Chimera (Dungeons & Dragons)
This early boxed set by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson was printed in 1974, and is often known as the "white box." It contained three booklets, one of which—"Monsters & Treasure"—contained some of the first descriptions of the game's most iconic monsters. This booklet contained an index on pages 3–4 featuring stats only for how many creatures of each type appeared per encounter, armor class, how many inches the creature could move on its turn, hit dice, % in lair, and treasure. Pages 5–20 followed with descriptions of each of the monsters, typically consisting of one or more paragraphs. Most of the monsters on this book did not feature an illustration. Also featured are descriptions of humans (bandits, brigands, berserkers, dervishes, nomads, buccaneers, cavemen, and mermen), horses, insects, and other small and large animals.
ISBN XXX
| Creature | Page | Other Appearances | Versions Included | Description |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basilisks | 10 | Original: Eldritch Wizardry; Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Expert Set; Basic 1983: Companion Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual, Dragon #81; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume Two, Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual; 4th Edition: Monster Manual | Basilisk | Has the power of turning to stone by touch and glance |
| Black Pudding | 19 | Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Expert Set; Basic 1983: Expert Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume One, Monstrous Manual, Dragon #219; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual | Black pudding | Black (or Gray) puddings dissolve wood, and corrode metal |
| Centaurs | 15 | Basic 1981: Expert Set; Basic 1983: Expert Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume One, Monstrous Manual, The Complete Book of Humanoids, Player's Option: Skills & Powers; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual | Centaur | Can attack twice, once as a man and once as a horse |
| Chimera | 11 | Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Expert Set; Basic 1983: Expert Set, Companion Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual, Dragon #94; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume One, Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual; 4th Edition: Monster Manual | Chimera | Can gore with goat's head, tear with lion fangs, and dragon's head can bite or breathe fire |
| Cockatrices | 10 | Basic 1977: Basic Set; 1981: Expert Set; Basic 1983: Expert Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual, Dragon #95; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume One, Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual | Cockatrice | A less powerful but more mobile basilisk, turns opponents to stone by touch |
| Djinn | 19 | Basic 1977: Basic Set; 1981: Expert Set; Basic 1983: Expert Set, Companion Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume One, Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual | Djinn | Aerial creatures with magical powers |
| Dragons | 11-14 | Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Basic Set; Basic 1983: Basic Set, Companion Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume One, Monstrous Manual, Draconomicon; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual, Draconomicon; 4th Edition: Monster Manual, Draconomicon: Chromatic Dragons | White dragon, black dragon, green dragon, blue dragon, red dragon, golden dragon | Powerful and intelligent winged reptiles with magical abilities and breath weapon. |
| Dryads | 16 | Basic 1981: Expert Set; Basic 1983: Expert Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual, Dragon #87; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume Two, Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual; 4th Edition: Monster Manual | Dryad | Beautiful tree sprites, each a part of their own respective tree |
| Dwarves | 16 | Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Basic Set; Basic 1983: Basic Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual, Player's Handbook; 2nd Edition: Player's Handbook, Monstrous Compendium Volume Two, The Complete Book of Dwarves, Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition: Player's Handbook, Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition: Player's Handbook, Monster Manual, Races of Stone; 4th Edition: Player's Handbook, Monster Manual | Dwarf | Described in the "Chainmail" set; clumsy monsters like ogres and giants have a hard time hitting them |
| Efreet | 19 | Similar to djinn, but creatures of fire that tend to be Chaotic | ||
| Elves | 16 | Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Basic Set; Basic 1983: Basic Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual, Player's Handbook; 2nd Edition: Player's Handbook, Monstrous Compendium Volume One, The Complete Book of Elves, Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition: Player's Handbook, Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition: Player's Handbook, Monster Manual, Races of the Wild; 4th Edition: Player's Handbook, Monster Manual | Elf | Elves make their homes in woodlands and remote meadowlands |
| Elementals | 18-19 | Four types described: Air, earth, fire, and water | ||
| Gargoyles | 14 | Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Basic Set; Basic 1983: Basic Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume Two, Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual; 4th Edition: Monster Manual | Gargoyle | Reptilian bipedal beast, Chaotic in alignment |
| Ghouls | 9 | Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Basic Set; Basic 1983: Basic Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume One, Monstrous Manual, Dragon #252; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual, Savage Species; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual, Libris Mortis: The Book of Undead; 4th Edition: Monster Manual | Ghoul | Paralyze anyone they touch |
| Giants | 8-9 | Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Expert Set; Basic 1983: Expert Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume One, Monstrous Manual, Giantcraft; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual, Savage Species; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual; 4th Edition: Monster Manual | Hill giant, stone giant, frost giant, fire giant, cloud giant | |
| Gnolls | 8 | Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Basic Set; Basic 1983: Basic Set, Gazetteer: The Orcs of Thar; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual, Dragon #63; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume One, Monstrous Manual, The Complete Book of Humanoids, Player's Option: Skills & Powers; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual; 4th Edition: Monster Manual, Dragon #367 | Gnoll | A cross between gnomes and trolls, otherwise similar to hobgoblins |
| Gnomes | 16 | Slightly smaller than dwarves, with longer beards, inhabits hills and lowland burrows | ||
| Goblins | 7 | Small monsters first described in the original "Chainmail" set | ||
| Gorgons | 10 | Original: Eldritch Wizardry; Basic 1981: Expert Set; Basic 1983: Expert Set, Companion Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual, Dragon #97; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume Two, Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual,; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual; 4th Edition: Monster Manual | Gorgon | Bull-like monsters with a breath capable of turning creatures to stone |
| Gray Ooze | 20 | Seeping horror that resembles wet stone and corrodes metal like a black pudding | ||
| Green Slime | 20 | Non-mobile hazard that turns flesh into more green slime | ||
| Griffons | 18 | Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Expert Set; Basic 1983: Expert Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume Two, Dragon #161, Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual, Savage Species; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual; 4th Edition: Monster Manual | Griffon | The most prized of steeds, fond of horse flesh |
| Hippogriffs | 17 | Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Expert Set; Basic 1983: Expert Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume Two, Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual; 4th Edition: Monster Manual | Hippogriff | Fierce fighters that attack with both hooves and sharp beaks |
| Hobgoblins | 8 | Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Basic Set; Basic 1983: Basic Set, Gazetteer: The Orcs of Thar; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual, Dragon #63; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume One, Monstrous Manual, The Complete Book of Humanoids, Player's Option: Skills & Powers; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual, Races of Faerûn; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual, Dragon #309, Monster Manual V; 4th Edition: Monster Manual | Hobgoblin | Large and fearless goblins |
| Hydras | 10 | Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Expert Set; Basic 1983: Expert Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume One, Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual, Dragon #272; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual; 4th Edition: Monster Manual | Hydra | Large dinosaurs with multiple heads |
| Invisible Stalkers | 18 | Basic 1981: Expert Set; Basic 1983: Companion Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume One, Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual | Invisible stalker | Monsters created by spells, faultless trackers |
| Kobolds | 7 | Original: Blackmoor; Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Basic Set; Basic 1983: Basic Set, Gazetteer: The Orcs of Thar; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual, Dragon #63, Dragon #141; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume One, Monstrous Manual, The Complete Book of Humanoids, Player's Option: Skills & Powers; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual, Dragon #332, Races of the Dragon; 4th Edition: Monster Manual, Dragon #364 | Kobold | Similar to goblins but weaker |
| Lycanthropes | 14-15 | Werewolf, wereboar, weretiger, werebear | ||
| Manticoras | 10 | Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Expert Set; Basic 1983: Expert Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume One, Dragon #153, Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual; 4th Edition: Monster Manual | Manticore | Huge, lion-bodied monstrosities with a tail full of spikes that can be fired |
| Medusae | 10 | Original: Eldritch Wizardry; Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Basic Set; Basic 1983: Basic Set, Companion Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume One, Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual, Savage Species; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual; 4th Edition: Monster Manual | Medusa | Human-type monster with the lower body of a snake, turns those who look at it to stone |
| Minotaurs | 15 | Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Basic Set; Basic 1983: Basic Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual, Dragon #116, Dragon #141; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume One, Monstrous Manual, The Complete Book of Humanoids, Player's Option: Skills & Powers; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual, Savage Species; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual; 4th Edition: Monster Manual, Dragon #369 | Minotaur | Bull-headed men, who are man-eaters |
| Mummies | 9 | Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Expert Set; Basic 1983: Expert Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume One, Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual, Dragon #300, Savage Species; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual, Libris Mortis: The Book of Undead; 4th Edition: Monster Manual | Mummy | Touch causes a rotting disease |
| Nixies | 15-16 | Water sprites are Neutral in nature but will enslave humans for one year | ||
| Ochre Jelly | 19 | Giant amoeba which can be killed by fire or cold, but divides when hit by weapons | ||
| Ogres | 8 | Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Basic Set; Basic 1983: Basic Set, Gazetteer: The Orcs of Thar; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume One, Monstrous Manual, The Complete Book of Humanoids, Player's Option: Skills & Powers; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual, Dragon #304, Savage Species; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual, Monster Manual IV; 4th Edition: Monster Manual | Ogre | Large and fearsome monsters |
| Orcs | 7-8 | Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Basic Set; Basic 1983: Basic Set, Gazetteer: The Orcs of Thar; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual, Dragon #62, Dragon #141; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume One, Monstrous Manual, The Complete Book of Humanoids, Player's Option: Skills & Powers; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual, Monster Manual IV; 4th Edition: Monster Manual | Orc | Tribal creatures that live in caves or villages |
| Pegasi | 17 | Winged horses that will serve only Lawful characters | ||
| Pixies | 16 | Air sprites originally described in the "Chainmail" set, naturally invisible to human eyes | ||
| Purple Worms | 15 | Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Expert Set; Basic 1983: Expert Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume Two, Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual, Dragon #282; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual; 4th Edition: Monster Manual | Purple worm | Huge and hungry monsters lurk beneath the surface |
| Rocs | 17 | Basic 1981: Expert Set; Basic 1983: Expert Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume Two, Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual; 4th Edition: Monster Manual | Roc | Large and fierce birds that nest in mountains; hostile to creatures of Chaos and Neutrality |
| Skeletons | 9 | Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Basic Set; Basic 1983: Basic Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume One, Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual, Libris Mortis: The Book of Undead; 4th Edition: Monster Manual | Skeleton | Acts under the instructions of their motivator, be it Magic-User or Cleric (Chaos) |
| Spectres | 9 | Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Expert Set; Basic 1983: Expert Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume One, Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual; 4th Edition: Monster Manual | Spectre | Have no corporeal body and drain life energy levels |
| Treants | 16 | Tree-like creatures able to command trees, Lawful in nature | ||
| Trolls | 8 | Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Expert Set; Basic 1983: Expert Set, Gazetteer: The Orcs of Thar; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume One, Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual, Dragon #301, Savage Species; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual; 4th Edition: Monster Manual | Troll | Thin and rubbery, loathsome creatures able to regenerate |
| Unicorns | 15 | Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Expert Set; Basic 1983: Expert Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia, Thunder Rift; 1st Edition: Monster Manual, Dragon #77; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume One, Monstrous Manual, Dragon #190; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual; 4th Edition: Monster Manual | Unicorn | Can be ridden by maiden-warriors and will obey them |
| Vampires | 9-10 | Original: Greyhawk; Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Expert Set; Basic 1983: Expert Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume One, Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual, Libris Mortis: The Book of Undead; 4th Edition: Monster Manual | Vampire | Powerful undead |
| Wights | 9 | Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Basic Set; Basic 1983: Basic Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume One, Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual, Libris Mortis: The Book of Undead, Dragon #348; 4th Edition: Monster Manual | Wight | Drain away energy levels on a hit |
| Wraiths | 9 | Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Expert Set; Basic 1983: Expert Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume One, Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual; 4th Edition: Monster Manual | Wraith | High-class wights with more mobility |
| Wyverns | 11 | Basic 1981: Expert Set; Basic 1983: Expert Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume Two, Monstrous Manual, Dragon Annual #1; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual; 4th Edition: Monster Manual | Wyvern | Smaller relatives of dragons with poisonous sting in tail |
| Yellow Mold | 20 | Deadly underground fungus that attacks wood and flesh | ||
| Zombies | 9 | Basic 1977: Basic Set; Basic 1981: Basic Set; Basic 1983: Basic Set; Basic 1991: Rules Cyclopedia; 1st Edition: Monster Manual; 2nd Edition: Monstrous Compendium Volume One, Monstrous Manual; 3rd Edition: Monster Manual; 3.5 Edition: Monster Manual, Libris Mortis: The Book of Undead; 4th Edition: Monster Manual | Zombie | Acts under the instructions of their motivator, be it Magic-User or Cleric (Chaos) |
Read more about Chimera (Dungeons & Dragons): TSR 2003 - Dungeons & Dragons Supplement I: Greyhawk (1974), TSR 2004 - Dungeons & Dragons Supplement II: Blackmoor (1975), TSR 2005 - Dungeons & Dragons Supplement III: Eldritch Wizardry (1976)
Famous quotes containing the word chimera:
“What a chimera then is man. What a novelty! What a monster, what a chaos, what a contradiction, what a prodigy. Judge of all things, imbecile worm of the earth; depositary of truth, a sink of uncertainty and error: the pride and refuse of the universe.”
—Blaise Pascal (1623–1662)