D&D Trolls: Where do they come from?

Drew · Feb 2, 2004

I'm working on languages in my homebrew setting, and I got to thinking about trolls. Where do they come from?

What I'm curious about is the mythological or fantastic origins of the troll. Is there anything in culture or mythology like the big, green regenerating killing machines that are D&D trolls?

~Johnny~ · Feb 2, 2004

From underneath bridges?

An awesome source for flavor text about monsters is the AD&D Monstrous Compendium, which I actually just purchased today. When I get a chance to read the section on trolls, I'll post what I learn.

Wolfspirit · Feb 2, 2004

Well you see, when a Mommy troll loves a Daddy troll...

Either that, or people with too much time on their hands that, unlike the D&D troll, actually regenerate faster when exposed to flames.

(sorry that I don't know the real thing, I'm actually interested to see if anyone does

)

Col_Pladoh · Feb 2, 2004

Heh...

...an easy question

While there are lots of references to trolls in Norse mythology and related folk tales, I took my inspiration from the fairy tale of "The Great Ugly Troll," the one what lived under the bridge, had a nose as long as a poker and eyes as big as saucers. Then, drawing from Poul Anderson's troll in Threee Hearts and Three Lions, the D&D troll was born, just after orge and before the various giants.

Cheers,
Gary

Olive · Feb 2, 2004

Col_Pladoh said:
While there are lots of references to trolls in Norse mythology and related folk tales, I took my inspiration from the fairy tale of "The Great Ugly Troll," the one what lived under the bridge, had a nose as long as a poker and eyes as big as saucers. Then, drawing from Poul Anderson's troll in Threee Hearts and Three Lions, the D&D troll was born, just after orge and before the various giants.

Which influence contains the vunrability to fire and acid and the regeneration?

Drew · Feb 2, 2004

Col_Pladoh said:
Heh...

...an easy question

While there are lots of references to trolls in Norse mythology and related folk tales, I took my inspiration from the fairy tale of "The Great Ugly Troll," the one what lived under the bridge, had a nose as long as a poker and eyes as big as saucers. Then, drawing from Poul Anderson's troll in Threee Hearts and Three Lions, the D&D troll was born, just after orge and before the various giants.

Cheers,
Gary

Well, I guess I didn't expect to have my question answered by such an authority as this. Good to see you posting here and there again Mr. Gygax. Trolls are, hands down and bar none, my FAVORITE D&D monster.

That said, I'm stuck as to where the buggers are going to come from in the mythology of my world. Once I figure that out, I'll be able to decide what language they speak and why.

Nightfall · Feb 2, 2004

Generally trolls spring up when we get bored people.

Tonguez · Feb 2, 2004

Olive said:
Which influence contains the vunrability to fire and acid and the regeneration?

Poul Anderson

and heres a Wikipedia entry on Trolls for a bit more information

Nightfall · Feb 2, 2004

Three Cheers for Poul!

(is one of my favorite authors)

Okay so how do we explain post trolls then?

Epametheus · Feb 2, 2004

Whoa. The Creator hath spoken.

A mythological origin in your own world? Perhaps some form of giant that was mutated by a god of disease/corruption/destruction, making a creature that's basically a walking lump of cancer, with unwholesome recuperative abilities that can hold up against anything short of the cleansing power of fire.

D&D Trolls: Where do they come from?

Drew

Explorer

~Johnny~

First Post

Wolfspirit

First Post

Col_Pladoh

Gary Gygax

Olive

Explorer

Drew

Explorer

Nightfall

Sage of the Scarred Lands

Tonguez

A suffusion of yellow

Nightfall

Sage of the Scarred Lands

Epametheus

First Post

Similar Threads