Irish Elk in GURPS

The Irish Elk, Megaloceros giganteus, was neither closely related to elk, nor confined to Ireland. It actually inhabited the open forests bordering the mammoth steppe all the way from Ireland to Siberia. It was a huge deer, comparable in size to moose, with the largest known antlers of all time, robustly built, with a distinct hump on the shoulder. Cave paintings show it with a dark face and stripes running diagonally forwards and backwards from the hump, and another forming a ‘chinstrap’ under its jaw. The broad feet seem to have been well suited to soft ground, or swimming.

Irish Elk

ST 22; DX 11; IQ 4; HT 12.
HP 12; Will 11; Per 12; FP 12; Speed 5.75; Dodge 8; Move 6.
SM +2 (3 hexes), 1,300 lbs.

Antlers (11): 2d+2 imp. Reach C-2. May substitute slam damage at +1 per die during Move and Attack. Parry 8.
Slam (11): 1d−3 cr at Move 1, 1d−2 at Move 2, 1d−1 at Move 3-4, 1d at Move 5-6, 2d at Move 7-11, 3d cr at Move 12-15, 4d cr at Move 16-20, 5d cr at Move 21-24. See GURPS Basic Set, p. 371.
Trample (11): 2d+2 cr. Only against SM 0 or less (SM +1 or less if prone). Automatic hit for half damage on overrun. See GURPS Basic Set, p. 404.

Traits: Bad Sight (Low Resolution); Discriminatory Smell; DR 2 (Tough Skin); DR 2 (Partial, skull); Enhanced Move 2 (Ground speed 24); Night Vision 2; Parabolic Hearing 2; Peripheral Vision; Quadruped; Temperature Tolerance 2 (Cold); Terrain Adaptation (Mud and Snow); Wild Animal.
Skills: Survival (Woodlands)-12; Swimming-12.

After shedding antlers, remove antlers attack. For partially grown antlers, substitute the following:
Antlers (11): 2d cr. Reach C-1. May substitute slam damage during move and attack. Parry 8.

The above profile is for a stag. For a doe (1,000 lbs.) reduce ST and HP to 20. Remove antlers attack. Trample becomes 2d+1. Slam damage becomes 1d−3 at Move 1, 1d−2 at Move 2, 1d−1 at Move 3-4, 1d at Move 5-7, 2d at Move 8-12, 3d cr at Move 13-17, 4d cr at Move 18-22, 5d cr at Move 23-24.

Extinct Bovini in GURPS

The Bovini include many familiar animals, such as bison, buffalo, and cows. Their extinct relatives didn’t look all that different, being (mostly) large, heavyset animals with skinny legs, thick necks, and horns which stuck out sideways. It’s likely that most of them lived in single-sex herds, coming together only in mating season, and used coordinated aggression against perceived threats.

The Aurochs, Bos primigenius, was the ancestor of domestic cattle, bigger and hairier than most of their descendants. They seem to have been less social than other Bovini, living alone in summer and gathering in small herds the rest of the year. Aurochs evolved in the middle Pleistocene and were last seen in the 17th century.

The Bubalus genus includes several species of living Asian water buffalo. Bubalus cebuensis was an exceptionally small example, from the island of Cebu in the Philippines during the Pleistocene.

The American bison and European wisent are both descended from the steppe bison, Bison priscus, living in the middle Pleistocene mammoth steppe, which stretched across northern Eurasia and into North America. In North America, it evolved first into the late Pleistocene long-horned bison, Bison latifrons, and then into Bison antiquus, the direct ancestor of modern bison.

Pelorovis lived in East Africa and the Arabian Peninsula during the middle Pleistocene. It had horns which curved like those of sheep (hence the name, which means “monstrous sheep”). The closely related genus Syncerus includes the living African buffalo as well as the giant long-horned buffalo S. antiquus.

Aurochs

ST 30; DX 9; IQ 3; HT 12.
HP 30; Will 11; Per 11; FP 12; Speed 5.25; Dodge 8; Move 5.
SM +2 (3 hexes), 3,300 lbs.

Horns (9): 3d+3 imp. Reach C, 1.
Slam (9): 1d−2 cr at Move 1, 1d−1 at Move 2-3, 1d at Move 4, 2d at Move 5-8, 3d cr at Move 9-10. See GURPS Basic Set, p. 371.
Trample (9): 3d+3 cr. Only against SM 0 or less (SM +1 or less if prone). Automatic hit for half damage on overrun. See GURPS Basic Set, p. 404.

Traits: Bad Sight (Low Resolution); Bad Temper (12); Discriminatory Smell; DR 2 (Tough Skin); DR 5 (Partial, skull); Night Vision 1; Peripheral Vision; Quadruped; Temperature Tolerance 3 (Cold); Ultrahearing; Wild Animal.
Skills: Survival (Plains)-12.

The above profile is for a bull Aurochs. For a cow (2,200 lbs.) reduce ST and HP to 26 and remove Bad Temper. Damage with horns or trample becomes 2d+4. Slam damage becomes 1d−2 at Move 1, 1d−1 at Move 2-3, 1d at Move 4-5, 2d at Move 6-9, 3d at Move 10.

As Aurochs became more scarce, they retreated into forest refuges. Change Survival specialty to (Woodlands) in the Holocene.

For Bubalus cebuensis (340 lbs.) reduce ST and HP to 14, SM to 0, DR (Tough Skin) to 1, DR (Partial, skull) to 3. Change Survival specialty to (Jungle). Damage with horns or trample becomes 1d+1. Slam damage becomes 1d−3 at Move 1, 1d−2 at Move 2-3, 1d−1 at Move 4-7, 1d at Move 8-10.

For a Bison priscus bull (2,200 lbs.) reduce ST and HP to 26. Damage with horns or trample becomes 2d+4. Slam damage becomes 1d−2 at Move 1, 1d−1 at Move 2-3, 1d at Move 4-5, 2d at Move 6-9, 3d at Move 10. A cow (1,500 lbs.) reduces ST and HP to 23, SM to +1 (2 hexes), DR to 1, skull DR to 4, and loses Bad Temper. Damage with horns or trample becomes 2d+3. Slam damage becomes 1d−3 at Move 1, 1d−2 at Move 2, 1d−1 at Move 3-4, 1d at Move 5-6, 2d at Move 7-10.

Bison latifrons use the same profiles as Aurochs, except their horns are Reach 2.

Bison antiquus use the same profiles as Aurochs.

For a Pelorovis bull (1,600 lbs.) reduce ST and HP to 23, SM to +1 (2 hexes), and DR (Tough Skin) to 1. Bad Temper self control roll is lowered to (9), remove Temperature Tolerance; Damage with horns or trample becomes 2d+3 cr. Slam damage becomes 1d−3 at Move 1, 1d−2 at Move 2, 1d−1 at Move 3-4, 1d at Move 5-6, 2d at Move 7-10. A cow (1,300 lbs.) reduces ST and HP to 22, SM to +1 (2 hexes), and DR (Tough Skin) to 1. Remove Temperature Tolerance. Damage with horns or trample becomes 2d+2 cr. Slam damage becomes 1d−3 at Move 1, 1d−2 at Move 2, 1d−1 at Move 3-4, 1d at Move 5-6, 2d at Move 7-10.

For a Syncerus antiquus bull (4,400 lbs.) increase ST and HP to 33. Reach with horns becomes 2. Bad Temper self control roll is lowered to (9), remove Temperature Tolerance; Damage with horns or trample becomes 3d+5. Slam damage becomes 1d−2 at Move 1, 1d−1 at Move 2-3, 1d at Move 4, 2d at Move 5-7, 3d at Move 8-10. A cow (1,500 lbs.) reduces ST and HP to 28. Reach with horns becomes 2. Remove Temperature Tolerance. Damage with horns or trample becomes 3d+2. Slam damage becomes 1d−2 at Move 1, 1d−1 at Move 2-3, 1d at Move 4-5, 2d at Move 6-8, 3d at Move 9-10.

Entelodonts in GURPS

Nicknamed ‘terminator hogs’ or ‘hell pigs’, entelodonts superficially resembled long-legged wild boar or warthogs, but were actually more closely related to hippos and cetaceans. Their long jaws were capable of both gaping wide and biting with extreme force. They are believed to have been omnivores, favoring nuts, fruit, roots, and carrion, but able and willing to take live prey when the opportunity arose. Wounds apparently inflicted by others of their kind indicate considerable social competition, suggesting they lived in groups.

Early Enteleodonts were fairly small. Brachyhyops was a pig-sized animal which emerged in South Asia during the middle Eocene and spread from there across Asia and into North America by the late Eocene. In North America, it may have evolved into Archaeotherium, which varied in size by species and lived from the late Eocene to the early Oligocene. A. mortoni was no larger than most deer, but A. zygomaticus was the size of a moose.

Entelodon thrived throughout Eurasia from the late Eocene to the early Oligocene. Most species within the genus were donkey-sized, but E. major and E. gobiensis from east Asia were the size of horses.

As the Oligocene climate cooled, even larger genera evolved, including the giant Paraentolodon of Central Asia and its slightly smaller North American relative Daeodon. The latter managed to survive into the early Miocene, while the Eurasian lineages were all extinct by the end of the Oligocene.

Brachyhyops

ST 10; DX 12; IQ 3; HT 12.
HP 10; Will 10; Per 12; FP 12; Speed 6.00; Dodge 9; Move 8.
SM 0, 140 lbs.

Bite (14): 1d−1 cutting. Reach C.

Traits: Acute Smell 3; Bad Sight (Low Resolution); Born Biter 3; Chummy; Discriminatory Smell; DR 1 (Tough Skin); Night Vision 1; Parabolic Hearing 1; Reduced Consumption 2 (Cast-Iron Stomach); Striking ST 1 (Bite Only); Quadruped; Wild Animal.
Skills: Brawling-14; Stealth-13; Survival (Woodlands)-13.

Entelodon

ST 16; DX 11; IQ 3; HT 11.
HP 16; Will 12; Per 11; FP 11; Speed 5.50; Dodge 8; Move 6.
SM 0 (2 hexes), 500 lbs.

Bite (13): 2d cutting. Reach C.
Trample (11): 1d+3 / 1d−1 crushing. See GURPS Basic Set, p. 404.

Traits: Acute Smell 3; Bad Sight (Low Resolution); Born Biter 3; Chummy; Discriminatory Smell; DR 2 (Tough Skin); Enhanced Move 1 (Ground Speed 12); Night Vision 1; Parabolic Hearing 1; Reduced Consumption 2 (Cast-Iron Stomach); Striking ST 3 (Bite Only); Quadruped; Wild Animal.
Skills: Brawling-13; Survival (Woodlands)-12.

For E. major (1,000 lbs.) increase ST and HP to 20, SM to +1 (3 hexes), and DR to 3. Damage increases to 2d+2 with a bite, 2d+3 / 1d with a trample. E. gobiensis (1,400 lbs.) increases ST and HP to 22, SM to +1 (3 hexes), and DR to 3. Damage increases to 2d+3 with a bite, 2d+4 / 1d+1 with a trample.

For Archaeotherium mortoni (330 lbs.) reduce ST and HP to 14, dropping damage to 1d+2 with a bite, 1d+2 / 1d−1 with a trample. A. zygomaticus (1,100 lbs.) increases ST and HP to 21, SM to +1 (3 hexes), and DR to 3. Damage increases to 2d+3 with a bite, 2d+4 / 1d with a trample.

For Paraentelodon (2,000 lbs.) increase ST and HP to 25, SM to +2 (4 hexes), DR and Striking ST to 4. Damage increases to 3d+2 with a bite (which has Reach C, 1), 2d+6 / 1d+1 with a trample.

For Daeodon (1,500 lbs.) increase ST and HP to 23, SM to +2 (4 hexes), DR and Striking ST to 4. Damage increases to 3d+1 with a bite (which has Reach C, 1), 2d+5 / 1d+1 with a trample. Change Survival specialty to (Plains).

Extinct hippos in GURPS

There are several known extinct species of Hippopotamus, in addition to the living H. amphibias. H. antiquus lived from the early to middle Pleistocene, with a range covering most of Europe, reaching as far into Asia as Georgia. It seems to have spent even more time in the water than its relatives. By contrast, its small descendant, the Cretan dwarf hippo, H. creutzburgi, was mostly terrestrial. During the same period, H. gorgops inhabited the rivers of East and North Africa, and the Levant.

In the middle to late Pleistocene H. melitensis lived on Malta, while H. pentlandi occupied Sicily. Although both were 'dwarf' species, they weren't much smaller than modern hippos. The Cypriot dwarf hippo H. minor, however, was quite diminutive and survived into the early Holocene. On Madagascar, another dwarf species, H. lemerlei, lasted until around 1,000 years ago.

Hippopotamus antiquus

ST 38; DX 9; IQ 3; HT 13.
HP 38; Will 11; Per 11; FP 13; Speed 4.00; Dodge 7; Move 4.
SM +3 (14 hexes), 7,000 lbs.

Bite (12): 4d+3 impaling. Reach C.
Trample (12): 4d+4 crushing.

Traits: Bad Sight (Low Resolution); Born Biter 3; Breath Holding 2; DR 4; Enhanced Move 1 (Ground Speed 8); Night Vision 2; Parabolic Hearing 2; Peripheral Vision; Quadruped; Subsonic Hearing; Terrain Adaptation (Mud); Wild Animal.
Skills: Brawling-11; Survival (River/Stream)-12.

For H. creutzburgi (900 lbs.) decrease ST and HP to 19, SM to +1 (2 hexes), and DR to 2. Add half a level of Enhanced Move (Ground Speed 12). Damage becomes 2d with a bite, 2d+1 with a trample.

For H. gorgops (9,000 lbs.) increase ST and HP to 42, which raises damage to 4d+5 with a bite or 4d+6 with a trample.

For H. melitensis or H. pentlandi (both about 2,200 lbs.) decrease ST and HP to 26, SM to +2 (4 hexes), and DR to 3. Damage becomes 2d+3 with a bite, 2d+4 with a trample.

For H. minor (300 lbs.) decrease ST and HP to 12, SM to 0 (2 hexes), and DR to 1. Damage becomes 1d with a bite, 1d+1 with a trample.

For H. lemerlei (1,000 lbs.) decrease ST and HP to 20, SM to +1 (2 hexes), and DR to 2. Damage becomes 2d with a bite, 2d+1 with a trample.

Macroraptorial physeteroid whales in GURPS

These relatives of modern sperm whales were more like orca in their habits, hunting large prey close to the surface. They thrived throughout the Miocene. The largest and most famous was Livyatan, which inhabited the southern Oceans, sharing its habitat with the giant shark Megalodon. Its smaller relatives were Acrophyseter which lived in the south-east Pacific (its remains were found in Peru), Albicetus in the north-east Pacific (California), Brygmophyseter in the north-west Pacific (Japan), Zygophyseter in the Mediterranean (Italy), and Scaldicetus, which may have had a world-wide distribution, or be a 'wastebasket taxon' of multiple only somewhat related whales.

Livyatan

ST 100; DX 10; IQ 5; HT 11.
HP 100; Will 11; Per 11; FP 11; Speed 4.00; Dodge 7; Move 4.
SM +6 (39 hexes), 125,000 lbs.

Bite (12): 11d+10 impaling. Reach C.
Tail (12): 11d+22 crushing. Reach 1-6. Limited Arc, Rear.

Traits: Absolute Direction; Acute Hearing 2; Bad Sight (Low Resolution); Born Biter 3; Colorblindness; Doesn't Breathe (Oxygen Storage ×100; Doesn't Sleep (Temporary Disadvantage, −4 IQ); DR 10; DR 10 (Limited, Crushing; Partial, Skull Only); Enhanced Move 2 (Water Speed 16); Injury Tolerance (No Neck); Nictitating Membrane 1; Night Vision 2; No Depth Perception; No Legs (Aquatic); No Manipulators; Peripheral Vision; Pressure Support 1; Sonar (Water Only; Extended Arc, 240°; Reduced Range, 1,000 yards); Temperature Tolerance 10; Wild Animal.
Skills: Brawling-12; Survival (Open Ocean)-12.

For Albicetus, Brygmophyseter, Zygophyseter, and Scaldicetus (all about 6,000 lbs.) reduce ST and HP to 36, SM to +4 (8 hexes), both types of DR to 4, and Temperature Tolerance to 4. Damage becomes 4d+2 with a bite, 4d+7 with the tail, which has Reach 1-3.

For Acrophyseter (1,800 lbs.) reduce ST and HP to 24, SM to +2 (5 hexes), both types of DR to 3, and Temperature Tolerance to 3. Damage becomes 2d+2 with a bite, 2d+5 with the tail, which has Reach 1-2.

Litopterns in GURPS

An order of odd-toed ungulates (distantly related to horses and tapirs) which evolved in South America during the late Paleocene. They thrived in the warm climate of the Paleocene and Eocene, but as global temperatures dropped, their numbers declined. Nevertheless, some survived as late as the Holocene and were hunted by humans.

Theosodon garretorum and Borhyaena tuberata by Charles R. Knight (1913).

Protolipternidae

Early litopterns resembled chevrotains (also known as mouse-deer), with slender legs, short tails, and fang-like canines. Their feet were closer to tapirs’ paws than hooves, however, and they were omnivorous. Protolipterna was a rabbit-sized animal, while its larger relative Asmithwoodwardia was as big as a hare. Both lived in South America during the late Paleocene and early Eocene.

Protolipterna

ST 3; DX 13; IQ 3; HT 11.
HP 3; Will 10; Per 12; FP 11; Speed 6.00; Dodge 9; Move 6.
SM −4, 2 lbs.

Bite (13): 1d−6 impaling. Reach C.

Traits: Bad Sight (Low Resolution); Discriminatory Smell; Enhanced Move 1 (Ground Speed 12; Costs Fatigue, 1 FP/Second); Night Vision 2; Quadruped; Wild Animal.
Skills: Stealth-14; Survival (Woodlands)-12.

Asmithwoodwardia (10 lbs.) increases ST and HP to 4, and SM to −3.

Sparnotheriodontidae

A family of browsing herbivores. They are the only litopterns known from outside South America, having crossed the land bridge to Antarctica. Sparnotheriodon (from Argentina) and Victorlemoinea (from Antarctica and South America) are either different names for the same genus, or close relatives. Both were moose-sized animals and lived during the Eocene. Notiolofos was an Antarctic genus, consisting of the large N. arquinotiensis, which lived through the Eocene, and sheep-sized N. regueroi, which is only known from the early Eocene.

Sparnotheriodon

ST 19; DX 11; IQ 3; HT 11.
HP 19; Will 10; Per 12; FP 11; Speed 5.50; Dodge 8; Move 5.
SM +2 (3 hexes), 900 lbs.

Kick (9): 2d+1 crushing. Reach C-2.

Traits: Bad Sight (Low Resolution); Discriminatory Smell; DR 1 (Tough Skin); Enhanced Move 1 (Ground Speed 10); Night Vision 1; Quadruped; Wild Animal.
Skills: Stealth-11; Survival (Woodlands)-12.

Use the same profile for Victorlemoinea.

Notiolofos arquinotiensis adds Temperature Tolerance 3 (Cold). N. regueroi (90 lbs.) reduces ST and HP to 9, SM to 0, kick damage to 1d−1, kick reach to C, 1, and adds Temperature Tolerance 2 (Cold).

Macraucheniinae

Macrauchenia by Robert Bruce Horsfall (1913)

The largest litopterns all belonged to this family. Their diet seems to have been a mixture of grazing grasses and browsing from trees and shrubs. They are notable for having nasal openings at the top of their skulls, surrounded by attachment points for some soft tissue structure. This has sometimes been reconstructed as a short trunk, but more recent attempts favour a large nose (such as that of a saiga antelope) and maybe highly mobile lips (like a moose). Otherwise, they seem to have resembled large, heavily-built, hump-less camels with three-toed feet. Despite their size, their simple but strong ankle bones suggest considerable agility.

Macrauchenia inhabited the arid scrublands of Patagonia throughout the Pleistocene, while Windhauseria occupied even drier regions of Argentina. Their earlier and smaller relative Huayqueriana lived in the mountains of Western Argentina during the late Miocene. Xenorhinotherium lived later and further north, surviving in the temperate forests of Brazil until the early Holocene.

Macrauchenia

ST 26; DX 12; IQ 3; HT 11.
HP 26; Will 10; Per 12; FP 11; Speed 5.75; Dodge 8; Move 5.
SM +2 (3 hexes), 2,200 lbs.

Kick (9): 2d+4 crushing. Reach C-2.

Traits: Acute Taste and Smell 2; Bad Sight (Low Resolution); Discriminatory Smell; DR 2 (Tough Skin); Enhanced Move 1 (Ground Speed 10; Costs Fatigue, 1FP/Second); Night Vision 1; Reduced Consumption 1 (Water Only); Penetrating Voice; Temperature Tolerance 1 (Cold); Quadruped; Wild Animal.
Skills: Survival (Plains)-12.

This profile assumes a relatively small and immobile snout. To represent a trunk, remove Acute Taste and Smell, Penetrating Voice, and Quadruped, then add Extra Legs (Four Legs), One Arm, and Ham-Fisted 2.

For Windhausenia (2,000 lbs.) reduce ST and HP to 25, increase Reduced Consumption to 2, and change Survival speciality to (Desert).

For Xenorhinotherium (2,000 lbs.) reduce ST and HP to 25, remove Reduced Consumption, and change Survival speciality to (Woodlands).

For Huayqueriana (550 lbs.) reduce ST and HP to 16, SM to +1 (2 hexes), DR to 1, kick damage to 1d+2, kick reach to C, 1, and change Survival speciality to (Mountain).

Proterotheriidae

This family was characterised by bearing their weight on a single hoof on each foot, like horses. Unlike horses, they used a rotary gait to run, in the manner of dogs and pronghorns. Most seem to have been herbivores, but had tusk-like teeth which could deliver a nasty bite.

The sheep-sized Diadiaphorus lived in the mountains of Argentina and Bolivia during the Miocene, while the smaller Tetramerorhinus was found further north and west in Argentina and Peru. The tiny early Miocene Thoatherium also lived in the mountains of Argentina and had only a single toe, lacking even vestigial traces of others. From the late Miocene to the early Pliocene the large Displasiotherium lived near Buenos Aires. Megadolodus, from Miocene Columbia, was more pig-like in its habits and possibly an omnivore. Neolicaphrium, the last survivor of the family, lived in northern Argentina and Uruguay from the late Pliocene to the late Pleistocene. It seems to have adapted from living in grasslands to retreating into forested habitats.

Diadiaphorus by Charles R. Knight (1913)

Diadiaphorus

ST 11; DX 12; IQ 4; HT 12.
HP 11; Will 10; Per 12; FP 12; Speed 6.00; Dodge 9; Move 6.
SM 0, 150 lbs.

Bite (9): 1d−2 cutting. Reach C.

Traits: Bad Sight (Low Resolution); Discriminatory Smell; DR 1 (Tough Skin); Enhanced Move 1 (Ground Speed 12); Night Vision 1; Quadruped; Wild Animal.
Skills: Survival (Mountain)-12.

For Tetramerorhinus (90 lbs.) reduce ST and HP to 9, and bite damage to 1d−3.

For Thoatherium (30 lbs.) reduce ST and HP to 6, SM to −1, bite damage to 1d−4, and remove DR.

Thoatherium minusculum by Charles R. Knight (1913)

For Displasiotherium (900 lbs.) increase ST and HP to 19, SM to +1 (2 yards), bite damage to 2d−1, bite reach to C, 1, and DR to 2. Change Survival speciality to (Plains).

For Megadolodus (160 lbs.) change Survival speciality to (Jungle).

For Neolicaphrium (60 lbs.) reduce ST and HP to 8, bite damage to 1d−3, and remove DR. Change Survival speciality to (Plains) or (Woodlands).