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 worg is a wolf-like 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....

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Publication history

The worg was introduced to the D&D game in the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.

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

The dire wolf (worg) appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977), under the wolf entry.

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

The worg/dire wolf appears first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1989), under the wolf entry, and is reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).

Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)

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

Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)

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

The young worg appears in the module Barrow of the Forgotten King (2007).

Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)

The worg appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008).

Description

The worg is a larger, more intelligent, and demonic version of the wolf. It resembles a normal wolf, but is larger, and has a fiendish, demonic countenance and glowing eyes.

Worgs, despite the higher intelligence and demonic traits, tend to act, for the most part, like regular wolves. They stalk around in dark forests and gloomy plains, hunting in packs (though they are also sometimes solitary). Lone worgs tend to hunt creatures smaller than themselves, while packs hunt large game. They attack with their teeth, and also have the benefit of stealth and keen senses. Worgs bring gloom and menacingness wherever they go, and are said to have connections with demons

Demon (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, demons are the most widespread race of fiends. The demons are chaotic evil by nature, and are native to the Abyss...

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Worgs are sometimes enslaved by orcs

Orc (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, orcs are a primitive race of savage, bestial, barbaric humanoid.-Publication history:The orc was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the D&D game. The D&D orc is largely based upon the orcs appearing in the works of J.R.R...

, goblins

Goblin (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, goblins are a very common and fairly weak race of evil humanoid monsters. Goblins and Kobolds are commonly non-human monsters that low-level player characters will face in combat. In D&D, goblins aren't smaller cousins of orcs, but are a part of...

, and other such creatures to act as mounts, and as attack dogs. Sometimes they are specifically bred for these purposes.

Worgs, unlike most animalistic creatures, can speak. They can speak both Common and Goblin, as well as a language of their own.

They are neutral evil in alignment.