FREQUENCY: Uncommon
NO. APPEARING: 2-12
ARMOR CLASS: 6
MOVE: 21”
HIT DICE: 3
% IN LAIR: Nil
TREASURE TYPE: Nil
NO. OF ATTACKS: 5
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-4/1-4/1-6/1-6/1-6
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Animal
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: M (12’ long, 175 lbs.)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
    Attack/Defense Modes: Nil

The sages have recently discovered a
remarkable group of carnosaurs called
the dromaeosaurs. These are all smaller
carnosaurs, in the range of 6 to 15 feet
long, but with some outstanding fea-
tures: very keen eyesight (binocular vi-
sion in some cases), strong grasping
hands with long clawed “fingers,” and
most importantly brains far larger than
those found in other dinosaurs. As intel-
ligent as large birds, they must be many
times more cunning than their average
prey. The best known of the dromaeo-
saurs is deinonychus.

For its size, deinonychus is one of na-
ture’s most savage killing machines. First,
it has long, strong arms with clawed
hands suitable for grasping or slashing
(inflicting 1-4 points of damage each).
Next, it has a head full of teeth for ripping
its prey (for 1-6 points damage). Finally,
each of the powerful legs ends in a foot
equipped with a huge upward-curving
slashing claw, Iike a curved disembowel-
ing knife. Deinonychus slashes upward
with these in powerful kicks, one after
the other, meanwhile balancing on its
tail and its other leg. Worst of all, this
highly coordinated killer hunts in packs.

Typically, several pack members will
keep their prey busy from the front while
others leap in at its back. Deinonychus
reaches 4-5 feet off the ground running,
but rears to 6-7 feet in height attacking.

by Lawrence Schick
 

Dragon

Monster Manual III

Carnosaurs

Dinosaurs (New Theories)

Dragon #55