Yeah, most of the creatures in this article aren't too hilarious. I'll choose better after we finish 'em off!
Two entries makes sense.
Added viper venom dog to
Homebrews.
I borrowed the venom of a viper.
A dog has +1 natural armor, while a Small viper has +3. Its AC translates to 16, so +2 NA would fit nicely with its +3 Dex and +1 size bonus.
Yes, separate entries seems the way to go.
Shall we do the venom dog first?
The proposed stats look good.
Do we want to give it some of a Viper's skills as well as a dog's?
Dog Skills: Jump +7, Listen +5, Spot +5, Survival +1*
Racial - +4 to Jump, +4 Survival to Track by scent
Small Viper Skills: Balance +11, Climb +11, Hide +15, Listen +7, Spot +7, Swim +6
Racial - +8 Balance, Climb and Swim; +4 to Hide, Listen and Spot, take 10 on Climb.
Methinks I'd like to give it a Dog's skills, with the 2 extra skill ranks in Balance and Hide (so they're sneaky like a snake).
Since they have canine bodies I don't feel they should have a snake's climbing ability or racial bonus, although I would be OK with a reduced racial bonus on Balance and Swim.
Viper Venom Dog
Ranks - Balance 1, Jump 0, Hide 1, Listen 2, Spot 2, Survival 0, Swim 0
Racial - +4 to Balance, Jump, Hide, Listen, Spot and Swim, +4 Survival to Track by scent
Skills: Balance +8, Jump +7, Hide +8, Listen +5, Spot +5, Survival +1* (+5 to Track by scent), Swim +5 [Includes Alertness feat]
As for the feats, since they get 2 feats from their 3 HD I'd just give them the dog's Alertness and the Viper's Improved Initiative, plus the Track and Weapon Finesse bonus feats they have.
Feats: Alertness, Improved Initiative, Track (B), Weapon Finesse (B).
That would change their stats so:
http://www.d20srd.org/srd/skills/balance.htmVenom Dog, Viper
Initiative: +7
Attack: Bite +7 melee (1d4+1 plus poison)
Full Attack: Bite +7 melee (1d4+1 plus poison)
Skills: Balance +8, Jump +7, Hide +8, Listen +5, Spot +5, Survival +1* (+5 to Track by scent), Swim +5
Feats: Alertness, Improved Initiative, Track (B), Weapon Finesse (B).
