; HT 13.
Will 12; Per 10; Speed 6; Dodge 9;
Move 7.
SM 0; 300 lbs.
Traits: Blunt Claws; DR 2; No Fine
Manipulators; Semi-Upright; Sharp
Teeth; Temperature Tolerance 2;
Wild Animal.
Skills: Brawling-13.
Grizzly Bear
ST 19; DX 11; IQ 4; HT 13.
Will 11; Per 10; Speed 6; Dodge 9;
Move 8.
SM +1; 800 lbs.
Traits and Skills: As black bear, plus
Bad Temper (9).
Polar Bear
ST 20; DX 11; IQ 4; HT 13.
Will 11; Per 10; Speed 6; Dodge 9;
Move 7 (Water Move 3).
SM +1; 1,000 lbs.
Traits and Skills: As grizzly bear, plus
Swimming-13.
Cave Bear
A prehistoric creature.
ST 23; DX 11; IQ 4; HT 13.
Will 11; Per 10; Speed 6, Dodge 9;
Move 7.
SM +1; 1,400 lbs.
Traits and Skills: As grizzly bear.
Cats
Cats are only domesticated in the
sense that they tend to hang around
human settlements. It is a very rare
trainer who can teach a cat a trick it
doesn’t feel like learning . . .
House Cat
A domestic feline, kept as a pet,
familiar, or mouser.
ST 4; DX 14; IQ 4; HT 10.
Will 11; Per 12; Speed 6; Dodge 10;
Move 10.
SM -3; 10 lbs.
Traits:
Catfall; Combat Reflexes;
Domestic Animal; Night Vision 5;
Quadruped; Sharp Claws; Sharp
Teeth.
Skills:
Brawling-16; Jumping-14;
Stealth-14.
Lion
A big, lazy cat, found in both plains
and jungle. Lions hunt in small
groups.
ST 16; DX 13; IQ 4; HT 11.
Will 11; Per 12; Speed 6; Dodge 9;
Move 10.
SM +1 (2 hexes); 500 lbs.
Traits: DR 1; Laziness; Night Vision 5;
Quadruped; Sharp Claws; Sharp
Teeth; Temperature Tolerance 1;
Wild Animal.
Skills: Brawling-15; Running-13.
Tiger
A solitary hunting cat, usually a
jungle dweller.
ST 17; DX 13; IQ 4; HT 11.
Will 11; Per 12; Speed 6; Dodge 10;
Move 10.
SM +1 (2 hexes); 500 lbs.
Traits: Combat Reflexes; DR 1; Night
Vision 5; Quadruped; Sharp Claws;
Sharp
Teeth;
Temperature
Tolerance 1; Wild Animal.
Skills:
Brawling-15;
Stealth-13;
Swimming-13.