Hyenas

[ChalkLine]

I don't have the skills to stat them, but a good - and terrifying - creature to add to your campaign is the Spotted Hyena.

The Spotted Hyena exists already in many zoos in the USA (and in other places in the world). This particular Hyena, also known as the 'laughing hyena', occupies roughly the niche in the African ecosystem as the lion. Unlike its smaller cousin the 'striped hyena' is primary a hunter, and a very good one.

The features that distinguishes the Spotted Hyena is its very high intelligence and its unusually intricate pack social structure.

First off, Spotted Hyenas generally prey on large animals. They have been recorded varying their hunting plans based on situation, prey creature and numbers of hyenas in the hunt the way a primate would. In fact several things spotted hyenas do are similar to primates. They are also one of the very few creatures that considers humans to be a normal prey animal and have various hunting methods solely for them.

As said above, spotted hyenas aren't just smart, they are smarter than many primates and better at cooperative problem solving as well. Spotted hyenas are well aware of what firearms are in their usual habitat and minimise their exposure to them. If it is impossible to do so they simply back off and wait for a better opportunity or create a situation which is a better opportunity if within their means. If a situation appears to be a trap they'll often avoid it as soon as they can and warn the rest of the pack. Don't be afraid of overplaying how smart they are.

Now, the usual size for a spotted hyena is 70kg, but the extinct Eurasian Giant Hyena was 100kg . . .

The skull of the spotted hyena differs from that of the striped hyena by its much greater size and narrower sagittal crest. For its size, the spotted hyena has one of the most powerfully built skulls among the Carnivora.[40] The dentition is more dual purposed than that of other modern hyena species, which are mostly scavengers; the upper and lower third premolars are conical bone-crushers, with a third bone-holding cone jutting from the lower fourth premolar. The spotted hyena also has its carnassials situated behind its bone-crushing premolars, the position of which allows it to crush bone with its premolars without blunting the carnassials.[9] Combined with large jaw muscles and a special vaulting to protect the skull against large forces, these characteristics give the spotted hyena a powerful bite which can exert a pressure of 80 kgf/cm2 (1140 lbf/in²),[41] which is 40% more force than a leopard can generate.[42] The jaws of the spotted hyena outmatch those of the brown bear in bonecrushing ability,[43] and free ranging hyenas have been observed to crack open the long bones of giraffes measuring 7 cm in diameter.[44] A 63.1 kg (139 lb) spotted hyena is estimated to have a bite force of 565.7 newtons at the canine tip and 985.5 newtons at the carnassial eocone.[45] One individual in a study was found to exert a bite force of 4,500 newtons on the measuring instruments.[46]

[ChalkLine]

PS: Hyenas smell strongly (they seem to be aware of this) so if the area is overrun with feral hyenas you'd better get a dog.

[mmartin798]

Here are some quick 4ed stat based on making them primate smart with the strength indicated in the article:

Spotted Hyena
Mass: 11
STR: 28
CON: 25
DEX: 25
AWA: 20
REA: 13
FOC: 20
SP/BP: 292
PACE: 24

[ChalkLine]

That's awesome (and fast!).
How did you go for speed? They can get up to 60km/h

[mmartin798]

The basic calculation for PACE gave the 24, which works out to a walking speed of 24 kph. The article said in a zebra hunt the pack can maintain that speed, so that seemed reasonable. In the case of a gazelle hunt, these hyenas hunt alone and they get up to 60kph. Running is 3x PACE, so 72 kph. Given they can't run for long, this seemed ok.

[ChalkLine]

Originally Posted by mmartin798

The basic calculation for PACE gave the 24, which works out to a running speed of 24 kph. The article said in a zebra hunt the pack can maintain that speed, so that seemed reasonable. In the case of a gazelle hunt, these hyenas hunt alone and they get up to 60kph. Giving an average burst PACE of 48 would get them up to 48 kph, again a reasonable average.

Awesome. I'll definitely be using your stats. Thanks heaps