In the Dungeons & Dragons

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...

 roleplaying game, the griffon is a powerful, majestic and highly intelligent magical beast

Magical beast (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, magical beast is a type of creature, or "creature type". Magical beasts are similar to animals in many ways, but usually have a higher intelligence, and possess supernatural or extraordinary abilities....

.

Publication history

The griffon was based upon the griffons of various mythologies.

Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1976)

The griffon was one of the first monsters introduced in the earliest edition of the game, in the Dungeons & Dragons "white box" set

Dungeons & Dragons (1974)

The original Dungeons & Dragons boxed set by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson was published by TSR, Inc. in 1974. It initially included the original edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...

 (1974), where they were described as being the most prized of steeds, and fond of horse flesh.

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

The griffon appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977), where it is described as an aggressive carnivore whose favorite prey is horses; it seek cliffs and rocky habitats in which to build its nest.

Dungeons & Dragons (1977-1999)

This edition of the D&D game included its own version of the griffon, in the Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set

Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set

The original Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set boxed set was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1977, and comprised a separate edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, distinct from the first edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game, which was initially published in the same...

(1977), Expert Set

Dungeons & Dragons Expert Set

The Expert Set is an expansion boxed set for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It was first published in 1981 as an expansion to the Basic Set.-1981 printing:The D&D Basic Set saw a major revision in 1981 by Tom Moldvay...

(1981 & 1983), and the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991).

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

The griffon appears first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989), and is reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).

The griffon is further detailed in Dragon

Dragon (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...

#161 (September 1990), in "The Ecology of the Griffon.".

Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)

The griffon appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000).

Savage Species (2003) presented the griffon as both a race and a playable class.

Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)

The griffon appears in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003).

Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)

The griffon appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008), including the rimefire griffon. The hippogriff

Hippogriff (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, a hippogriff is a magical beast based upon the hippogriff of various mythologies. It is part eagle and part horse, and sometimes regarded as part griffon and part horse...

 also appears under the griffon entry in this edition's Monster Manual.

Physical description

Griffons have the hindquarters of a lion

Lion

The lion is one of the four big cats in the genus Panthera, and a member of the family Felidae. With some males exceeding 250 kg in weight, it is the second-largest living cat after the tiger...

, and the forequarters of a giant eagle

Eagle

Eagles are members of the bird family Accipitridae, and belong to several genera which are not necessarily closely related to each other. Most of the more than 60 species occur in Eurasia and Africa. Outside this area, just two species can be found in the United States and Canada, nine more in...

. Large wings come from their backs, and their tail is a mix of fur and feathers.

Society

Griffons are highly prized as aerial steeds due to their gracefulness and valor. In order for this, a griffon must have a friendly attitude towards the tamer/rider. As they are goodly creatures, the rider must be good or neutral himself. Riding a griffon requires six weeks of training, and an exotic saddle. Sometimes griffon eggs are stolen and they are raised to be mounts from birth, but this is rare, as griffons defend their eggs well. Griffons attack by pouncing or diving from above, and then slashing with the claws of their front paws. For some reason, griffons hate horses with a passion, most likely because they commonly hunt hippogriffs

Hippogriff (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, a hippogriff is a magical beast based upon the hippogriff of various mythologies. It is part eagle and part horse, and sometimes regarded as part griffon and part horse...

 as food, creating an intense conflict between the two species.

Griffons cannot speak, but understand Common.

Griffons are neutral in alignment.

Griffons in Eberron

In the Eberron

Eberron

Eberron is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, set in a period after a vast destructive war on the continent of Khorvaire...

 campaign setting

Campaign setting

A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...

, the Griffon is the heraldic beast of the Dragonmarked House Jorasco.