Crocodile

Crocodile

Species	crocodile
No. Appearing	3–24
Behaviour	subsocial
Range	savanna, wetland
Size	17 ft. long
Weight	2,000 lbs.
Intelligence	1
Armour Class	5
Hit Dice	3
Action Points	5
Max. Stride	{{{stride}}}
THAC0	19
Hp/Die	2d6
Attack Forms	1: fangs
Damage	1–14
Special Attacks	grip & crush, initiative, roll, surprise on a 1–4

These large semi-aquatic reptiles dwell throughout the tropics, tending to congregate in freshwater habitats such as rivers, lakes, wetlands and sometimes brackish water and ~ in the case of the saltwater crocodile and giant crocodile ~ in the open sea. During the continental wet seasons, the range of these creatures expands as large areas become flooded.

They feed principally on fish, reptiles, birds and mammals; due to their structure and their powerful jaws, they are often able to seize and kill creatures much larger than themselves.

Occasionally these creatures will ambush their prey from the water, but they may also be encountered moving overland for short stretches between watered areas, seeking better hunting grounds.

All crocodiles appear in numbers of 2–24; this will indicate how many are active in an area about 20 miles in diameter. Crocodiles will work together if food is plentiful, but usually only in groups of 2–5, if not singly.

Advantages

It is a natural predator, moving gently through water while showing only a small part of its body, in order to move near to its target. It is able to strike like lightning from out of the water, surprising prey 1 to 4 out of 6 and, failing that, gaining a +4 bonus to their initiative die.

Their chief tactic is to grip their prey, which they will do if the bite succeeds in stunning their opponent. Once this happens, the crocodile will attempt to drag the victim into the water, in order to drown it. Meanwhile, the crushed victim will suffer 1–6 damage per round. The crocodile's grip can be loosened if the crocodile is successfully stunned. If the crocodile does return to the water, it will begin to roll the victim in an attempt to drown and kill the victim more quickly. Once in the water, the rolling damage (taking the place of crushing) will equal 2–8 per round. Crocodiles are able to roll creatures up to twice their own weight.

Note that while the reptile has taken hold of the victim, the victim will still have the use of either hand. Victims may continue to attack, but all damage they cause is halved.

Saltwater Crocodile

Crocodile (saltwater)

Species	crocodile
No. Appearing	3–24
Behaviour	subsocial
Range	intertidal
Size	23 ft. long
Weight	4,950 lbs.
Intelligence	1
Armour Class	5
Hit Dice	4
Action Points	5
Max. Stride	{{{stride}}}
THAC0	19
Hp/Die	2d4+d6
Attack Forms	bite
Damage	5–25
Special Attacks	grip & crush, initiative, roll, surprise on a 1–4

A larger, sea-going species of the crocodile, dwelling along tropical shorelines, including mangrove swamps, estuaries, deltas, lagoons and the lower stretches of large rivers. Most of their prey is ambushed directly from the water, as these reptiles do not move overland easily. The head is very large and the body is covered with bony ridges that make its hide tougher than freshwater crocodiles.

They have been found moving through the open ocean, but this is very rare. Saltwater crocodiles will attempt this only in an attempt to locate better hunting grounds (they're starving). Attacks do not occur at open sea.

The skin of the saltwater crocodile is more commercially valuable than any other crocodile.

Crushed victims of the saltwater crocodile will suffer 1–8 damage per round; rolling damage will equal 3–10 damage per round. They also possess the surprise and initiative traits of typical crocodiles.

Deinosuchus

Crocodile (deinosuchus)

Species	crocodile
No. Appearing	3–24
Behaviour	subsocial
Range	intertidal, ocean bank, subterranean
Size	30 ft. long
Weight	5½ tons
Intelligence	1
Armour Class	5
Hit Dice	7
Action Points	4
Max. Stride	{{{stride}}}
THAC0	17
Hp/Die	d4+2d6
Attack Forms	bite
Damage	7–42
Special Attacks	grip & crush, roll

Also known as the giant crocodile, these immense creatures prey upon most large sea creatures, including dolphins, sharks and whales. They are able to remain on the surface of the ocean for days at a time, plunging to depths of 100 feet in order to strike prey. Still, because they must rest, they are rarely found more than 20–30 miles from land. They have been known to strike at small ships, though it is supposed that this is caused by surprising these huge animals rather than any understanding that a ship has prey aboard.

Because of its size, the deinosuchus crocodile are less likely to strike at creatures upon the shoreline. They do not possess the surprise and initiative traits of their smaller cousins. They do feed upon river creatures in very large rivers, particularly hippopotamuses, of which they are fond.

A strange characteristic of the deinosuchus is that it has some warm-blooded characteristics, enabling it to dwell in tropical caves deep underground. The species is not found north of the tropics, but where water caves extend inland, such as in the Yucatan, the East Indies or Madagascar, there are subterranean dungeons where these monsters occur.

Crushed victims of the deinosuchus will suffer 1–10 damage per round; rolling damage is equal to 3–12 damage per round.

See Also,
Amphibians & Reptiles (sage study)
Bestiary