Roper (Dungeons & Dragons)
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
, the roper is a magical beast
, resembling a conical structure similar in appearance to rock, wrapped in rope-like tentacles which conceal a mouth. The roper stays very still to resemble a harmless stalagmite, and when prey comes near it lashes out with its ropes to constrict the prey or pulls them back to the mouth.
, The Strategic Review #2, May 1975.
The storoper, a relative of the roper, first appeared in the module Aerie of the Slave Lords (1981) and later in the Monster Manual II (1983).
The roper was further detailed in Dragon
#61 (May 1982).
The flame roper appeared in the adventure anthology Tales of the Outer Planes
(1988).
(1984), and then in Creature Catalogue (1986). The roper appeared in the modules City of the Gods (1987) and Duchy of Ten (1987) for the Blackmoor
campaign setting
. The roper subsequently appeared in the Creature Catalog (1993).
The roper is further detailed in Dragon
#232 (August 1996), in "The Ecology of the Roper."
The book "The Illithiad" (1998) introduced the illithid
-roper crossbreed, the urophion.
The prismatic roper appeared in Monster Manual III (2004).
The urophion appeared again in the book Lords of Madness
(2005).
, and waits until prey comes near. When it does, it lashes out with its ropes, and either constricts the prey or pulls them back to the mouth.
The ropers described here are ones which dwell in caves and other such underground environments. Some varieties also dwell above ground, while another, known as the coral roper, dwells in the ocean. Another variation, the storoper, appeared in the original publication of Monster Manual
II. The creature represented a statue of a roper, smaller in size than the original creature.
Despite possessing a mouth, ropers cannot speak.
They are regarded as neutral in alignment.
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 roper is a 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....
, resembling a conical structure similar in appearance to rock, wrapped in rope-like tentacles which conceal a mouth. The roper stays very still to resemble a harmless stalagmite, and when prey comes near it lashes out with its ropes to constrict the prey or pulls them back to the mouth.
Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1976)
The roper first appeared in the official newsletter of TSR GamesTSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
, The Strategic Review #2, May 1975.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)
The roper appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977), where it is described as a 50 feet (15.2 m) burrowing worm constantly in search of food, that can swallow human-sized creatures whole.The storoper, a relative of the roper, first appeared in the module Aerie of the Slave Lords (1981) and later in the Monster Manual II (1983).
The roper was 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...
#61 (May 1982).
The flame roper appeared in the adventure anthology Tales of the Outer Planes
Tales of the Outer Planes
Tale of the Outer Planes is an adventure module for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, set in that game's Outer Planes. TSR, Inc. published the module in 1988 for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons rules. The module is a collection of adventures designed by Deborah A. Christian, Vince...
(1988).
Dungeons & Dragons (1977-1999)
This edition of the D&D game included its own version of the roper, which first appeared in the module Quest for the HeartstoneQuest for the Heartstone
Quest for the Heartstone is a 1984 adventure module for the Basic Rules of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Plot summary:...
(1984), and then in Creature Catalogue (1986). The roper appeared in the modules City of the Gods (1987) and Duchy of Ten (1987) for the Blackmoor
Blackmoor
Blackmoor is a fantasy role-playing game campaign setting generally associated with the game Dungeons & Dragons. It originally evolved in the early 1970s as the personal setting of Dave Arneson, the co-creator of Dungeons & Dragons, first as a setting for Arneson's miniature wargames, then as an...
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 roper subsequently appeared in the Creature Catalog (1993).
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)
The roper appears first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989), and is reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993) along with the storoper.The roper 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...
#232 (August 1996), in "The Ecology of the Roper."
The book "The Illithiad" (1998) introduced the illithid
Illithid
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, illithids are monstrous humanoid aberrations with psionic powers. In a typical Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting, they live in the moist caverns and cities of the enormous Underdark...
-roper crossbreed, the urophion.
Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)
The roper appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000).Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)
The roper appears in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003).The prismatic roper appeared in Monster Manual III (2004).
The urophion appeared again in the book Lords of Madness
Lords of Madness
Lords of Madness is an official supplement for the 3.5 edition of the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy roleplaying game.-Contents:It includes new content for aberrations including new aberration monsters and monsters related to them, and information on how to hunt aberrations.-What Is an...
(2005).
Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)
The roper appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008).Description
The roper resembles a conical structure of a stony organism, somewhat similar in appearance to a pile of rock, wrapped in coils of grey, rope-like tentacles. Concealed among the ropes is a mouth. The roper attacks by keeping its mouth shut, its tentacles wrapped around it, and staying very still, as to resemble a harmless stalagmiteStalagmite
A stalagmite is a type of speleothem that rises from the floor of a limestone cave due to the dripping of mineralized solutions and the deposition of calcium carbonate. This stalagmite formation occurs only under certain pH conditions within the underground cavern. The corresponding formation on...
, and waits until prey comes near. When it does, it lashes out with its ropes, and either constricts the prey or pulls them back to the mouth.
The ropers described here are ones which dwell in caves and other such underground environments. Some varieties also dwell above ground, while another, known as the coral roper, dwells in the ocean. Another variation, the storoper, appeared in the original publication of Monster Manual
Monster Manual
The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...
II. The creature represented a statue of a roper, smaller in size than the original creature.
Despite possessing a mouth, ropers cannot speak.
They are regarded as neutral in alignment.