Fiend Factory (White Dwarf) conversions

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Issue 4: Death Snake

“The Death Snake, which looks like a normal Giant Snake in mourning. It has 4d8+1 [Hit Dice] (one pip more than the Giant Snake), AC 7 and moves 50’ per turn. It can be turned away as a Wraith. It has no poison but, like the Giant Snake, attacks in two ways each round – a bite (1-6 plus drain level) and a constriction (2-8 plus drain level). This makes is Monstermark 89.8 – not quite as high as the giant snake because of the poorer armour, but an interesting and surprising beast to meet all the same.”

(Originally creator unkown; appeared in White Dwarf Magazine #4 (Dec/Jan 1977) as part of "Monsters Mild and Malign", edited by Don Turnbull.)

The Death Snake is from Alarums & Excursions.

Death Snakes: Bill Bleuel, Leto’s Corner #3, in: Alarums & Excursions 18, January 1977 (Amateur Press Association, 1977)

Additional (Edit): The original text describes the Death Snake as "undead snakes" that appear as a "giant cross-breed between a cobra and a boa constrictor", and "about 15 feet long". It does not mention the "normal Giant Snake in mourning" bit, which must therefore be an addition by Turnbull (not unusual). Also: 60% in lair; 1-12 appearing; treasure type D; "Neutral or Chaotic" alignment.

 

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Issue 5: The Bogy

White Dwarf issue 5 includes part 2 of Don Turnbull’s “Monsters Mild and Malign” article, which picks some of his favourite creatures published in the earlier magazines Dungeoneer (edited by Paul Jaquays) and Alarums and Excursions (edited by Lee Gold). Rather charmingly, Don assumes that the reader has already read these publications, which sort of suggests a kind of small-group cosy hobbyist feel to the early days of D&D.

The one this issue that stood out to me was the Bogy, partly because I quite liked the illustration, and partly because all of the other monsters had some kind of flaw. I rather like the simplicity of this creature.

“The Bogy is an unusual humanoid with the head, horns and legs of a goat; it has four arms, two of which hold weapons. Perhaps it started off with ambitions to be a Demon III [glabrezu] but didn’t make the grade. It has 3d8+1, AC4 and moves 90’ per turn. In melee it strikes with both 1-8 weapons on the same opponent, giving it a Monstermark of 38.7”

(Original creator unknown; appeared in White Dwarf Magazine #5 (Feb/Mar 1978) as part of "Monsters Mild and Malign", edited by Don Turnbull.)

The Bogy is also from Alarums & Excursions.

Bogies: Bear Hedberg, Growls from Dungeon Grimberg, in: Alarums & Excursions 3, August 1975 (Amateur Press Association, 1975)

Additional (Edit): The original text does not mention bogies wielding weapons. Instead, they "strike twice per melee round" (no info on damage). 2-20 appear; treasure type "A +5%"; 50% in lair.