AMERU-KA 300: Giant Hamsters

Giant Hamster

Type: Animal

Size: Large

Hit Dice: 4 (30 hp)

Armor Class: 13

Attack: Bite +7 (2d8) or Trample (2d6)

Movement: 25 ft., Burrow 10 ft

Save: 15

Intelligence: Animal

Alignment: Neutral

No. Appearing: 1d4

XP/CL: 400/5

SA—Swallow Whole (pouch), Trample

SQ—Immunity (disease, parasites)

Giant hamsters are exactly what they sound like-cute but brown-bear-sized rodents with thick fur. They are found in lands with large numbers of gnomes (such as Tunkerton) and working on the tread-wheels of some Landships and Paddle-boats. Giant hamsters were initially bred by gnome magic-users for this purpose, and now these creatures are quite numerous. Giant hamsters come in a variety of colors, but are usually golden brown with white underbellies, bands, and spots. They are well muscled but appear fat. A giant hamster can store up to 200 lbs. of food in its cheeks.

Giant hamsters normally have only one mode of attack – a nasty bite. They avoid even this on most occasions, as domestic breeds are quite cowardly. However, wild breeds are more aggressive, and they briefly charge at anyone who approaches a burrow. Careless gnome (or other small person) handlers have sometimes been bitten and (on a successful attack roll of 19 or better) stuffed into a cheek pouch, from which the gnome may escape if he rolls a successful Saving throw or Escape Artist roll on a subsequent round. Trapped gnomes are merely covered in hamster spit, and are eventually spat out like old chewing gum when the hamster sees food.
A giant hamster may be purchased from a gnome breeder for 50gp. These creatures may be used as draft animals and mounts (using a special saddle and harness costing 4gp) by gnomes, but are too stupid for other races. A giant hamster can carry as much as a heavy warhorse. Giant hamsters eat twice the amount of feed per day as a horse, but can and will supplement during travel, eating trees, giant mushrooms, roots and grass. 

Giant Hamster Breeding

In the Post-Ragnarok land of Ameru-Ka, Giant Hamsters are the product of the gnomes of Tunkerton (New Branson). They were initially bred to develop a relatively passive creature large enough to wind up the giant rubber bands attached to the huge running wheels inside gnomish vehicles. The giant hamsters can run for hours inside their big wheels, producing considerable power. Many hamster ranches simply breed giant hamsters as livestock, as they have tasty meat.

These creatures breed prodigiously, producing several litters per year and reaching breeding adulthood in two years. A pack of giant hamsters will always have at least one female, with a 20% chance per adult female of 1d4 young being present and another 20% chance per adult female of 1d4 juveniles being present.  Gnomes are unable to figure out how to reduce their breeding rate, aside from separating the sexes (this conclusion was suggested after a 22-year-long research program that included five gnome fatalities).

Giant Hamster, Juvenile

Type: Animal Size: Medium Hit Dice: 2 (11hp) Armor Class: 13 Attack: Bite +2 (1d4) Movement: 20ft., Burrow 5ft Save: 16 Intelligence: Animal Alignment: Neutral No. Appearing: 1d4 per adult female XP/CL: 100/4 SQ—Immunity (disease, parasites)

Giant Hamster, Young

Type: Animal Size: Small Hit Dice: 1 (4hp) Armor Class: 13 Attack: Nil Movement: 10ft. Save: 16 Intelligence: Animal Alignment: Neutral No. Appearing: 1d4 per adult female XP/CL: 50/2

SQ—Immunity (disease, parasites)

Other Variations

Gnome hamster breeders are always trying to create new and exciting types of Giant Hamster. Some varieties of note are the Sabre-Tooth Giant Hamster, the Fire Breathing Giant Hamster, Armor Plated Giant Hamster and even the Colossal-sized Hamstersaurus Rex.