Nymph (Dungeons & Dragons)

Nymph
Characteristics
Alignment Chaotic Good
Type Fey
Image Wizards.com image
Publication history
Mythological origins Nymph

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the nymph is a type of Fey. Nature's embodiment of physical beauty, they are so unbearably lovely that even a glimpse can blind or kill onlookers. They are based on the nymphs of Greek mythology.[1]

Publication history

The nymph first appeared in the original Blackmoor supplement (1975).[2]

The nymph appeared in the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons in the original Monster Manual (1977).[3]

The nymph appeared in the second edition in the Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1989),[4] and reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).[5] The reviewer from RPGnet felt that the nymph was one of the inclusions in the book that helped make forest environments "well covered".[6] The grain nymph appeared for the Dragonlance setting in the Taladas: The Minotaurs set (1991). The nymph was further detailed in Dragon #240 (October 1997).[7] The grain nymph and the unseelie nymph appeared in Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Four (1998).[8]

The nymph appeared in the third edition Monster Manual (2000),[9] and in the 3.5 revised Monster Manual (2003). The nymph (apsara) appeared in Oriental Adventures (2001).[10]

The nymph appeared in the fourth edition in Monster Manual 3 (2010).

Other publishers

The nymph appeared in Paizo Publishing's book Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary (2009), on page 217.[11]

Physical description

Nymphs resemble elven women, but are unfathomably perfect and beautiful. They are so physically attractive, in fact, that the slightest glance can stun a person, drive them mad, permanently blind them, or even kill them. Nymphs are able to suppress this effect if they choose to, however.

Society

Nymphs prefer attractive aquatic environments, such as a secluded cove or sandy beach, and are mostly solitary, though sometimes live in groups. They might assist a group of adventurers, or have a love affair with a man who wanders into their midst, but there is little contact between them and civilization otherwise (this is typical for a fey). Nymphs hate ugliness and evil.

In the Futurama movie Bender's Game, the character Amy becomes a nymph in Bender's Dungeons & Dragons-based fantasy world.[12]

References

  1. Bornet, Philippe (2011). Religions in play: games, rituals, and virtual worlds. Theologischer Verlag Zürich. p. 282. ISBN 978-3-290-22010-5. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  2. Arneson, Dave (1975). Dungeons & Dragons Supplement II: Blackmoor. TSR, Inc.
  3. Gygax, Gary (1977). Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Monster Manual. TSR, Inc.
  4. Cook, David (1989). Monstrous Compendium Volume One. TSR, Inc. ISBN 0-88038-738-6.
  5. Stewart, Doug, ed. (1993). Monstrous Manual. TSR, Inc. ISBN 978-1-560-76619-3.
  6. Ashe, Robin (1 March 2010). "Review of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Monstrous Manual". RPGnet. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
  7. Richards, Johnathan M. (October 1997). "The Ecology of the Nymph". Dragon. TSR, Inc (240): 73–78.
  8. Pickens, Jon, ed. Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Four. (TSR, 1998)
  9. Williams, Skip, Jonathan Tweet, and Monte Cook. Monster Manual. Wizards of the Coast, 2000
  10. Wyatt, James. Oriental Adventures (Wizards of the Coast, 2001)
  11. Bulmahn, Jason (lead designer). Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary (Paizo Publishing, 2009)
  12. Woerner, Meredith (6 November 2008). "Bender Fixes The Gas Crisis With His 20-Sided Die". io9. Retrieved 22 August 2012.
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