Monstrous humanoid

Last updated October 16, 2019

Monstrous humanoids are a "creature type" in the 3rd and 3.5 editions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Monstrous humanoids are differentiated from humanoids by their monstrous or animalistic features, and not all are technically "humanoid" in body form. They also often have supernatural or extraordinary abilities.

Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy tabletop role-playing game (RPG) originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson. It was first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. (TSR). The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997. It was derived from miniature wargames, with a variation of the 1971 game Chainmail serving as the initial rule system. D&D's publication is commonly recognized as the beginning of modern role-playing games and the role-playing game industry.

Fantasy Genre of literature, film, television and other artforms

Fantasy is a genre of speculative fiction set in a fictional universe, often inspired by real world myth and folklore. Its roots are in oral traditions, which then became literature and drama. From the twentieth century it has expanded further into various media, including film, television, graphic novels, manga and video games.

A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making regarding character development. Actions taken within many games succeed or fail according to a formal system of rules and guidelines.

In the Monster Manual

The following are examples of monstrous humanoids listed in the Monster Manual , one of the three core rule-books for Dungeons & Dragons.

<i>Monster Manual</i> series of core books for D&D

The Monster Manual (MM) is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) fantasy role-playing game, first published in 1977 by TSR. It includes monsters derived from mythology and folklore, as well as creatures created specifically for D&D. It describes each with game-specific statistics, and a brief description of its habits and habitats. Most of the entries also have an image of the creature. Along with the Player's Handbook and Dungeon Master's Guide, it is one of the three "core rulebooks" in most editions of the D&D game. Several editions of the Monster Manual have been released for each edition of D&D. It was the first hardcover book of the D&D series. Due to the level of detail and illustration included, it was cited as a pivotal example of a new style of wargame books. Future editions would draw on various sources and act as a compendium of published monsters.

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the centaur is a large monstrous humanoid. Based upon the centaurs of Greek myth, they resemble humans with the lower bodies of horses.

The derro are a fictional species of monstrous humanoids in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. They were first published in the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons First Edition adventure The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth.

Doppelganger (<i>Dungeons & Dragons</i>) Monstrous humanoid species from Dungeons & Dragons

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Doppelgangers are monstrous humanoids, identified primarily by their ability to change their shape and appearance to mimic almost any humanoid creature. They can be used in the game by Dungeon Masters as allies or opponents of the player characters.

From Monster Manual II

Boggle
Braxat
Desmodu
Kopru
Loxo
Ormyrr
Scorpionfolk
Spell Weaver
Tauric creature
Thri-Kreen
Yak Folk – The Yak Folk are a race of humanoid yaks.

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the boggle is a type of monstrous humanoid creature.

The Loxo are a fictional race in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. They are of the monstrous humanoid creature type. Loxo resemble humanoid elephants. They are named after the genus Loxodonta, the scientific classification of the African elephant.

From the Fiend Folio

Jackal Lord
Khaasta
Ophidian
Sarkrith
Skulk
Yurian

From other sources

Alaghi – The Alaghi is a monstrous humanoid that lives in temperate mountains and forests in the Forgotten Realms campaign setting. It is six feet tall and covered in shaggy brown hair. An alaghi is often neutral in alignment; however, villages of alaghi tend to be evil, while alaghi hermits tend to be nice and well faring creatures. Most alaghis are semi-nomadic hunter-gatherers. The alaghi is presented as a playable character race in The Complete Book of Humanoids (1993),^[1] and is later presented as a playable character race again in Player's Option: Skills & Powers (1995).
Berbalang – The berbalang is a bipedal gargoyle-like monstrous humanoid with leathery skin and bat-like wings. It spends most of its life in a state of hibernation while its spirit astral travels. For a few days each month, it sends a projection out into the world to kill and feed. The berbalang was first published in White Dwarf #11 (February/March 1979), in the "Fiend Factory" column, originally submitted by Albie Fiore, which was later reprinted in Best of White Dwarf Scenarios (1980). The berbalang then appears in 1981 in the first edition Fiend Folio (1981).^[2] In the second edition of AD&D, the berbalang appears in the first Monstrous Compendium Forgotten Realms Appendix (1989),^[3] and is reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).^[4] A Guide to the Astral Plane (1996) describes Berbalang society for the Planescape setting. The berbalang also appears in the Monster Manual for the fourth edition (2008).^[5]
Lupin
Yetis – The Yetis are large bipedal beasts covered in white fur who hunt in cold hills and mountains and are usually neutral in alignment. The Yeti first appeared in The Strategic Review #3 (August 1975), and is based on the yeti of Asian legend.^[6]^[7]^[8]^[9]^[10]^[11]^[12]^[13]

Related Research Articles

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In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the flind is a type of humanoid creature, related to a gnoll.

In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, the kuo-toa are fish-like monstrous humanoids that dwell in the Underdark, and in the sea.

A vrock is a type of fictional creature, a demon from the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It resembles a humanoid with the head, claws, and wings of a giant vulture. Vrock typically stand eight feet tall and weigh 800 pounds.

Umber hulk fictional creature appearing in "Dungeons and Dragons"

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Lizardfolk are a fictional humanoid species in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, having appeared in every version of the game to date.

In Dungeons & Dragons, Fey is a category of creatures. The fey deities are associated with the Seelie Court and the Unseelie Court. Titania is the general fey deity, with individual races like the Killmoulis who worship Caoimhin. Fey are usually humanoid in form and generally have supernatural abilities and a connection to nature. The Sylph is one creature which has a Fey appearance, but is officially recognized as an outsider creature type.

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, humanoid is a type of creature, or "creature type". Humanoids are any creature shaped generally like a human, of Small or Medium size. Most humanoids can speak, and usually have well-developed societies.

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the crabman is a large monstrous humanoid.

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, giant is a type of creature based on giants of legend, or in third edition, a "creature type".

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, a gargoyle is a grotesque winged monstrous humanoid creature, with a horned head and a stony hide.

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, the yeti is a monstrous humanoid.

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, mongrelfolk are humanoids that are the product of several generations of crossbreeding between numerous other humanoid races.

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the berbalang is a monstrous humanoid.

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, the meazel is a type of fictional monster.

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the huecuva is a type of undead creature.

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the firenewt is a type of monstrous humanoid creature.

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the ophidian is a type of monstrous humanoid.

Deva (<i>Dungeons & Dragons</i>) term in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the deva is a type of angel.

References

↑ Slavicsek, Bill. The Complete Book of Humanoids (TSR, 1993)
↑ Turnbull, Don, ed. Fiend Folio (TSR, 1981)
↑ Conners, William, et al. Monstrous Compendium Forgotten Realms Appendix (TSR, 1989)
↑ Stewart, Doug, ed. Monstrous Manual (TSR, 1993)
↑ Mearls, Mike, Stephen Schubert, and James Wyatt. Monster Manual (Wizards of the Coast, 2008)
↑
- Baur, Wolfgang, James Jacobs, and George Strayton. Frostburn . (Wizards of the Coast, 2004)
↑ Brown, Lloyd III. "Primitive PC's." Dragon #265 (TSR, 1999).
↑ Cook, David, et al. Monstrous Compendium Volume One (TSR, 1989).
↑ Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual (TSR, 1977).
↑ Kiefer, Thomas. "The Ecology of the Yeti." Dragon #127 (TSR, 1987).
↑ Stewart, Doug, ed. Monstrous Manual (TSR, 1994).
↑ Wyatt, James. Oriental Adventures (Wizards of the Coast, 2001).
↑ Strategic Review #3 (1975)

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[1] Slavicsek, Bill. The Complete Book of Humanoids (TSR, 1993)

[2] Turnbull, Don, ed. Fiend Folio (TSR, 1981)

[3] Conners, William, et al. Monstrous Compendium Forgotten Realms Appendix (TSR, 1989)

[4] Stewart, Doug, ed. Monstrous Manual (TSR, 1993)

[5] Mearls, Mike, Stephen Schubert, and James Wyatt. Monster Manual (Wizards of the Coast, 2008)

[6] 
Baur, Wolfgang, James Jacobs, and George Strayton. Frostburn . (Wizards of the Coast, 2004)

[mw0w] Baur, Wolfgang, James Jacobs, and George Strayton. Frostburn . (Wizards of the Coast, 2004)

[7] Brown, Lloyd III. "Primitive PC's." Dragon #265 (TSR, 1999).

[8] Cook, David, et al. Monstrous Compendium Volume One (TSR, 1989).

[9] Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual (TSR, 1977).

[10] Kiefer, Thomas. "The Ecology of the Yeti." Dragon #127 (TSR, 1987).

[11] Stewart, Doug, ed. Monstrous Manual (TSR, 1994).

[12] Wyatt, James. Oriental Adventures (Wizards of the Coast, 2001).

[13] Strategic Review #3 (1975)