A group of large theropod carnivores, closely related to the spinosaurs. They emerged during the early Jurassic, diversified in the middle Jurassic, and died off around the start of the Cretaceous. They had large heads, slender bodies, and long tails. Their arms had three claws, while their feet had four, although one of the latter was a small dewclaw. Unlike many of their relatives, their faces usually lacked horns or ridges. Their size combined with the warm Jurassic climate suggests that they would have little need for insulation as adults, and they have traditionally been portrayed with bare, scaly skin, but simple hair‐like proto‐feathers are also plausible, especially for juveniles.
Megalosaurus bucklandii was a fairly typical member of the family which lived in central Laurasia (in what is now Britain) during the middle Jurassic. It was the first dinosaur to be given a binomial scientific name. Poekilopleuron bucklandii may be a closely related genus, another species of Megalosaurus, or a somewhat larger individual of the same species. Duriavenator and the larger Wiehenvenator were also closely related and come from around the same time and place. Torvosaurus was another close relative, from later in the Jurassic and further west (in what is now the United States), which reached a similar size to Wiehenvenator
The relationships between other megalosaurids are less clear. Eustreptospondylus lived close to Megalosaurus around the same time, but was only distantly related. Afrovenator was a large predator which lived in the jungles of northern Gondwana (now Niger) from the middle to late Jurassic. It seems to have been closely related to Dubreuillosaurus and Magnosaurus which lived in Laurasia (now France and Britain, respectively) during the middle Jurassic. The huge Piveteausaurus from central Laurasia (now France) during the late Jurassic may be related to the smaller Leshansaurus from eastern Laurasia (now China) during the middle Jurassic, but it isn't clear if they are even megalosaurids.
Megalosaurus
ST 23;
DX 11;
IQ 3;
HT 11.
HP 23;
Will 10;
Per 12;
FP 11;
Speed 5.50;
Dodge 8;
Move 5.
SM +2 (3 hexes), 1,600 lbs.
Bite (13): 2d+2 cutting. Reach C.
Fore‐claw (13): 1d−1 cutting. Reach C.
Kick (11): 2d+3 cutting. Reach C.
Tail (11): 2d+3 crushing. Reach 1–3. Limited arc (rear).
Traits: Born Biter 2; Discriminatory Smell; DR 2 (Tough Skin); Enhanced Move 1 (Ground Speed 10; Costs Fatigue, 1 FP/Second); Night Vision 1; No Fine Manipulators; Weak Arms 2 (½ ST); Wild Animal.
Skills: Brawling–13; Stealth–11; Survival (Island/Beach)–12; Swimming–12.
For Poekilopleuron or Duriavenator(2,200 lbs.) increase ST and HP to 26, SM to +3 (4 hexes), and damage to 2d+3 with a bite, 1d with fore‐claw, and 2d+4 with kick or tail.
For Wiehenvenator (4,400 lbs.) increase ST and HP to 33, SM to +3 (5 hexes), DR to 3, damage to 3d+4 with a bite, 1d+2 with fore‐claw, and 3d+5 with kick or tail, and tail reach to 1–4.
For Torvosaurus (4,400 lbs.) increase ST and HP to 33, SM to +3 (5 hexes), DR to 3, damage to 3d+4 with a bite, 1d+2 with fore‐claw, and 3d+5 with kick or tail, and tail reach to 1–4. Change Survival specialty to (Plains).
For Eustreptospondylus (1,100 lbs.) reduce ST and HP to 21, and damage to 2d+1 with a bite, 1d−1 with fore‐claw, and 2d+2 with kick or tail.
For Afrovenator (3,300 lbs.) increase ST and HP to 30, SM to +3 (4 hexes), DR to 3, and damage to 2d+3 with a bite, 1d+1 with fore‐claw, and 2d+4 with kick or tail. Change Survival specialty to (Jungle).
For Dubreuillosaurus (750 lbs.) reduce ST and HP to 18, DR to 1, and damage to 1d+2 with a bite, 1d−2 with fore‐claw, and 1d+3 with kick or tail. Change Survival specialty to (Swampland).
For Magnosaurus (500 lbs.) reduce ST and HP to 16, DR to 1, and damage to 1d+1 with a bite, 1d−3 with fore‐claw, and 1d+2 with kick or tail.
For Piveteausaurus (8,000 lbs.) increase ST and HP to 40, SM to +4 (6 hexes), DR to 4, damage to 4d+4 with a bite, 2d−1 with fore‐claw, and 4d+5 with kick or tail, and tail reach to 1–5.
For Leshansaurus (1,600 lbs.) change Survival specialty to (Woodlands).
Alternative Interpretations
Megalosaurus fossils were first understood as the remains of elephants or giants. When some reptilian features were recognized, it was described as a huge, amphibious, lizard‐like quadruped, 40 feet long, 8 feet at the shoulder, and weighing as much as an elephant. Later estimates gave sizes from 30 up to 70 feet in length. A sculpture by Benjamin Waterhouse Hawkins based on this description can be found among the Crystal Park Dinosaurs.
Megalosaurus (Quadrupedal Reptile)
ST 43;
DX 8;
IQ 2;
HT 12.
HP 43;
Will 10;
Per 10;
FP 12;
Speed 5.00;
Dodge 8;
Move 5.
SM +5 (21 hexes), 10,000 lbs.
Bite or Claw (10): 5d+3 cutting. Reach C.
Tail (8): 5d+4 crushing. Reach 1–4 Limited arc (rear).
Traits: Amphibious; Bad Sight (Low Resolution); Born Biter 1; Cold‐Blooded (65°F); Discriminatory Smell; DR 4 (Tough Skin); Night Vision 1; Quadruped; Wild Animal.
Skills: Brawling–10; Survival (Island/Beach)–12; Swimming–15.
This represents the 40 foot version. For a 70 foot colossus (26 tons), increase ST and HP to 75, SM to +7 (36 hexes), DR to 7, damage to 8d+9 with a bite or claw and 8d+10 with the tail, and tail reach to 1–7. A 30 foot beast (2 tons) would have ST and HP 32, SM +4, DR 3, do 3d+3 damage with a bite or claw, and 3d+4 with its tail, which would have a reach of 1–3.
