- For other Dinosaurs, see Dinosaur.
| Dilophosaurus | Dimetrodon | Dinichthys | Temnodontosaurus | Diplodocus | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| CLIMATE/TERRAIN: | Any land | Any land | Any ocean | Any ocean | Any swamp |
| FREQUENCY | Rare | Uncommon | Common | Rare | Common |
| ORGANIZATION: | Solitary, pack | Solitary | Solitary | Solitary | Solitary |
| ACTIVITY CYCLE: | Day | Day | Day | Day | Day |
| DIET: | Carnivore | Carnivore | Carnivore | Carnivore | Herbivore |
| INTELLIGENCE: | Non- (0) | Non- (0) | Non- (0) | Non- (0) | Non- (0) |
| TREASURE: | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| ALIGNMENT: | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| NO. APPEARING: | 1-3 | 1-2 | 1-4 | 1 (10% for 2) | 1-6 |
| ARMOR CLASS: | 5 | 4 | 7 | 4 | 6 |
| MOVEMENT: | 18 (+1 Jump) | 12/6 | 21 | 24 | 6 |
| HIT DICE: | 8 + 2 | 3 to 5 | 10 | 10 | 24 |
| THAC0: | 13 | 3-4 HD:17 5 HD: 15 |
11 | 11 | 5 |
| NO. OF ATTACKS: | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 (and 1) | 1 |
| DAMAGE/ATTACK: | 2-12/2-12/1-6 | 6-15 | 5-20 | 5-20 (and 2-12) | 3-18 |
| SPECIAL ATTACKS: | Nil | Nil | Swallow | Nil | See below |
| SPECIAL DEFENSES: | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| MAGIC RESISTANCE: | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil | Nil |
| SIZE: | H (20' long) | L (9' long) | H (25' + long) | G (30' long) | G (80' long) |
| MORALE: | Average (10) | Steady (11) | Steady (11) | Steady (12) | Steady (12) |
| XP VALUE: | 1,400 | 65-175 | 4,000 | 2,000 | 16,000 |
Dilophosaurus[]
The weak skull of this monster prevents strong jaw muscle attachments, so it uses its taloned hind feet, especially its spurs, to inflict horrible wounds on its prey, while its snaky neck strikes to deliver biting damage. It prefers open areas to jungle, and seldom ventures into areas thick with trees. Dilophosaurus often hunts with one or more of its kind, seeking a large dinosaur to kill for a feast.
One other unusual feature of this carnosaur is its pair of head crests, which only males of the species have.
Dragon Magazine 187 (Nov 1992)[]
- Update to the Dilophosaurus given by Dragon Magazine
(This is an addition to the information given on this dinosaur in the Monstrous Compendium).
This carnivore was a carnosaur with a pair of semicircular bony crests on the top of its skull. Armed with tiny claws and weak jaws,
Dilophosaurus seems to be a poor predator. However, this carnosaur has poison glands in its jaws; a bitten victim must save vs. poison or take 10 hp/round damage for 2-8 rounds (a successful save results in the loss of only 5 hp/round for 1-4 rounds).
Dilophosaurus can also spit this poison up to 20', but this lessens its effectiveness. Failure to save against this spitting attack causes 5 hp/ round damage for 2-8 rounds to the victim (2 hp/round for 1-4 rounds if the save is made) and blindness if a second save vs. breath weapons is failed. If the poison is washed off, the damage stops at once, but this must occur within two rounds. In any event, the blindness lasts for 2–5 hours. Dilophosaurus prefers to attack by first spitting poison, then mauling the blinded victim. It hunts in small groups of 1d6 +3 adults.
Dimetrodon[]
The sail-backed dimetrodon is a fierce predator and an example of the mammal-like reptiles. Its large fin works like a solar heater, allowing the dimetrodon to heat up to active temperature hours before its prey. Its ability to swim is questionable but likely. The dimetrodon's alligator-like jaws give it a powerful bite (3d4+3 points of damage), more than making up for its lack of claw attacks.
Dinichthys[]
Dinichthys's name—"terrible fish"—reveals that this fearsome creature is not actually a dinosaur but a huge, primitive fish. Its great mouth can swallow man-sized prey on a natural attack roll of 20.
Temnodontosaurus[]
This monster is a large ichthyosaur or "fish lizard." Although it is not a dinosaur, it thrives in the same marine habitats as do mosasaurs, for example—its young are born live at sea, and the temnodontosaurus must come to the surface to breathe.
Its speed and ferocity allow it to compete fearlessly for choice prey with any creature. When in a feeding frenzy, a temnodontosaurus strikes with its powerful tail, inflicting damage on any creature behind it that is struck by this lashing.
Diplodocus[]
This dinosaur is another sauropod, like the brachiosaurus, that eats water plants. Despite being longer than its relatives, the diplodocus weighs only about ten tons.
Like the other sauropods, the diplodocus can rear up on its back legs. If it comes down on anything smaller than itself, the creature causes 3dlO points of damage.