The owlbear is a particularly cool monster because for whatever reason, when you mix an owl and a bear you get win.
Are there other animal combinations of this kind that maybe aren't in your standard D&D monster manual, that would work as well?
RPGPundit
Giraffe + Chameleon
Tiger + Tarantula
Honey Badger (can't be improved upon).
A Bullshark. Body and temperment of a cape buffalo with the head and appetite of a great white shark.
Owl + badger = funsize owlbear.
Tiger Shark! Oh, wait...
Ant Lion! Oy.
Dragon Fly! This is harder than it looks...
OK, Tiger Moth! Eek!
For reals...Mantis Cat!
Squirrelope. Giraffaguar. Sharktopus. Solar Bear.
The Umber Hulk is a favorite of mine that's basically a Beetle crossed with a Gorilla.
I think I had some good hybrids in H&H. Pinbirds are cranes crossed with porcupines, paleworms are humans mutated into enormous grub or leech-like worms, and the neurovores are octopus brain parasites, sort of like a mind flayer without a body and shapeshifting ability.
Wolf + shark
spider + monkey
scorpion + lion
rhino + leopard
Ah hell, just look at these search (https://www.google.com/search?num=10&hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1680&bih=891&q=animal+hybrid&oq=animal+hybrid&gs_l=img.3..0l7j0i5l3.1666.4974.0.5372.13.12.0.1.1.0.87.523.12.12.0...0.0...1ac.1.uIHmKB-orAg#num=10&hl=en&tbo=d&site=imghp&tbm=isch&q=animal+hybrid+photoshop&revid=1646039844&sa=X&ei=SZ3jUInjJ4fYigLX3oHoBw&ved=0CGQQgxY&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.1355534169,d.cGE&fp=a13d803d261775a3&bpcl=40096503&biw=1680&bih=891) results. Wow!
Bat+Viper
Two of the scariest animals in North America: Bear + Alligators = Beargator.
Quote from: J Arcane;613625The Umber Hulk is a favorite of mine that's basically a Beetle crossed with a Gorilla.
Yeah man, Umber Hulks are some serious shit.
Quote from: Sacrosanct;613626Wolf + shark
spider + monkey
scorpion + lion
rhino + leopard
Ah hell, just look at these search (https://www.google.com/search?num=10&hl=en&site=imghp&tbm=isch&source=hp&biw=1680&bih=891&q=animal+hybrid&oq=animal+hybrid&gs_l=img.3..0l7j0i5l3.1666.4974.0.5372.13.12.0.1.1.0.87.523.12.12.0...0.0...1ac.1.uIHmKB-orAg#num=10&hl=en&tbo=d&site=imghp&tbm=isch&q=animal+hybrid+photoshop&revid=1646039844&sa=X&ei=SZ3jUInjJ4fYigLX3oHoBw&ved=0CGQQgxY&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.r_cp.r_qf.&bvm=bv.1355534169,d.cGE&fp=a13d803d261775a3&bpcl=40096503&biw=1680&bih=891) results. Wow!
There's some interesting possibilites there!
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/-IOHO04okYJk/Ttd4mOMYVnI/AAAAAAAABHs/uL6WrvFOtj4/s1600/Funny+Photoshop+Animal+Hybrids+Penguin+Shark+Humor.jpg)
This is evil and must be unleashed on PCs.
(http://www.sweetsauer.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/09/FDE739C0976C4E2D80B8D51DAA7BFBED12.jpg)
I'd love to something with these. I'd see them as more sphynx like. They live in groups in jungles and can provide PCs with important information as long as they can answer riddles (or offer bananas.)
I liked the skittering maw (shark + giant centipede) given as an example in ACKS' monster cross-breeding rules.
Quote from: thedungeondelver;613622Sharktopus.
I see what you did there.
Piranha Frogs and Piranha Swallows while we're at it, because really, any small innocuous creature could benefit from a dash of piranha.
Spider Mushrooms, though these are technically two organisms in symbiosis. Of course, nothing should stop our mad wizard from blurring the boundary.
Though not technically a hybrid, Microraptor belongs on this list. It had hands on its wings and wings on its feet.
mole + piranha = penguin-eating ice moles (http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/04/01/new-rodent-species-discovered/) (with ice-melting carbuncles!).
Critters I mean to use if I ever have players end up in the frozen South.
Quote from: RunningLaser;613537A Bullshark. Body and temperment of a cape buffalo with the head and appetite of a great white shark.
Sounds like the bullette only without the underground part.
Quote from: Dan Vincze;613662Piranha Frogs and Piranha Swallows while we're at it, because really, any small innocuous creature could benefit from a dash of piranha.
Quote from: Simlasa;613672mole + piranha = penguin-eating ice moles (http://scienceblogs.com/gregladen/2009/04/01/new-rodent-species-discovered/) (with ice-melting carbuncles!).
Critters I mean to use if I ever have players end up in the frozen South.
See what I mean? Though I'll grant, the hot-plate was a stroke of genius.
Crocodiles + Hawks.
Crocohoks.
Quote from: Blackhand;613687Crocodiles + Hawks.
Crawks.
Jellyfish + Humming bird wings = Humming Jelly. Extremely fucking dangerous flying jellyfish with a high metabolism.
Platypus + Ass = PusAss. A crappy pack animal with excruciatingly envenomed rear hooves and a bad temper. Domesticated by gnomes, just because... Seriously, fuck those gnomes!
Cat + Mosquito = Catsquito. Adorable cat-headed mosquito that bites mammals near their mammary glands in the hopes of milk. Carries disease!
:)
Housefly + Little Yappy Dog = Yapfly. Bloody annoying, buzzes around and yaps, then walks on your food to piddle on it in fear. Carries disease!
:)
I'd be a total asshole mad wizard.
;)
Avatar is great for these. My favourites including...
Boar-Q-Pine: Boar/Porcupine, a charging, stocky ball of spikey death.
Bull Antelope: Could you image being headbutted by such a thing?
Gorilla Goat: A huge, lumbering gorilla with horns who eats everything in sight.
Platypus Bear: Probably the same magic which endears the Owlbear.
Spider + Cat = Spiders body with a cat-like head; don't know why, but this freaks me the hell out, and has for years.
Monkey + Mosquito = Monkey's body, with giant mosquito head. Swarm tactics.
Pitbull + Hawk = Hawl body, with a pitbull head, with the infamous bite intact.
Quote from: Novastar;613935Spider + Cat = Spiders body with a cat-like head; don't know why, but this freaks me the hell out, and has for years.
(http://rookery.s3.amazonaws.com/1404000/1404408_6b58_625x1000.jpg)
Thanks for giving me MOAR nightmare fuel. :p
FWIW, I think this one is a lot more creepy
(http://www.onlyweirdpics.com/pictures/Weirdpictures-spider_Cat.jpg)
Polar bear + killer whale
Polar whalebear
Batsnake
'Gator Penguin
Wormshark
Wombataroo
Quote from: Black Vulmea;613691Crawks.
Hawcodiles.
Quote from: thedungeondelver;613997Hawcodiles.
Toosh.
Someday I'll sleep again... :eek:
Hmmm, maybe I should update my RPG website with more of the stuff I've been working on, since Sacro has denied me sleep...
Quote from: Kanye Westeros;613702Avatar is great for these. My favourites including...
Boar-Q-Pine: Boar/Porcupine, a charging, stocky ball of spikey death.
Bull Antelope: Could you image being headbutted by such a thing?
Gorilla Goat: A huge, lumbering gorilla with horns who eats everything in sight.
Platypus Bear: Probably the same magic which endears the Owlbear.
Well said. Vulture-Wasps, Sabertooth-Moose, Skunk-bear. and more
The so-called scifi channel had two good ones.
Sharktopus and Mansquito.
Some others I find very good or interesting
(http://dcist.com/attachments/dcist_eddie/2011_0402_nationalzoo.jpg)
(http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/web03/2012/4/30/12/enhanced-buzz-7742-1335802261-12.jpg)
(http://s3-ec.buzzfed.com/static/enhanced/web05/2012/4/30/12/enhanced-buzz-31049-1335802835-13.jpg)
(http://4.bp.blogspot.com/-HyfQku-NoMU/TscaeXYpMyI/AAAAAAAADPY/2AgdyFTLZZg/s1600/hybrid-animals-hybrid-ani-004.jpg)
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ovJS1Em-6dg/Rjw2cHA-Y7I/AAAAAAAAHuY/qHkXlkvP5uw/s1600/animals077.jpg)
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ovJS1Em-6dg/Rjw09HA-YnI/AAAAAAAAHr4/fULo6yiSLII/s400/animals057.jpg)
(http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ovJS1Em-6dg/RjwzeXA-YQI/AAAAAAAAHpA/3ocvBO0nCL0/s400/animals034.jpg)
Love the sharkpidgeon!
Quote from: Bill;614097Love the sharkpidgeon!
Shark-gull actually.
and yeah, it looks fucking terrifying.
Quote from: One Horse Town;614126Shark-gull actually.
and yeah, it looks fucking terrifying.
Shull? Gark?
Normal seagulls can be scary. That one is truly terrifying.
That bear-antula up there is horrible and beautiful at the same time. My contributions would have to be:
1. bat + scorpian= Night Stingers?
2. anything + manta ray (because rays are awesome)
3. Electric Eel + boa constrictor
Anything combining mammal and insect would probably creep me out.
It's like Sci Fi Saturday in here!
I nominate Bearantula as the name with the best sound.
(http://1.bp.blogspot.com/_ovJS1Em-6dg/Rjw09HA-YnI/AAAAAAAAHr4/fULo6yiSLII/s400/animals057.jpg)
It's a Crawk!
Quote from: Bill;614091The so-called scifi channel had two good ones.
Sharktopus and Mansquito.
My wife and I love watching the horrible SyFy movies, and inspired by these two, we once spent most of an afternoon e-mailing silly hybrid creature ideas to one another rather than working at our respective jobs.
The lady came up with the best hybrid:
Lamprarie Dog
Hmmm...Lamprairie Dog and Crawk! are serious contenders for best name.
Quote from: Bill;614206Hmmm...Lamprairie Dog and Crawk! are serious contenders for best name.
I'm totally putting Crawks in the Temple adventure...maybe a random encounter where we break for the Ghost Tower of Inverness.
Some of these are neat, some of them are just dumb... but god help me, there's not one of them that parallels the majesty of the Owlbear!
RPGPundit
Quote from: Bill;614206Crawk!
Hawcodile!
Quote from: thedungeondelver;614627Hawcodile!
Hawkodile does roll off one's tongue.
Quote from: Blackhand;614195It's a Crawk!
Actually, I think it's a parrodile.
Quote from: Black Vulmea;614739Actually, I think it's a parrodile.
It's probably in the same MC entry.
Quote from: RPGPundit;614626Some of these are neat, some of them are just dumb... but god help me, there's not one of them that parallels the majesty of the Owlbear!
RPGPundit
Well the griffon is a cross between eagle and lion and its way cooler...
No love for the Bearsharktopus?
(http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/ae62/Yourswordismine/bearsharktopus.jpg)
and South Park gave us ManBearPig
Bat + Orangutan= Batarangutans
Gorillopotamus
Spider + Goat = Awesome. Done to perfection in the 2nd edition After the Bomb.
Quote from: Tetsubo;614823Spider + Goat = Awesome. Done to perfection in the 2nd edition After the Bomb.
They exist, at least at the genetic level; they've got goats that give spider silk instead of goat milk (for harvesting lots of spider silk for polymer testing).
Quote from: thedungeondelver;614829They exist, at least at the genetic level; they've got goats that give spider silk instead of goat milk (for harvesting lots of spider silk for polymer testing).
I actually knew that. The After the Bomb version is built upon the real world version.
Quote from: thedungeondelver;614829They exist, at least at the genetic level; they've got goats that give spider silk instead of goat milk (for harvesting lots of spider silk for polymer testing).
Freaky. Cool, but freaky :D
I think anything with bear would be cool. Wolf-bear.... yeah, bear-sized beastie that runs in packs... ouch. Tiger-bear... gah. Ant-bear..... ok, that's just wierd. Typing them out as they pop in my head, forgive me.
Of course there could also be stuff like a snake-monkey... arborial critter with scales and a venomous bite. We already have bat-mosquitoes and a bunch of other stuff (hippogriffs and such). How about more subtle stuff, like tiger-hounds? I think a wizard could use something as bad-ass as a tiger, but loyal and trainable as a guard dog. Might hafta use that one actually.
Has anybody mentioned "Australia" yet?
JG
Quote from: James Gillen;615031Has anybody mentioned "Australia" yet?
JG
Duck + Beaver = Platypus .. not sure I would class them as particularly dangerous (just don't pick the boy ones up, they have a nasty venomous spur). Last time I saw one outside of a zoo was about 10 years ago, and I live near a creek that allegedly has them living wild in it.
Granted, I have many other super deadly shit in my front yard, it's just none of it is quite the combo territory nor owlbear worthy.
However, some of the recently dead megafauna would be scary as..
Wombat + Lion = Marsupial Lion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsupial_lion).
Apparently they think that bastard of a creature had more biting force than any mammal ever, and that:
QuoteThe marsupial lion instead had an extremely efficient and unique bite; the incisors would have been used to stab at and pierce the flesh of its prey while the more specialised carnassials crushed the windpipe, severed the spinal cord and lacerated the major blood vessels such as the carotid artery and jugular vein. Compared to an African lion which may take 15 minutes to kill a large catch, the marsupial lion could kill a large animal in less than a minute.
Needless to say, I love setting games in pre-history Aussie times just to pull out nasty buggers like that.
Quote from: tellius;615034Duck + Beaver = Platypus .. not sure I would class them as particularly dangerous (just don't pick the boy ones up, they have a nasty venomous spur). Last time I saw one outside of a zoo was about 10 years ago, and I live near a creek that allegedly has them living wild in it.
Granted, I have many other super deadly shit in my front yard, it's just none of it is quite the combo territory nor owlbear worthy.
However, some of the recently dead megafauna would be scary as..
Wombat + Lion = Marsupial Lion (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Marsupial_lion).
Apparently they think that bastard of a creature had more biting force than any mammal ever, and that:
Needless to say, I love setting games in pre-history Aussie times just to pull out nasty buggers like that.
"Australia: Darwin's Waiting Room."
You know, Avatar (the kids' tv show, not the stunning but ideologically idiotic movie) does this animal combination stuff all the time, and generally gets it really well...
RPGPundit
Quote from: RPGPundit;615524You know, Avatar (the kids' tv show, not the stunning but ideologically idiotic movie) does this animal combination stuff all the time, and generally gets it really well...
RPGPundit
Yeah, I mentioned some of them up thread, ad did a couple of others.
Quote from: James Gillen;615031Has anybody mentioned "Australia" yet?
JG
Well, I brought up the wombataroo...