Manticore (Dungeons & Dragons)
| Manticore | |
|---|---|
|
Manticore as depicted in the original Monster Manual (1977). | |
| Characteristics | |
| Alignment | Lawful Evil |
| Type | Magical beast |
| Image | Wizards.com image |
| Stats | Open Game License stats |
| Publication history | |
| Mythological origins | Manticore |
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the manticore is a large magical beast with the body of a lion, dragon wings, and a somewhat humanoid head. It is based on the mythological manticore.
Publication history
The manticore was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the D&D game.
Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1976)
The manticore was one of the first monsters introduced in the earliest edition of the game, in the Dungeons & Dragons "white box" set (1974), where they were described as huge, lion-bodied monstrosities with a tail full of spikes that can be fired.[1]
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)
The manticore appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977),[2] where it is described as having a lion body, bat wings, and a human head. It attacks by loosing a volley of iron spikes from its tail.
Dungeons & Dragons (1977-1999)
This edition of the D&D game included its own version of the manticore, in the Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set (1977),[3] and Expert Set (1981 & 1983).[4][5] The manticore was also later featured in the Dungeons & Dragons Game set (1991), the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991),[6] and the Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game set (1994).
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)
The manticore appears first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1989),[7] and is reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).[8]
The manticore is further detailed in Dragon #153 (January 1990), in "The Ecology of the Manticore."[9]
Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)
The manticore appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000).[10]
Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)
The manticore appears in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003).
Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)
The manticore appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008).[11]
Description
A manticore's long tail has a cluster of deadly spikes, which the creature can launch at its foes as weapons.
A manticore is usually lawful evil in alignment.
In the Eberron campaign setting, the manticore is the heraldic beast of the dragonmarked House Kundarak.
References
- ↑ Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson. Dungeons & Dragons (3-Volume Set) (TSR, 1974)
- ↑ Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual (TSR, 1977)
- ↑ Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson [1974], edited by J. Eric Holmes. Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set (TSR, 1977)
- ↑ Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson [1974], edited by Dave Cook. Dungeons & Dragons Expert Set (TSR, 1981)
- ↑ Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson [1974], edited by Frank Mentzer. Dungeons & Dragons Set 2: Expert Rules (TSR, 1983)
- ↑ Allston, Aaron, Steven E. Schend, Jon Pickens, and Dori Watry. Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (TSR, 1991)
- ↑ Cook, David, et al. Monstrous Compendium Volume One (TSR, 1989)
- ↑ Stewart, Doug, ed. Monstrous Manual (TSR, 1993)
- ↑ Jones, Spike Y. "The Ecology of the Manticore" Dragon #153 (TSR, 1990)
- ↑ Cook, Monte, Jonathan Tweet, and Skip Williams. Monster Manual (Wizards of the Coast, 2000)
- ↑ Mearls, Mike, Stephen Schubert, and James Wyatt. Monster Manual (Wizards of the Coast, 2008)