Bestiary of Dragons and Giants
Encyclopedia
Bestiary of Dragons and Giants is an accessory for the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
.
describing all the D&D dragons
and giants
with a mini-scenario concerning each type. This anthology takes a look at how these high-powered monsters live, work, and relax. It begins with an overview of the lifestyles of dragons and giants, followed by short adventures that take place in different locations, written for a wide variety of character levels. The supplement includes 14 mini-scenarios for all levels of characters, as well as a random spell generation table for dragons. The inside of the cover folder shows the relative sizes of the various monsters. The Dragon Spell Generator can be used to determine which spells the various normal dragons and the powerful dragon rulers prefer. It also includes the statistics for each type of dragon.
, and was published by TSR in 1987 as a 64-page booklet with an outer folder. Also included was a Dragon Spell Generator. The supplement featured design by James Ward
, Warren Spector
, Caroline Spector, Steve Perrin
, John Nephew, Thomas Kane, Gary Thomas, John Terra, Deborah Christian, Ray Winninger
, Rick Swan, Vince Garcia, Bob Blake, Scott Bennie, and Bruce Heard
. Interior illustrations are by Wanda Lybarger and Roger Raupp
, with cartography by Dennis Kauth and Ron Kauth.
magazine #148 (August 1989). Bambra felt that the Bestiary of Dragons and Giants adds little to our knowledge of dragon and giant lore. It doesn't set out to greatly expand the information already available concerning dragons and giants, but instead redefines it slightly and provides a ready source of adventures that can either be played as stand-alones or dropped into an ongoing campaign." He found the game aids that come with this product to be of special interest, feeling that the monsters on the inside cover were artfully rendered and found them to be a great aid when describing these creatures to the players. He called the Dragon Spell Generator a "nifty device" which comes complete with the statistics of each type of dragon, making it "a great bonus when you consider that the D&D game rules are spread across a total of nine books". Bambra concluded his review by saying, "As an anthology, the Bestiary of Dragons and Giants is quite bitty. But since its major role is to make available a wide variety of adventures about monsters, this is less of a problem. This is a book to dip into for ideas or to find a suitable adventure at short notice, and less a work to be read from cover to cover. If your prime concern is to have a ready source of adventures available, then the Bestiary of Dragons and Giants is a useful product.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
role-playing game
Role-playing game
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 or character development...
.
Contents
Bestiary of Dragons and Giants is a supplement to Dungeons & DragonsDungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
describing all the D&D dragons
Dragon (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game , dragons are an iconic type of monstrous creature used as adversaries or, less commonly, allies of player characters...
and giants
Giant (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, giant is a type of creature, or "creature type." Giants are humanoid-shaped creatures of great strength and size.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
with a mini-scenario concerning each type. This anthology takes a look at how these high-powered monsters live, work, and relax. It begins with an overview of the lifestyles of dragons and giants, followed by short adventures that take place in different locations, written for a wide variety of character levels. The supplement includes 14 mini-scenarios for all levels of characters, as well as a random spell generation table for dragons. The inside of the cover folder shows the relative sizes of the various monsters. The Dragon Spell Generator can be used to determine which spells the various normal dragons and the powerful dragon rulers prefer. It also includes the statistics for each type of dragon.
Publication history
AC10 Bestiary of Dragons and Giants was edited by Deborah Christian, with a cover by Larry ElmoreLarry Elmore
Larry Elmore is an American fantasy artist whose work includes creating illustrations for video games, comics, magazines and fantasy books. His list of work includes illustrations for Dungeons & Dragons, Dragonlance, and the comic strip series SnarfQuest...
, and was published by TSR in 1987 as a 64-page booklet with an outer folder. Also included was a Dragon Spell Generator. The supplement featured design by James Ward
Jim Ward (game designer)
James M. Ward , is an American game designer and fantasy author. He is most famous for his game development and writing work for TSR, Inc., where he worked for more than 20 years. In 1989 he was inducted into the Academy of Adventure Gaming Arts & Design Hall of Fame...
, Warren Spector
Warren Spector
Warren Spector is a role-playing game designer and a video game designer. He is known for having worked to merge elements of role-playing games and first-person shooters. He currently resides in Austin, Texas with his wife, fantasy writer Caroline L. Spector...
, Caroline Spector, Steve Perrin
Steve Perrin
Stephen Herbert Perrin, born January 22 1946 and simply known as Steve Perrin, is a game designer and technical writer/editor.Perrin is probably best known for creating the role-playing game RuneQuest for Chaosium...
, John Nephew, Thomas Kane, Gary Thomas, John Terra, Deborah Christian, Ray Winninger
Ray Winninger
Ray Winninger is a game designer who has worked on a number of roleplaying games, including the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game.-Career:...
, Rick Swan, Vince Garcia, Bob Blake, Scott Bennie, and Bruce Heard
Bruce Heard
Bruce Heard is a game designer, and an author of several products for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game from TSR.-Early life:...
. Interior illustrations are by Wanda Lybarger and Roger Raupp
Roger Raupp
Roger Raupp is an artist whose work has appeared in games such as the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game from TSR, and the collectible card game Magic: the Gathering from Wizards of the Coast....
, with cartography by Dennis Kauth and Ron Kauth.
Reception
Jim Bambra reviewed Bestiary of Dragons and Giants for DragonDragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
magazine #148 (August 1989). Bambra felt that the Bestiary of Dragons and Giants adds little to our knowledge of dragon and giant lore. It doesn't set out to greatly expand the information already available concerning dragons and giants, but instead redefines it slightly and provides a ready source of adventures that can either be played as stand-alones or dropped into an ongoing campaign." He found the game aids that come with this product to be of special interest, feeling that the monsters on the inside cover were artfully rendered and found them to be a great aid when describing these creatures to the players. He called the Dragon Spell Generator a "nifty device" which comes complete with the statistics of each type of dragon, making it "a great bonus when you consider that the D&D game rules are spread across a total of nine books". Bambra concluded his review by saying, "As an anthology, the Bestiary of Dragons and Giants is quite bitty. But since its major role is to make available a wide variety of adventures about monsters, this is less of a problem. This is a book to dip into for ideas or to find a suitable adventure at short notice, and less a work to be read from cover to cover. If your prime concern is to have a ready source of adventures available, then the Bestiary of Dragons and Giants is a useful product.