Wyvern (Dungeons & Dragons)
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy
roleplaying game, the wyvern or WHY-vern) is a species of dragon
.
s of legend.
(1974), where they were described as smaller relatives of dragons with a poisonous sting in their tails.
(1981 & 1983). The wyvern was also later featured in the Dungeons & Dragons Game
set (1991), the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991), and the Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game set (1994).
The Mercykiller wyrm, a relative of the wyvern for the Planescape
campaign setting
, appeared in In the Cage: A Guide to Sigil (1995).
The wyvern is further detailed in Dragon
Annual #1 (1996), in "The Ecology of the Wyvern."
The arctic wyvern and the young arctic wyvern appeared in Dungeon
#78 (January 2000).
Despite supposedly being stupid, Wyverns are rather deadly and cunning in combat. They prefer to always be in flight, and take any opportunity to take flight if not doing so already. Upon the ground, Wyverns attack with their teeth, and with their deadly tail stingers (which have the power to kill instantly). If flying, Wyverns can also use their teeth and stingers, but prefer to swoop down, and slash at prey with their claws, or even grab them, carry them up into the air, and drop them. Wyverns are careful to be silent when flying, and to keep their shadow unseen. This gives them the benefit of stealth if the foes are unaware of the creature. Wyverns eat the remains of those they kill, and take their valuables if they are treasure-hoarding wyverns.
-like heads with red or orange eyes. Located in their long, flexible tails are deadly, poisonous scorpion
stingers. They also have very large wings. Unlike true dragons, wyverns do not have breath weapons.
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 wyvern or WHY-vern) is a species of dragon
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...
.
Publication history
The wyvern was based upon the wyvernWyvern
A wyvern or wivern is a legendary winged reptilian creature with a dragon's head, two legs , and a barbed tail. The wyvern is found in heraldry. There exists a purely sea-dwelling variant, termed the Sea-Wyvern which has a fish tail in place of a barbed dragon's tail...
s of legend.
Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1976)
The wyvern was one of the first monsters introduced in the earliest edition of the game, in the Dungeons & Dragons "white box" setDungeons & 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 smaller relatives of dragons with a poisonous sting in their tails.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)
The wyvern appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977), where it is described as being distantly related to dragons, stupid but very aggressive, and able to lash with a sting-equipped tail.Dungeons & Dragons (1977-1999)
This edition of the D&D game included its own version of the wyvern, in the Dungeons & Dragons Expert SetDungeons & 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). The wyvern was also later featured in the Dungeons & Dragons Game
Dungeons & Dragons Game (1991 boxed set)
The New Easy to Master Dungeons & Dragons Game is an accessory for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1991....
set (1991), the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991), and the Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game set (1994).
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)
The wyvern appears first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1989), and are reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).The Mercykiller wyrm, a relative of the wyvern 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
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 In the Cage: A Guide to Sigil (1995).
The wyvern 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...
Annual #1 (1996), in "The Ecology of the Wyvern."
Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)
The wyvern appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000).The arctic wyvern and the young arctic wyvern appeared in Dungeon
Dungeon (magazine)
Dungeon Adventures, or simply Dungeon, was a magazine targeting consumers of role-playing games, particularly Dungeons & Dragons. It was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1986 as a bimonthly periodical. It went monthly in May 2003 and ceased print publication altogether in September 2007 with Issue 150...
#78 (January 2000).
Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)
The wyvern appears in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003).Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)
The wyvern appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008).Ecology
Despite supposedly being stupid, Wyverns are rather deadly and cunning in combat. They prefer to always be in flight, and take any opportunity to take flight if not doing so already. Upon the ground, Wyverns attack with their teeth, and with their deadly tail stingers (which have the power to kill instantly). If flying, Wyverns can also use their teeth and stingers, but prefer to swoop down, and slash at prey with their claws, or even grab them, carry them up into the air, and drop them. Wyverns are careful to be silent when flying, and to keep their shadow unseen. This gives them the benefit of stealth if the foes are unaware of the creature. Wyverns eat the remains of those they kill, and take their valuables if they are treasure-hoarding wyverns.
Environment
Wyverns make their homes in caves in cliffs or mountains overlooking forests, jungles, or even plains or deserts.Typical physical characteristics
Wyverns resemble true dragons, but are much smaller and lack the forelegs of their larger kin. They have sharp talons, and crocodileCrocodile
A crocodile is any species belonging to the family Crocodylidae . The term can also be used more loosely to include all extant members of the order Crocodilia: i.e...
-like heads with red or orange eyes. Located in their long, flexible tails are deadly, poisonous scorpion
Scorpion
Scorpions are predatory arthropod animals of the order Scorpiones within the class Arachnida. They have eight legs and are easily recognized by the pair of grasping claws and the narrow, segmented tail, often carried in a characteristic forward curve over the back, ending with a venomous stinger...
stingers. They also have very large wings. Unlike true dragons, wyverns do not have breath weapons.