The EFU:A spawns of Dire Bears and Dire Tigers have been changed to Cave Bears and Ymphian Saber Tigers. Correct?
A few times I've encountered Dire Bears and Dire Tigers instead of these, when exploring. I don't remember any of these spawn points except for the "Lair" area in the foothills, the one closest to the transition towards the main gates. Both of these spawns have appeared there, but also at a few times the more common Cave Bear.
This is more or less only important because of the new skinning system, as the Dire versions cannot be skinned.
Sounds like skinning needs to be nerfed.
And I am also certain that they aren't meant to be specific substitutions. Dire Tigers and Ymphian Saber Tigers aren't the same model and are certainly different creatures. As for the dire and cave bear, I doubt that as well since you find different variations of the dire where as the cave is only one type that I have seen.
First part of your post, Boomdaddy; No. They are exactly the same model and size, have the same AB and do the same damage.
The same is for cave bears and dire bears, although I've yet to cross-check their HP and AB, they are atleast within 10 points of hp of eachother, and near enough in AB and damage to be unnoticeable.
Unless something was changed, dire tigers looked like dire tigers (big, orange and black with that dire think on their head) and saber looks like a saber tooth (outrageously long canines and a solid light color). I don't know, could be changed or thinking of something with a very similar name.
Ab and all that means little as Jungle Panther and Leopard are clearly different but similar if not the exact same stats.
For the bears I was just noting that dire bears have variations, expressed by age I am guessing.
Dire tigers share the same model as ymphian sabertooth boomdaddybp. There are no other models it suitable.