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Using Dinosaurs and other giant beasts as warmounts.

Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 1:13 am
by twingle93
I'm creating a primitive campaign world where the inhabitants use dinosaurs as their weapons of war.

These are some of the ideas I've come up with so far.

They use dinosaurs as armored vehicles and attack machines, such biological weapons are self-repairing, self-replicating, and can be direct them with mind control. They are make ideal killing machines, incredibly strong (theropod jaws can cut through steel pipe) and their nervous systems are simplistic enough that they would even know they’d been mortally wounded until after they’d taken down a few dozen of their opponents. Many have been bred to kill, born to fight.

Ceratopsids would be used as as mounts they may be outfitted with harnesses and riding seats to carry their master like beasts of burden. They are ridden by elite units and battle-proven warriors. Their frontal armor makes for an excellent mobile defense. If necessary weapons can be affixed to the conveniently placed horns.

Sauropods function as armored transports. The creature can typically transport troops to combat zones, drop them off, and then hang around to offer artillery support and to punch through enemy infantry lines and engage enemy vehicles. They can also can be used to drag huge amounts of resources to and from battlefields, dragging enormous plows behind them to dig defensive moats and trenches, etc. Their great height would enable a rider to see where an enemy is encamped and thus aid in developing strategies for destroying them. They also have an effective tail to wipe out entire rows of men at one time.

Dromaeosaurs—savage theropod animals about the size of a human (over twice as long from the tip of the noise to the tip of their tail). These cunning predators are clever enough to claw through, circumvent or otherwise overcome most defensive barriers and traps, and are so bold to that tiny splinter groups can enter fortified settlements to stalk the streets for prey. The creatures can move swiftly and silently, leaping from rooftops and from around corners, hide in the shadows, herd prey into the waiting claws of saurians laying in ambush, and use hit and run tactics, as well as the element of surprise and superior numbers. These creatures can be released onto enemy territory to soften them up for attack. Even a few of these creatures and kill hundreds of cattle, wild animals and unprotected people within a few weeks. These predators have surprising animal cunning, and are stealthy when they have to be, so hunting them down can take an entire army. While the armed forces are in disarray and scattered looking for the murderous animals, the rest of the forces to strike.

Giant theropods—like the Tyrannosaurs—are seen as the ultimate weapons of war. Only the elite of the elite can be seen commanding one.


I'm think of adding weapons as well more strategic moves.

Any ideas?

Re: Using Dinosaurs and other giant beasts as warmounts.

Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 1:22 am
by Shadow Wyrm
Well the Simvan of Rift's use dino's as warmounts, so it's do-able. What kind of weapons were you thinking about adding.

Re: Using Dinosaurs and other giant beasts as warmounts.

Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 1:35 am
by twingle93
Dinosaurs are fairly common on this world, so I imagine there is a great variety.

The more primitive tribes would settle for spikes, and wooden armor, (like the game Paraworld) while the more technologically advanced cultures would attach weapons resembling what Tolkeen added to their war-beasts like the Daemonix (i.e like Dino-riders). These more advanced cultures would probably selectively breed their dinosaurs to be larger and more cunning.

Re: Using Dinosaurs and other giant beasts as warmounts.

Posted: Mon Nov 09, 2009 5:08 am
by Spinachcat
Check out the warmounts in Splicers.

The Host Armor rules can easily be used to create creatures and you may enjoy using them to "customize" and "upgrade" the dinos in your world.