Roc (Dungeons & Dragons)
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In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the roc is a gargantuan, eagle-like animal, based on an earlier creature from myth and fantasy also named the Roc.
Publication history
The roc was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the D&D game.
Original Dungeons & Dragons
The roc 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 large and fierce birds that nest in mountains, and are hostile to creatures of Chaos and Neutrality.[1]
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons
The roc appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977),[2] where it is described as a huge eagle-like bird that inhabits the highest mountains, and preys upon large creatures such as cattle, horses, and elephants.
The moon roc appeared in the module Needle (1987).
Basic Dungeons & Dragons
This edition of the D&D game included its own version of the roc, which came in three sizes: the small roc, the large roc, and the giant roc. These all appeared in the Dungeons & Dragons Expert Set (1981 & 1983),[3][4] and later in the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991).[5]
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition
In the second edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, the roc appears first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989),[6] and is reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).[7]
The Athasian roc for the Dark Sun campaign setting appeared in Monstrous Compendium Dark Sun Appendix: Terrors of Athas (1992).[8]
The common Zakharan roc, the two-headed Zakharan roc, and the great Zakharan roc for the Al-Qadim campaign setting appeared in Land of Fate (1992).
Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition
The roc appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000).[9]
The chaos roc appeared in Monster Manual II (2002).[10] The roc appears in the revised Monster Manual for the 3.5 edition (2003).
Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition
The roc appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008).[11]
Dungeons & Dragons 5th edition
The roc appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2014).[12]
Description
Rocs are birds so large that one can carry off an elephant.
A roc is always neutral in alignment, and generally prefers warm mountainous terrain. Rocs are usually solitary, but sometimes found in mated pairs.
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 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 Two (TSR, 1989)
- ^ Stewart, Doug, ed. Monstrous Manual (TSR, 1993)
- ^ Baas, Walter. Monstrous Compendium Dark Sun Appendix: Terrors of Athas (TSR, Inc., 1992)
- ^ Cook, Monte, Jonathan Tweet, and Skip Williams. Monster Manual (Wizards of the Coast, 2000)
- ^ Bonny, Ed, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, Skip Williams, and Steve Winter. Monster Manual II (Wizards of the Coast, 2002)
- ^ Mearls, Mike, Stephen Schubert, and James Wyatt. Monster Manual (Wizards of the Coast, 2008)
- ^ Merals, Mike, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins. Monster Manual (Wizards of the Coast, 2014)