OD&D: Random Monsters

The Dragon #10 (October, 1977) contained an article on "Random Monsters" by Paul Montgomery Crabaugh.  The rationale was to permit the DM to "occasionally throw a monster at the party that keeps them on their toes".

Illustration by Morno, from The Dragon #5 (March, 1977).

The tables are "geared for a 20-level dungeon".  In other words, the level the monster is encountered upon in actual play has some bearing on the characteristics determined.  Since I was just experimenting with the tables, I rolled 1d20.

There are three types of monsters which may be created.  This can be randomly determined, using 1d8 (1-4 = mammal, 5-7 = reptile, 8 = undead) or simply chosen.  To get a sense of the tables, I decided to create one of each type.

Mammal:

Level of the Dungeon: 1d20 = 19

Intelligence: 1d6 = 2 (highly intelligent)

Alignment: 1d8 = 8 (Chaos)

Armor Class (Mammals): 1d12 = 8 (AC 6)

Hit Dice: 1d12 = 9 (level of the dungeon) = HD 19

Hit Dice Modifiers: 1d6 = 6 (-1)

Damage: 1d6 = 4 (3-30)

(by weapon type)

Speed: 1d12 = 4 (90' per turn)

Special Characteristics: d% = 92 (none)

Other Characteristics: d% = 99 (three)

1d8 = 3 (4 eyes)

1d8 = 5 (unusually long fangs)

1d8 = 6 (unusually long claws)

Physical Description:

Size: 1d12 = 4 (medium = 3-12 feet)

Limbs: 1d8 = 8 (4 legs); 1d8 = 5 (2 tentacles)

Exterior Cover: 1d8 = 5 (skin)

Coloring: 1d20 = 2 (gray)

So, we have a highly intelligent, 4 legged, gray-skinned mammal with 2 tentacles for arms, 4 eyes, unusually long fangs, and unusually long claws.  That would freak out my players, for sure.

Monsters can possess up to 3 special characteristics, by type.  Examples for mammals include regenerates 1-10 hit points/turn, only silver/magic weapons effective, or has antimagic shell.

Reptile:

Level of the Dungeon: 1d20 = 20

Intelligence: 1d6 = 3 (highly intelligent)

Alignment: 1d8 = 4 (Chaos)

Armor Class (Reptiles): 1d12 = 2 (AC 3)

Hit Dice: 1d12 =  (level of the dungeon +1) = HD 21

Hit Dice Modifiers: 1d6 = 4 (0)

Damage: 1d6 = 5 (5-50)

(by weapon type)

Speed: 1d12 = 3 (60' per turn)

Special Characteristics: d% = 68 (none)

Other Characteristics: d% = 49 (none)

Physical Description:

Size: 1d12 = 4 (medium = 3-12 feet)

Limbs: 1d8 = 7 (3 legs); 1d8 = 7 (2 tentacles)

Exterior Cover: 1d8 = 3 (scales)

Coloring: 1d20 = 8 (gray)

So, this is a highly intelligent, 3-legged, gray-scaled reptile with 2 tentacles for arms (AC 3, HD 21) which attacks with some kind of weapon for 5-50 points of damage...

Special characteristics for reptiles include breathes fire (1-8 points of damage/four levels), legless, speed +3, or bite causes disease, fatal in 1-10 days.

Undead:

Level of the Dungeon: 1d20 = 17

Intelligence: 1d6 = 4 (semi-intelligent)

Alignment: Undead "are always Chaotic"

Armor Class (Undead): 1d8 + 1 = 2 (AC 2)

Hit Dice: 1d12 = 3 (level of the dungeon +2) = 17 + 2 = HD 19*

Hit Dice Modifiers: 1d6 = 5 (0)

*Undead are Turned as per level HD/2 = 9.5

Damage: 1d6 = 3 (2-24)

d% = 95 (bite)

Speed: 1d12 = 12 (150' per turn)

Special Characteristics: d% = 41 (3 special characteristics):

1-24 = 7 (destroyed by running water)

1-24 = 14 (if human killed by undead, becomes undead)

1-24 = 24 (invisible)

Other Characteristics: d% = 70 (no more characteristics)

Physical Description: "Undead do not have a physical description (assume a figure under a cloak)"

So, we have an invisible, undead creature (AC 2, HD 19) which attacks with its bite for 2-24 points of damage.  That's pretty horrifying, actually.