Jump to content

Owlbear

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Owlbear
An owlbear, pictured in the original Monster Manual (by Dave Sutherland, 1977).[1]
First appearanceGreyhawk (1975)
In-universe information
TypeMagical beast
AlignmentNeutral

An owlbear (also owl bear) is a fictional creature originally created for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. An owlbear is depicted as a cross between a bear and an owl, which "hugs" like a bear and attacks with its beak. Inspired by a plastic toy made in Hong Kong,[2] Gary Gygax created the owlbear and introduced the creature to the game in the 1975 Greyhawk supplement;[3] the creature has since appeared in every subsequent edition of the game. Owlbears, or similar beasts, also appear in several other fantasy role-playing games, video games and other media.

Creation

In the early 1970s, Gary Gygax was playing Chainmail, a wargame that bore some precursors of Dungeons & Dragons. In order to give his players as many different challenges as possible, Gygax was always on the look-out for new monsters. Although he was able to draw on pulp fiction and sword and sorcery stories for many of them, he also looked through dime stores for figurines that could be used in battle. On one of those occasions, he came across a bag of small plastic toys euphemistically labeled "prehistoric animals". Made in Hong Kong, the set included monsters from Japanese "Kaiju" films such as Ultraman and the Godzilla franchise. Several of these were odd enough to catch his eye, and he used them to represent several new monsters, including the owlbear, the bulette and the rust monster.[4]

Concept

The owlbear is depicted as an eight to ten foot (2.5–3 meter) tall cross between a bear and an owl. According to descriptions in Dungeons & Dragons source books, owlbears are carnivorous creatures, famed for their aggression and ferocity;[5] they live in mated pairs in caves and hunt any creature bigger than a mouse.[5] They use a "hug" and their beak to attack. In the game's third edition, it was categorized as a "magical beast".

The actual in-game origin of the owlbear has never been definitively revealed, but the various Monster Manual editions indicate that it is probably the product of a wizard's experiments. Within the franchise's mythology, the lich Thessalar claims to have created them, but his insanity and egomania put the accuracy of this claim in doubt.[6] In the 5th edition, some elves claim that owlbears have existed for millennia and older fey say that they have always existed in the Feywild.[7]

Within the Dungeons & Dragons system and in other role-playing games, the owlbear usually serves as a "monster". Within the context of RPGs, "monster" is a generic term to describe potentially hostile beings and obstacles for the players to overcome.[8] This role is also the one the owlbear was originally designed for.[1][3]

Publication history

The owlbear is among the earliest monsters in Dungeons & Dragons, and, like the bulette and the rust monster, was inspired by a Hong Kong-made plastic toy purchased by Gary Gygax for use as a miniature in a Chainmail game.[2]

Dungeons & Dragons (1974–1976)

The owl bear was introduced to the game in its first supplement, Greyhawk (1975).[3] It is described as a "horrid creature" which "hugs" like a bear, and deals damage with its beak. The owlbear is also listed on random encounter tables in Eldritch Wizardry, the third supplement.[9] The illustration shows a bear-like creatujre on all fours, and bears no resemblance to the plastic toy that had given Gygax his original inspiration.[10]: 66 

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977–1988)

The owlbear appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977),[1] where it is described as a "horrible creature that inhabits tangled forest regions, and attacks with its great claws and snapping beak". The illustration of the owlbear shown in the Monster Manual was done by Dave Sutherland, and closely correlates to Gygax's original plastic toy.[10]: 66 

Dungeons & Dragons (1977–1999)

This edition of the D&D game included its own owl bear, in the Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set (1981 and 1983).[11][12][13] The owl bear was also later featured in the Dungeons & Dragons Game set (1991),[14] the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991),[15] the Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game set (1994),[16] and the Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game set (1999).[17]

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989–1999)

The owlbear appears first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1989),[18] and is reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).[19]

The owlbear appeared in the Dark Sun setting in the adventure Black Spine (1994).[20]

The owlbear was detailed in Dragon #214 (February 1995), in "The Ecology of the Owlbear", which also included the arctic owlbear and the winged owlbear.[21] These variants were later reprinted in the Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (1996).[22]

The greater owlbear appeared in an adventure in Dungeon #63 (July 1997).[23]

Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000–2002)

The owlbear appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000).[24]

The owlbear appeared on the Wizards of the Coast website for the Chainmail game, in 2000.[25]

The winged owlbear in adult and juvenile form appeared in Dungeon #84 (January 2001).[26]

The supplemental book Unapproachable East features a feat, an ability that player characters can obtain, named "owlbear berserker" that allows a player character to use a ferocious owlbear-like fighting style.[27]

Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003–2007)

The owlbear appears in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003) as well as the owlbear skeleton under the skeleton entry.[28]

The ancient owlbear appeared in Dungeon #107 (February 2004).[29]

The Ankholian owlbear appeared in the Dragonlance, Bestiary of Krynn[30] (2004) and the Revised Bestiary of Krynn (2007).[31]

Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008–2014)

The owlbear appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008) along with the winterclaw owlbear.[32] The flavor text mentions that owlbears can be tamed to serve as guards.

Dungeons & Dragons Essentials (2010–)

The owlbear as depicted in the 4th edition Monster Manual and the Monster Vault.

The Monster Vault boxed set contains the owlbear as well as various subtypes like the young owlbear, trained owlbear, wind-claw owlbear and again the winterclaw owlbear.[33] The cover of the monster book included in the box and the box itself feature an owlbear alongside other monsters.[34]

Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition (2014–)

In May 2012, Wizards of the Coast employee Jon Schindehette announced that the inclusion and design of the owlbear for the upcoming fifth edition of Dungeons & Dragons was being discussed.[35]

The monster was included in the "bestiary" of the D&D Next Playtest Package,[36] a compilation of files available for gamers interested in playtesting this Dungeons & Dragons version before its official release.

The owlbear is included in the Monster Manual of the full release of the game, published in 2014. The flavor text states that remote settlements have used owlbears for racing, and it also states the fact that owlbears are more likely to attack their tamer, than actually begin the race.[7]

In other role-playing games

Pathfinder Roleplaying Game

The owlbear is an official monster in the Pathfinder Roleplaying Game[37] that is based on Dungeons and Dragons 3.5 edition. It is included in the game's first bestiary, and elaborated on in Dungeon Denizens Revisited. Dungeon Denizens Revisited also includes a variant named siege owlbear.[38][39] Furthermore, Paizo released a part of the series Behind the Monsters[40] dedicated to the owlbear, which features the bearowl, the possibly "even stranger offspring" of an owlbear.[41] Additional official Pathfinder variants of the owlbear are the arctic owlbear, Darklands owlbear, fruss owlbear, great hook-clawed owlbear, screaming owlbear, sleeyk owlbear,[42] slime owlbear, sloth owlbear as well as the spectral owlbear.[43]

The adventure module Pathfinder #7 – Curse of the Crimson Throne Chapter 1: "Edge of Anarchy"[44] originally published by Paizo Publishing for Dungeons and Dragons 3.5 edition under the OGL[45] contains a taxidermic owlbear. It is a regular owlbear with the skeleton template allowing the game master to turn a regular monster into an undead one.[46] A skeletal owlbear illustration was also done by Goodman Games artist Nick Greenwood.[47]

Retro-clones and OSR RPGs

As only the design of a role-playing game, not the rules are protected by U.S. copyright law,[48] it is possible for third-party publishers to release RPG systems based on the rules of Dungeons & Dragons without using the actual name or trademarks associated with the brand. These systems are referred to as "retro-clones" or "simulacra".[49] Games not directly using rules of a Dungeons & Dragons edition but claiming to capture the style are often called Old School Renaissance (OSR) games.[50]

The following retro-clones and OSR systems feature the owlbear as an opponent:

  • Swords & Wizardry, modelled after the original Dungeons & Dragons from 1974 and published by Mythmere Games.[51]
  • Labyrinth Lords by Goblinoid Games.[52]
  • Dark Dungeons, Darker Dungeons and Darkest Dungeons (later renamed Blood, Guts and Glory) by Gratis Games all include the owlbear in their bestiary.[53][54][55]
  • OSRIC, a system emulating Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.[56]
  • Mazes & Perils, inspired by the 1977 Holmes version of Dungeons & Dragons.[57]
  • Adventurer Conqueror King by Autarch.[58]
  • Dungeon Crawl Classics by Goodman Games.[59]
  • In Basic Fantasy, the owlbear appears[60] together with the fire-breathing owlbear.[61]
  • Microlite74 Basic, Standard and Extended all have owlbears as monsters.[62][63][64]
  • For Gold & Glory, emulating Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition.[65]
  • Castles & Crusades by Troll Lord Games.[66]
  • Burning THAC0,[67] a variation of The Burning Wheel.

Other systems

A male half-owlbear, half-blue dragon hybrid named Dragore is featured as an antagonist in the Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 supplement Foul Locales: Beyond the Walls by Mystic Eye Games.[68]

The Manual of Monsters for Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game suggest to use the owlbear as an opponent.[69] A Warcraft-exclusive owlbear-like creature named wildkin is included as well.

Later on, Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game was renamed World of Warcraft: The Roleplaying Game. This edition's Monster Guide, equivalent to the Manual of Monsters, includes the owlbear-like "wildkin" described as a benign creature and associated with the game's Night Elf faction. A larger and more ferocious subtype listed is the "owlbeast".[70]

A third-party Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition quick reference card for the owlbear has been published as part of a series of Monster Knowledge Cards.[71]

The owlbears appears in the HackMaster 4th edition Hacklopedia of Beasts Volume VI[72] and the HackMaster 5th edition Hacklopedia of Beasts.[73] Variants included are the lesser owlbear, great horned owlbear and the spotted owlbear.

The HackMaster adventure module Little Keep on the Borderlands features owlbears as enemies and an owlbear on the cover.[74]

Blood & Treasure, modelled after Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition, features the owlbear as an opponent.[75][76]

In video games

Dungeons & Dragons-licensed games

The owlbear as an opponent in Tower of Doom.

Several video games based on Dungeons & Dragons feature the owlbear:

Warcraft franchise

The Wildkin as an NPC enemy in World of Warcraft.

Adaptations of the owlbear appear in the Warcraft universe in several forms:

  • Non-player characters known as "wildkin" appear in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and its expansion The Frozen Throne.[82] Variants are the enraged wildkin and berserk wildkin. The actual term "owlbear" is only used in Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos and its manual,[83] and not used in its expansion.
  • The MMORPG World of Warcraft contains a variety of owlbear-like creatures named "wildkin", mostly as NPCs. The alternative term "owlkin" is used of wildkin living in the fictional Ammen Vale. A variant is the mutated owlkin. A more powerful wildkin is the owlbeast, with deranged owlbeast and raging owlbeast being subtypes. Some wildkin are also called "moonkin", which is also a creature players of the druid class can transform into.[84] A quest for players with the druid class involves defeating a moonkin named Lunaclaw.

Other games

In other media

  • The owlbear was card #107 of 750 in the 1991 TSR trading cards factory set, and card #117 of 495 in the 1993 TSR trading cards factory set.
  • The Harbinger set, the first set of miniatures for the Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures Game, a collectible miniatures game, has an owlbear miniature.[99] The Blood War set has monster named owlbear ranger. The Against the Giants set includes a furious owlbear.[100]
  • In 2012, Wizards of the Coast released a new version of the 1975 adventure board game Dungeon![101] which features owlbears as opponents.[102]
  • Also released in 2012 by Wizards of the Coast, the game Lords of Waterdeep features a quest card called "domesticate owlbears".
  • The owlbear was depicted in the webcomic The Order of the Stick, where it was presented as a pointless cross between an already dangerous creature (a bear) and a harmless animal (an owl).[103]
  • A creature called a "nightripper" appears in Sagard the Barbarian #2: The Green Hydra game book by Gary Gygax. The nightripper is described and illustrated as a bear with an owl's head but with talons for forepaws. An illustration of it can be found prefacing section 12: The Kingdom Of Darkness.[104]
  • In Tabletop, the owlbear often pops up in the background or even as a censoring cover image during season two, from the "Lords of Waterdeep" episode onward. Beginning in season three, the owlbear also appears to point out when gameplay does not match the official rules.
  • In Douglas Niles' novel, Darkwell, an owlbear is born from the putrid Darkwell, as a child of Bhaal as a sin against nature.

Reception

Chris Sims of the on-line magazine Comics Alliance referred to the owlbear as "the second-greatest monster in the history of D&D".[105] Dave Chalker from Critical-Hits.com, a RPG blog which won the Ennie Gold 2011 Ennie Award for Best Blog,[106] recommended the use of the owlbear as a monster.[107] Rob Bricken from io9 named the owlbear as the sixth most memorable D&D monster.[108]

References

  1. ^ a b c Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual (TSR, 1977)
  2. ^ a b Greenwood, Ed, "Ecology of the Rust Monster." Dragon #88 (TSR, 1984). Account was later re-printed in the Ecology of the Rust Monster article in issue #346.
  3. ^ a b c Gygax, Gary and Robert Kuntz. Supplement I: Greyhawk (TSR, 1975)
  4. ^ Gygax: "There was a set of plastic toys laughlingly labelled as dinosaurs [if I remember right]. I frequented the local dime stores back in the late 60s and early 70s searching for toys that would suit tabletop fantasy gaming. The said bag contained three we incorporated—the bulette, the owl bear, and the rust monster.""Gary Gygax: Q & A (Part I, Page 8)". EN World. 2002-09-06. Retrieved 2009-03-15.
  5. ^ a b Owlbear in the d20 SRD
  6. ^ Jacobs, James. "Into the Wormcrawl Fissure." Dungeon #134 (Pazio Publishing, 2006)
  7. ^ a b Dungeons and Dragons 5E Monster Manual. 2014. p. 249.
  8. ^ Slavicsek, Bill and Richard Baker. Dungeons & Dragons for Dummies (Wiley Publishing, 2005)
  9. ^ Gygax, Gary and Brian Blume. Supplement III: Eldritch Wizardry (TSR, 1976)
  10. ^ a b Witwer, Michael; Newman, Kyle; Witwer, Sam (2018), Art & Arcana: A Visual History, Ten Speed Press
  11. ^ Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson [1974], edited by Tom Moldvay. Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set (TSR, 1981)
  12. ^ Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson [1974], edited by Frank Mentzer. Dungeons & Dragons Set 1: Basic Rules (TSR, 1983)
  13. ^ Schick, Lawrence (1991). Heroic Worlds: A History and Guide to Role-Playing Games. Prometheus Books. pp. 130–131. ISBN 0-87975-653-5.
  14. ^ Brown, Timothy B., Troy Denning The New Easy to Master Dungeons & Dragons Game (TSR, 1991)
  15. ^ Allston, Aaron, Steven E. Schend, Jon Pickens, and Dori Watry. Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (TSR, 1991)
  16. ^ Brown, Timothy B., Troy Denning The Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game (TSR, 1994)
  17. ^ Slavicsek, Bill. Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game (TSR, 1999)
  18. ^ Cook, David, et al. Monstrous Compendium Volume One (TSR, 1989)
  19. ^ Stewart, Doug, ed. Monstrous Manual (TSR, 1994)
  20. ^ Baas, Walter, Dustin Browder, Tom Prusa, Jonathan Tweet. Black Spine (TSR, 1994)
  21. ^ Richards, Jonathan M. "The Ecology of the Owlbear." Dragon #214 (TSR, 1995)
  22. ^ Pickens, Jon, ed. Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (TSR, 1996)
  23. ^ Doyle, Chris. "Hunt for a Hierophant" Dungeon #63 (TSR, 1997)
  24. ^ Cook, Monte, Jonathan Tweet, and Skip Williams. Monster Manual (Wizards of the Coast, 2000)
  25. ^ Battle Sheets!
  26. ^ Doyle, Chris. "The Dying of the Light" Dungeon #84 (Wizards of the Coast, 2001)
  27. ^ Baker, Richard, Matt Forbeck, and Sean K. Reynolds. Unapproachable East (Wizards of the Coast, 2003)
  28. ^ Williams, Skip, ed. Monster Manual: Core Rulebook III v.3.5 (Wizards of the Coast, 2003)
  29. ^ Brown, Rusell. "Mellorn Hospitality" Dungeon #107 (Wizards of the Coast, 2004)
  30. ^ Banks, Cam, André La Roche. Bestiary of Krynn (Sovereign Press, 2004)
  31. ^ Banks, Cam, André La Roche. Bestiary of Krynn Revised (Sovereign Press, 2007)
  32. ^ Mearls, Mike, Stephen Schubert, and James Wyatt. Monster Manual (Wizards of the Coast, 2008)
  33. ^ Thompson, Rodney, Logan Bonner, and Matthew Sernett. Monster Vault (Wizards of the Coast, 2010)
  34. ^ Monster Vault – An Essential D&D Game Supplement at the Wizards of the Coast official website
  35. ^ Schindehette, Jon (May 16, 2012). "The Making of an Owlbear". Dragon’s-Eye View. Retrieved November 5, 2012.
  36. ^ Official D&D Next Playtest Package Bestiary, version from January 28, 2013
  37. ^ Bestiary on the Pathfinder RPG Official Homepage
  38. ^ Boomer, Clinton, Jason Bulmahn, Joshua J. Frost, Nicolas Logue, Robert McCreary, Jason Nelson, Richard Pett, Sean K Reynolds, James L. Sutter, and Greg A. Vaughan. Dungeon Denizens Revisited – A Pathfinder Chronicles Supplement (Paizo Publishing, 2009)
  39. ^ Official Siege Owlbear entry on Pathfinder SRD
  40. ^ Behind the Monsters at Paizo.com
  41. ^ Boyd, Bret. Behind the Monsters: Owlbear (Paizo Publishing, 2007)
  42. ^ Official Sleeyk Owlbear entry on Pathfinder SRD
  43. ^ Official Owlbear entry on Pathfinder SRD
  44. ^ Logue, Nicolas. Pathfinder #7 – Curse of the Crimson Throne Chapter 1: "Edge of Anarchy" (Paizo Publishing, 2008)
  45. ^ Pathfinder #7 – Curse of the Crimson Throne Chapter 1: "Edge of Anarchy" at Paizo.com
  46. ^ Official Owlbear Skeleton entry on Pathfinder SRD
  47. ^ "Skeletal owlbear illustration by Nick Greenwood".[permanent dead link]
  48. ^ "US Copyright Office". Retrieved 2008-05-22.
  49. ^ Varney, Allen. "Retro-clones". The Escapist. Retrieved 27 July 2010.
  50. ^ Maliszewski, James. "Full Circle: A History of the Old School Revival". The Escapist. Retrieved November 13, 2012.
  51. ^ Finch, Matthew J. Swords & Wizardry Monster Book (Self-published, 2008)
  52. ^ Proctor, Daniel. Labyrinth Lords – Classic Fantasy Roleplaying Game of Labyrinths, Magic, and Monsters fourth revised edition (Goblinoid Games, 2009)
  53. ^ Blacky the Blackball. Dark Dungeons (Gratis Games, 2010)
  54. ^ Blacky the Blackball. Darker Dungeons (Gratis Games, 2011)
  55. ^ Blacky the Blackball. Darkest Dungeons (Gratis Games, 2012)
  56. ^ Marshall, Stuart. OSRIC – Old School Reference and Index Compilation v2.2 (Knights & Knaves, 2011)
  57. ^ Florio, Vincent, Bryan Manahan, Mike Stewart and Michael Thomas. Mazes & Perisl (Wild Games Productions, 2012)
  58. ^ Allison, Tavis, Alexander Macris, Greg Tito. Adventurer Conqueror King System (Autarch, 2012)
  59. ^ Curtis, Michael, Joseph Goodman, Harley Stroh, Dieter Zimmerman. Dungeon Crawl Classics Role Playing Game (Autarch, 2012)
  60. ^ Gonnerman, Chris, Ray Allen, William D. Smith, Jr., Nick Bogan, Evan Moore, Stuart Marshall, Emiliano Marchetti, Antonio Eleuteri, Luigi Castellani, Michael Hensley, Nazim N. Karaca, Arthur Reyes, Todd Roe, and Jim Bobb. Basic Fantasy Role-Playing Game 2nd Edition (Release 75, 2008)
  61. ^ Gonnerman, Chris, Ray Allen, Ola Berg, James D. Jarvis, R. Kevin Smoot, Omer Golan-Joel, D. Bamberger, MtBlack, Maliki, Bill Beatty, Sidney Parham, and J. D. Neal. The Basic Fantasy Field Guide of Creatures Malevolent and Benign (Release 2, 2010)
  62. ^ Stukey, Randall S. Microlite74 Basic Version 3.0 (Self-published, 2011)
  63. ^ Stukey, Randall S. Microlite74 Standard Version 3.0 (Self-published, 2011)
  64. ^ Stukey, Randall S. Microlite74 Extended Version 3.0 (Self-published, 2011)
  65. ^ Brown, Justen. For Gold & Glory (Self-published, 2011)
  66. ^ Chenault, Stephen, Robert Doyel. Castles & Crusades Monsters & Treasure (Troll Lord Games, 2005)
  67. ^ Crane, Luke, Thor Olavsu, Anthony Hersey and Peter Tierney. Burning THAC0 (Self-published, 2005)
  68. ^ Boyd, Bret, Charles W. Plemons III, John White. Foul Locales: Beyond the Walls (Mystic Eye Games, 2002)
  69. ^ Borgstrom, Rebecca, Eric Brennan, Genevieve Cogman, and Michael Goodwin. Manual of Monsters (Sword & Sorcery, 2003)
  70. ^ Cassada, Jackie, Brandon Crowley, Richard Farrese, Bob Fitch, Bruce Graw, Luke Johnson, Adam Loyd, Andrew Rowe, and Amber E. Scott. Manual Guide (Sword & Sorcery, 2007)
  71. ^ Thomson, Connie J., Robert W. Thomson. GM's Aid IV: Monster Knowledge Cards Volume 2: Gargoyle to Owlbear (4 Winds Fantasy Gaming, 2009)
  72. ^ Blackburn, Jolly R., Brian Jelke, Steve Johansson, and David S. Kenzer. Hacklopcedia of Beasts Volume VI (Kenzer & Company, 2001)
  73. ^ Blackburn, Jolly R., Brian Jelke, Steve Johansson, and David S. Kenzer. Hacklopcedia of Beasts (Kenzer and Company, 2011)
  74. ^ Blackburn, Jolly R., Brian Jelke, Steve Johansson, David S. Kenzer, Noah Kolman, Jamie LaFountain, and Don Morgan. B2: Little Keep on the Borderlands (Kenzer and Company, 2002)
  75. ^ Stater, John. Blood & Treasure: Treasure Keeper's Tome (Self-published, 2012)
  76. ^ Stater, John. Blood & Treasure: Complete Game (Self-published, 2012)
  77. ^ Tower of Doom list of enemies at Arcade Quartermaster
  78. ^ Shadow over Mystara list of enemies at Arcade Quartermaster
  79. ^ Dungeons & Dragons Collection at MobyGames
  80. ^ Barton, Matt (2007-02-23). "Unforgettable Realms: SSI's "Gold Box" Games". The History of Computer Role-Playing Games Part 2: The Golden Age (1985–1993). Gamasutra. p. 4. Archived from the original on 2009-02-27. Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  81. ^ Rausch, Allen (2004-08-16). "SSI's "Gold Box" Series". Retrieved 2011-11-21.
  82. ^ "Wildkin". Mojo StormStout's Warcraft III Strategy Guide. Blizzard Entertainment. Retrieved 2006-12-09.
  83. ^ Warcraft III: Reign of Chaos User Manual (Blizzard Entertainment, 2002)
  84. ^ "Balance talent tree of the Druid class in World of Warcraft". Blizzard Entertainment. Retrieved 2008-06-04.
  85. ^ "Owlbear". NetHack Wiki. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
  86. ^ EverQuest Bestiary at EverQuest Allakhazam
  87. ^ "EverQuest II Bestiary at MMO Database". Archived from the original on 2013-02-02. Retrieved 2013-02-08.
  88. ^ [ht tp://legendsofnorrath.station.sony.com/community.vm?Id=605 Hunt for Foulfeather Once Again in the Legends of Norrath February Retro-Replay Scenario! at the Legends of Norrath official website]
  89. ^ "Anthony" (July 21, 2009). "Phantasy Star Game Blog Part II: Owl Bears Make Me Cry". Gamer Sushi. Retrieved January 13, 2013.
  90. ^ Dragon Quest V (SNES) Bestiary at Dragon's Den
  91. ^ Dragon Quest V (PS2) Bestiary at Dragon's Den
  92. ^ Dragon Quest V (Nintendo DS) Bestiary at Dragon's Den
  93. ^ Tales of Destiny II Guide at AbyssalChronicles.com
  94. ^ Sage Knowledge 30 of 78 (Urstrix Bestiary entry). Square Enix (2006-10-31). Final Fantasy XII (PlayStation 2).
  95. ^ "Owlbear Garden review at Gamezebo.com". 2011-11-28. Archived from the original on 2012-11-20. Retrieved 2012-11-10.
  96. ^ Kingdom Conquest Official Homepage
  97. ^ Lineage Library Monster Index
  98. ^ "Monster: owlbear - Cataclysm: Dark Days Ahead". cdda-trunk.chezzo.com. Retrieved 2019-12-18.
  99. ^ Mini Galleries Archive: Harbinger at the Wizards of the Coast official website
  100. ^ Mini Galleries Archive: Against the Giants at the Wizards of the Coast official website
  101. ^ "Dungeon! Board Game". Wizards of the Coast. 16 October 2012. Retrieved 17 October 2012.
  102. ^ "Dungeon! Board Game". The Gaming Gang. 18 October 2012. Retrieved 9 November 2012.
  103. ^ The Order of the Stick #322 by Rich Burlew
  104. ^ Nightripper in Sagard the Barbarian
  105. ^ Sims, Chris (October 19, 2012). "Ask Chris #125: The Greatest Monsters in 'Dungeons & Dragons'". Comics Alliance. Archived from the original on October 21, 2012. Retrieved November 10, 2012.
  106. ^ 2011 Noms and Winners of the Ennie Awards
  107. ^ Chalker, Dave (February 26, 2009). "10 Monsters I Use in Every D&D Campaign (And 5 I Don't)". Critical-Hits.com. Retrieved February 8, 2013.
  108. ^ Bricken, Rob (September 16, 2013). "The 10 Most Memorable Dungeons & Dragons Monsters". io9. Retrieved January 20, 2016.