What exactly is this creature?

[Yora]

I mean this one.



I guess it's one from the zoo for 1st Edition monsters that have never been updated. But what is it?

[Gift Jeraff]

The name of the .gif is "daemon," so we know it's a daemon (aka yugoloth). As for which variety, I'm not sure.

[KillianHawkeye]

He's described as a "guardian daemon" in comic 55.

[Killer Angel]

He's described as a "guardian daemon" in comic 55.

Yep, it was a creature summoned by wizards, for the single task of guarding some treasure or some specific place, wich they can do for A LOT of time.

[Raistlin82]

LOL and what's the next one, with what appears to be a bunny on top?

[Feytalist]

A first edition monster called the Wolf in Sheep's Clothing. One of the more insane monsters ever created. It debuted in a module called Expedition to the Barrier Peaks.

Incidentally, here is an article celebrating all the hilarious monsters DnD invented over the years, and here is its follow-up. Somewhat amusing to see all the things that didn't make it into 3rd edition.

[Serpentine]

Is it a trunk with a cute little bunnikin on top? If so, it's the Wolf In Sheeps Clothing (iirc the name).

[raymundo]

Incredible. The Flumph _actually exists_. Who would have thought?




Source from Feytalist's links

[King of Nowhere]

Incredible. The Flumph _actually exists_. Who would have thought?




Source from Feytalist's links

ALL those monsters existed.
By the way, I don't see anything really wrong with the flumphs. Someone sees them as having spaghetti underneath, but they can just be some kind of flying squid.

[Zherog]

Flumphs exist in 3rd edition, too - in a 3rd part product. They were in Tome of Horrors, and also now have Pathfinder stats with the release of Tome of Horrors Complete.

[raymundo]

Yes, but the Flumphs' recurringness and overall goofyness just had me doubting they were not real. Stupid me.


Wonder if anybody made stats for Flumphs as a player race, though. (this totally is not a dare)

[Shhalahr Windrider]

I actually like the OotS style flumph better.

Actually, can anyone dig up a non-OotS version of the guardian daemon? My Google-fu has failed, and I’d like to see what they’re supposed to look like without being stick-ified. (Especially since the avatar is using an older, less detailed art style.)

[Gift Jeraff]

I think this is it.

[Shhalahr Windrider]

Well, then I guess Rich’s version is a least or lesser version. ‘Cause it ain’t no winged bear.

[Dr.Epic]

I think this is it.

But it has wings.

Also, maybe the creature is meant to be...

Spoiler

Show

...the Monster in the Darkness!!! Nah, just kidding.

[Kish]

ALL those monsters existed.
By the way, I don't see anything really wrong with the flumphs. Someone sees them as having spaghetti underneath, but they can just be some kind of flying squid.

The phrase "defeated by turning them upside down" comes to mind.

[Gift Jeraff]

But it has wings.

It's a lesser one.

The least and lesser yugoloth guardians vary in size and form, often being horned and frog-like (least) or ape- or boar-like (lesser). Greater yugoloth guardians always appear as gigantic, winged bears with ram horns protruding from their foreheads, and eagle talons for hands.

[Vectner]

Flumps were Lawful Good, I think to be a monster for Evil parties to combat. There were a number of good monsters in 1st Ed. If you can dig up a 1st ed. MMII check out the Grig, beyond stupid, they were a race of grasshopper men.

[Dr.Epic]

It's a lesser one.

I guess it could be that then. Not sure what else it could be. Maybe some sort of weird satyr? (But probably not)

[Lateral]

If you can dig up a 1st ed. MMII check out the Grig, beyond stupid, they were a race of grasshopper men.

Oh, really?

[Wanda V'Orcus]

I mean this one.



I guess it's one from the zoo for 1st Edition monsters that have never been updated. But what is it?

A killmoulis??



Cheers, JohnH / Wanda

[jere7my]

Actually, can anyone dig up a non-OotS version of the guardian daemon? My Google-fu has failed, and I’d like to see what they’re supposed to look like without being stick-ified.

It looks like Rich based the design on the Guardian Daemon illustration in the 2nd edition Monstrous Compendium 2 (1989). It's got the curly horns and tapering snout. Unfortunately, I can't find a scan online.

[Mystic Muse]

Wonder if anybody made stats for Flumphs as a player race, though. (this totally is not a dare)

.....

Flumph Monster Class.

Totally making that at some point. Just need to get a hold of tome of horrors.

[Aldreck]

Actually, can anyone dig up a non-OotS version of the guardian daemon? My Google-fu has failed, and I’d like to see what they’re supposed to look like without being stick-ified. (Especially since the avatar is using an older, less detailed art style.)

I think the monster in this Goblins strip is supposed to be one. It certainly bares some similarities to the avatar in the opening post (although the snout is a bit less trunk-like)

[jere7my]

I don't have a scanner, but I do have a camera and Monstrous Compendium 2. Here's the Guardian Daemon illustration that's closest to Rich's:



Link to image page.

They originated in the 1st edition Fiend Folio, but back then they looked like a standard humanoid-with-horns demon growing out of an egg.

[Sunken Valley]

It's me!!! Wa ha ha! Cower before my alien form!

Yeah it's a guardian Daemon. Was recently coverted to Pathfinder. CR 8

[Kish]

It's me!!! Wa ha ha! Cower before my alien form!

Yeah it's a guardian Daemon. Was recently coverted to Pathfinder. CR 8

Why would Guardian Daemon be between Howler and Hydra in the Monster Manual? Admittedly it's been a long time since I learned the alphabet, but I'm pretty sure neither G nor D is found between H and H.

[Chronos]

Note, by the way, that the forum avatar doesn't come from Dorukan's Vault of Obsolete Monsters. The avatars actually pre-date the comic-- Rich had this forum going, and based the avatars on the doodles he used for miniatures in his gaming group, and then decided he'd like to tell a story about them and started the comic.

[FujinAkari]

then decided he'd like to tell a story about them and started the comic.

Not... quite.

The OOTS were never avatars, they were created explicitly for the comic, and the comic wasn't started because Rich got bored and wanted to put his avatars to use, but to fuel repeat visitors to the site :P

[Shhalahr Windrider]

I don't have a scanner, but I do have a camera and Monstrous Compendium 2. Here's the Guardian Daemon illustration that's closest to Rich's:

Cool! Thanks!

It just looked weird enough that I was having trouble visualizing it as anything other than its stick form.