Homunculus (Dungeons & Dragons)
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
, the homunculus is a construct
.
(1975).
.
Several homunculus-like familiars for the Mystara
campaign setting
appeared in the Mystara Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994), including the aryth familiar, the bogan familiar, the fylgar familiar, the gretch familiar, and the ulzaq familiar.
The breather elemental homunculous and the skin elemental homunculous for the Planescape
campaign setting appeared in the Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix Three (1998).
The homunculus familiar appears in the supplement Tome and Blood (2001).
The Eberron
campaign setting featured the dedicated wright homonculus, the expeditious messenger homonculus, the furtive filcher homonculus, and the iron defender homonculus in the Eberron Campaign Setting (2004). The book Magic of Eberron (2004) includes three new homonculi: the arbalester homonculus, the packmate homonculus, and the persistent harrier homonculus.
to act as servants in various tasks. They resemble small (10 inches long) yet bulbous humanoid beings, with gritty grey, clay-like bodies, and limp bat wings. Their creator determines their precise features.
their master/creator/blood donor is of.
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...
, the homunculus is a construct
Construct (Dungeons & Dragons)
Within the world of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, construct is a type of creature, or "creature type". Constructs are either animated objects, or any artificially constructed creature....
.
Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1976)
The homonculous was introduced to the game in its first supplement, GreyhawkGreyhawk (supplement)
Greyhawk is a supplementary rulebook written by Gary Gygax and Robert J. Kuntz for the original edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
(1975).
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)
The homonculus appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977), where it is described as a creature created and animated through a special magical alchemical process to serve a magic-userWizard (Dungeons & Dragons)
The wizard is one of the standard character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A wizard uses arcane magic, and is considered less effective in melee combat than other classes.-Creative origins:...
.
Dungeons & Dragons (1977-1999)
This edition of the D&D game included its own version of the homunculus. The fylgar homunculus, the gretch homunculus, and the ulzaq homunculus appeared in Creature Catalogue (1986), and the Creature Catalog (1993).Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)
The homonculous appears first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1989), and is reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993), along with the mottled homunculus.Several homunculus-like familiars for the Mystara
Mystara
Mystara is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role playing game. Although it has officially been dropped from production by its creators, many fans continue to develop and evolve this fantasy setting jointly, continuing its original theme of group development.-Development:It...
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...
appeared in the Mystara Monstrous Compendium Appendix (1994), including the aryth familiar, the bogan familiar, the fylgar familiar, the gretch familiar, and the ulzaq familiar.
The breather elemental homunculous and the skin elemental homunculous for the Planescape
Planescape
Planescape is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, originally designed by Zeb Cook. The Planescape setting was published in 1994...
campaign setting appeared in the Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix Three (1998).
Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)
The homunculus appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000).The homunculus familiar appears in the supplement Tome and Blood (2001).
Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)
The homunculus appears in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003). The homunculus familiar appears in the revised Dungeon Master's Guide.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 featured the dedicated wright homonculus, the expeditious messenger homonculus, the furtive filcher homonculus, and the iron defender homonculus in the Eberron Campaign Setting (2004). The book Magic of Eberron (2004) includes three new homonculi: the arbalester homonculus, the packmate homonculus, and the persistent harrier homonculus.
Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)
The homunculus appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008).Description
Homonculi are tiny creatures created by magesWizard (Dungeons & Dragons)
The wizard is one of the standard character class in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. A wizard uses arcane magic, and is considered less effective in melee combat than other classes.-Creative origins:...
to act as servants in various tasks. They resemble small (10 inches long) yet bulbous humanoid beings, with gritty grey, clay-like bodies, and limp bat wings. Their creator determines their precise features.
Construction
Homunculi are constructed from clay, ashes, mandrake root, spring water, and one pint of the creator's own blood. The mage can either construct them himself, or have someone do it for them. The resulting minion is used to do such things as spying, messaging, scouting, guarding the mage's study, providing company, and such. Though they can only do most of these tasks to a mediocre level, and the creature itself has little instinct and personality, there seems to be a bond between them and whoever gave the blood to create them. The creature prefers not to go more than a few miles from the blood donor, knows anything that they know, both see and hear anything which the other does, and so on. If a homunculus is slain, the blood donor will take damage. If the master is slain, the homunculus dies. Homunculi do whatever their master says without questioning and always try to return for more orders.Personality
Homunculi cannot speak, but share a psionic bond with their master. They are of whatever alignmentAlignment (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, alignment is a categorization of the ethical and moral perspective of people, creatures and societies....
their master/creator/blood donor is of.