Basilisk (fantasy role play)
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Many fantasy roleplaying games have included a version of the mythological basilisk among the creatures that the players may encounter. The creatures are frequently lizard-like with the ability to turn characters to stone.[1]
Basilisks and variations of the monster have appeared in every edition of the Dungeons & Dragons franchise.[2] Within Dungeons & Dragons, the basilisk is depicted a giant lizard with eight legs,[3] and as a reptilian monster whose gaze can turn creatures to stone.[1] The basilisk received detailed coverage in Dragon #81 (January 1984), in "The Ecology of the Basilisk," by Ed Greenwood.[4] A figurine of the basilisk was included in the D&D Miniatures: Giants of Legend set #13 which was released in 2004.
The basilisk has also appeared in d20 System games by Necromancer Games in their Tome of Horrors sourcebook[5] and Paizo Publishing's Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary[6].
In the Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets video game, the player, as Harry, encounters the basilisk in a climactic battle before the last cut scene of the game. During the battle, Harry fights with a sword rather than with the wand the character has used through the previous portions of the game. The basilisk is represented as spitting poison which hurts the character.[7]
In the MMORPG EverQuest, the basilisks have a stone breath attack.[8]
In its strategy guide for the computer game Heroes of Might and Magic III, GameSpot describes the basilisks the "saving grace" of the Fortress castle type, as they are a "surprisingly effective" unit for the mid-game being "good in speed, offense, defense, and hit points" with a petrification power and the ability to be upgraded to "Greater Basilisk".[9]
References
- 1 2 Gilsdorf, Ethan (2009). Fantasy Freaks and Gaming Geeks: An Epic Quest for Reality Among Role Players, Online Gamers, and Other Dwellers of Imaginary Realms. Globe Pequot. p. 300. ISBN 9781599214801.
- ↑
- Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson. Dungeons & Dragons (3-Volume Set) (TSR, 1974)
- Gygax, Gary and Blume, Brian Eldritch Wizardry (TSR 1976) Lake Geneva, WI
- Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual (TSR, 1977)
- Gygax, Gary. The Lost Caverns of Tsojcanth (TSR, 1982
- Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual II (TSR, 1983)
- Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson [1974], edited by J. Eric Holmes. Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set (TSR, 1977)
- Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson [1974], edited by Dave Cook. Dungeons & Dragons Expert Set (TSR, 1981)
- Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson [1974], edited by Frank Mentzer. Dungeons & Dragons Set 2: Expert Rules (TSR, 1983)
- Mentzer, Frank. Dungeons & Dragons Set 3: Companion Rules (TSR, 1984)
- Cook, David, et al. Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (TSR, 1989
- Allston, Aaron, Steven E. Schend, Jon Pickens, and Dori Watry. Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (TSR, 1991)
- Stewart, Doug, ed. Monstrous Manual (TSR, 1994)
- Mearls, Mike, Stephen Schubert, and James Wyatt. Monster Manual (Wizards of the Coast, 2008)
- Cook, Monte, Jonathan Tweet, and Skip Williams. Monster Manual (Wizards of the Coast, 2000)
- ↑ Peffer, Jessica (2005). DragonArt. IMPACT. ISBN 9781581806571.
- ↑ Greenwood, Ed. "The Ecology of the Basilisk," Dragon #81 (TSR, 1984)
- ↑ Green, Scott; Peterson, Clark (2002). Tome of Horrors. Necromancer Games. p. 17. ISBN 1-58846-112-2.
- ↑ Bulmahn, Jason (lead designer). Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary (Paizo Publishing, 2009)
- ↑ Turning the Page: Children's Literature in Performance and the Media edited by Fiona M. Collins, Jeremy Ridgman. Published by Peter Lang.
- ↑ EverQuest: Prima's Official Strategy Guide Prima Games, 2003. ISBN 076154237X, 978076154237
- ↑ Gamespot Unofficial Game Guide to Heroes of Might and Magic III Elliott Chin. (Gamespot 1999) ISBN 1-58422-025-2