One Edition Monsters

[Echohawk]

In that case, can we add the 4e lamia to the unique list?

Ooh, yes. The 4e lamia is definitely a different creature to the lamias that have come before it. Great suggestion.

 

[JoeNotCharles]

Blue Goblins are both 3.0 and 3.5.

I don't think 3.0 and 3.5 count as separate editions for this purpose any more than BECMI and RC do.

 

[the Jester]

Ulgurstasta (Dragon #276/Fiend Folio) [3.0]

I believe that there is a bad ass super ulgurstasta in the 4e update to Elder Evils.

Damn, you guys are good! I will try to update the list, um, tomorrow?

Thanks, all of you, for the help!

 

[Orius]

Are you interested in setting specific monsters? Because I think 2e had a lot of creatures in all those settings that never got reprinted in later editions.

Yeah, I think a good place to look would be setting-specific 2e stuff. Another good place are obscure stuff from Dragon.

Honestly though, there's probably a good reason some of that stuff stayed in one edition.

I'd say that just about most monsters that appeared in the 3rd Monstrous Compendium of any campaign setting in 2e, generally didn't appear beyond 2e.

The third PS compendium had several entries that made it into 3e core: the belker, devourer, and xill come to mind. The yeg-yi/yeg-ya (sp?) were in MotP as energons, and the animentals could be more or less considered equal to the elemental templates. Though xill and energons I think was originally FF, some of the other stuff in there was 1e vintage.

Thouls appear in Moldvay Basic, but were never published for AD&D; I don't recall if they were mentioned in AD&D (perhaps under Yeenoghu?) or mentioned/published for 2e/3e/4e, but they're relatively less-known monsters in general.

Yup, thouls are in the Mystara MC, they're a favorite low-level monster of mine.

For a bunch of these you are correct when you say Mystara MC. I don't have it in front of me but I know the Mandragora, Vampire Rose, Wyrds, and Decapus were in there. I think the Oards might be in there too.

No oards in the Mystara MC.

Echohawk, those lists are awesome!

If I had any xp left to give today, I'd send it your way!

I gave him proxy xp.

 

[yesnomu]

Foulspawn, Swordwings, Fell Taints and Sorrowsworn are all 4e-unique, I believe. (You can tell from the compound words!)

Debatably, 4e Archons and Eladrin.

 

[AllisterH]

Now here's an interesting question.

Of those many monsters, which of them do you actually consider "unique" in the sense that their crunch is different than existing creatures.

For example, gnolls and bugbears are unique creatures in terms of fluff, but if you didn't TELL your players what they looked like, could a player identify a gnoll from a bugbear from a goblin from a kobold?

 

[Echohawk]

The third PS compendium had several entries that made it into 3e core: the belker, devourer, and xill come to mind.

Yes, there is surprising overlap between PSMC3 and 3.0. The rast and the ravid are two more that jumped to 3e.

Here's a list of what appear to be the 'one edition' creatures from PSMC3:

Bzastra
Chososion
Darklight
Devete
Dharum Suhn
Egarus
Entrope
Facet
Garmorm
Homunculous, Elemental, Breather
Homunculous, Elemental, Skin
Klyndes
Magran
Nathri
Ooze Sprite
Phirblas
Ruvkova
Scile
Shad
Shocker, Contented One
Sislan
Suisseen
Tsnng
Ungulosin
Vacuous
Wavefire

I gave him proxy xp.

Much obliged, thank you!

 

[Dragonbait]

For example, gnolls and bugbears are unique creatures in terms of fluff, but if you didn't TELL your players what they looked like, could a player identify a gnoll from a bugbear from a goblin from a kobold?

It's easy in 4E (kobolds shift as a Minor action, goblins shift away if you miss them with an attack, gnolls generally do more damage to bloodied opponents and get combat bonuses in packs, bugbears do more damage to bloodied opponents). It's all part of the idea of making the different races unique.

In 3E it gets a little more vague. Hit points would probably be the deciding factor since all four were capable of sneaking and hiding from the better-than-average Dex in the four races you mentioned. If the PCs have a spell or item that can create daylight they might identify kobolds since they have daylight sensitivity. Bugbears could be identified because unlike gnolls, they have the scent ability. Kobolds and bugbears have better natural AC bonuses than goblins and gnolls.

Kobolds would stand out in 1E and 2E with their tiny hit points compared to goblins. If the DM rolls randomly for every creature, it's harder to tell. You might be fighting kobolds or you might be fighting a pack of goblins with terrible HP. Bugbears in 1E and 2E could stand out if they could take advantage of their stealth ability (if they had that.. My memory of those times are now fuzzy). I think they also had 1 more hit die than gnolls.

So, it's possible in all editions but the earlier the edition is the less obvious things become.

 

[Echohawk]

Some 'Z' creatures that seem to be 'one edition' candidates:

Zairtail (Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide) [4e]
Zard (MC7: Monstrous Compendium Spelljammer Appendix) [2e]
Zat (SJR4: Practical Planetology) [2e]
Zebra (Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia) [BECMI]
Zeitgeist (Cityscape) [3.5]
Zenythri (Monster Manual II ) [3.0]
Zern (Monster Manual IV) [3.5]
Zeugalak (Lords of Madness) [3.5]
Zezir (Monster Manual III) [3.5]
Zombie Plant (Monstrous Compendium Dark Sun Appendix: Terrors of the Desert) [2e]
Zoveri (Planes of Law) [2e]
Zurchin (MC9: Monstrous Compendium Spelljammer Appendix II) [2e]
Zyern (Wizards of the Coast web site) [3.5]
Zzonga-Bush (Dawn of the Emperors) [BECMI]

 

[Echohawk]

And a whole bunch of 'F' creatures that look like 'one edition' creatures, based on a quick search:

Facet (Planescape Monstrous Compendium Appendix III) [2e]
Faedorne (O2: Blade of Vengeance/AC9: Creature Catalogue/DMR2: Creature Catalog) [BECMI]
Fael (Dark Sun Monstrous Compendium Appendix II: Terrors Beyond Tyr ) [2e]
Faenare (PC2: Top Ballista) [BECMI]
Faerie Fiddler (Dragon #206/Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three) [2e]
Faerie Phiz (Dragon #191) [2e]
Faerie, Seelie (Blood Spawn) [2e]
Faerie, Unseelie (Blood Spawn) [2e]
Fainil (Night Flyers) (Dragon #244) [2e]
Falmadaraatha (MC9: Monstrous Compendium Spelljammer Appendix II) [2e]
Famine Spirit (Monster Manual II) [3.0]
Faux Faerie (MC14: Monstrous Compendium Fiend Folio Appendix) [2e]
Faze (Wizards of the Coast web site) [3.5]
Fear Moth (Open Grave) [4e]
Feaster (Dungeon #161) [4e]
Feathered Serpent (HWA2: Nightrage/HWR1: Sons of Azca) [BECMI]
Feeblestar (Wyrmskull Throne) [2e]
Feesu (MC9: Monstrous Compendium Spelljammer Appendix II) [2e]
Feliquine (Red Steel Campaign Expansion/Savage Coast Monstrous Compendium Appendix) [2e]
Fell Taint (Dragon #376) [4e]
Felljaw (Forgotten Realms Campaign Guide) [4e]
Fenette (Shaman) [2e]
Feral Slasher (C3: Lost Island of Castanamir) [1e]
Feral Spirit (Sharn: City of Towers) [3.5]
Feral Yowler (Monster Manual III) [3.5]
Ferret, Giant (Basic Set/Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia) [BECMI]
Feverclaw (Wizards of the Coast web site) [3.0]
Fey'ri (Monsters of Faerûn) [3.0]
Feylaar (Dark Sun Monstrous Compendium Appendix II: Terrors Beyond Tyr) [2e]
Feywing (GAZ8: Five Shires/DMR2: Creature Catalog) [BECMI]
Fiendwurm (Monster Manual II) [3.0]
Fiery Face (Crypt of Lyzandred the Mad) [2e]
Fiery Sandhog (Wizards of the Coast web site) [3.0]
Figment (Dungeon #81) [2e]
Figurine, Diamond (Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium Appendix III: Creatures of Darkness) [2e]
Fire Falcon (MC14: Monstrous Compendium Fiend Folio Appendix) [2e]
Fireball Fly (Dragon #94) [1e]
Firebird (MC9: Monstrous Compendium Spelljammer Appendix II) [2e]
Firelich (MC9: Monstrous Compendium Spelljammer Appendix II) [2e]
Firesnake (Dungeon #111/Polyhedron #170) [3.5]
Firethorn (Corsairs of the Great Sea/Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two) [2e]
Fireweed (Dragon #227) [2e]
Flailer (Monstrous Compendium Dark Sun Appendix: Terrors of the Desert) [2e]
Flailtail (Dragon #89) [1e]
Flame Spirit (MC6: Monstrous Compendium Kara-Tur Appendix) [2e]
Flame Swallow (SJR4: Practical Planetology) [2e]
Flamewing (Dragon #94) [1e]
Flapsail (Hollow World Boxed Set) [BECMI]
Flard (Dragon #47) [1e]
Flareater (Ruins of Undermountain II/Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two) [2e]
Flawder (MC14: Monstrous Compendium Fiend Folio Appendix) [2e]
Fleas of Madness (Adam's Wrath/Ravenloft Monstrous Compendium Appendix III: Creatures of Darkness) [2e]
Flesh Jelly (Monster Manual II) [3.0]
Flesh-Mulcher Tree (Wizards of the Coast web site) [3.0]
Flicker (Immortal Rules) [BECMI]
Flitte (Dragon #40) [1e]
Flitterling (O2: Blade of Vengeance/AC9: Creature Catalogue/DMR2: Creature Catalog) [BECMI]
Floater (Dungeon #70) [2e]
Flolite (Dragon #38) [1e]
Flotsam Ooze (Fiend Folio) [3.0]
Flow Barnacle (SJR1: Lost Ships) [2e]
Flowfiend (MC9: Monstrous Compendium Spelljammer Appendix II) [2e]
Focoid (MC7: Monstrous Compendium Spelljammer Appendix) [2e]
Fogwarden (Dungeon #54/Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Four) [2e]
Folugub (Psionics Handbook /Expanded Psionics Handbook) [3.0]
Force of Nature (Dragon #304) [3.0]
Forchoreai (Dragon #101) [1e]
Foreigner (Masque of the Red Death) [3.5]
Forest Sloth (Monster Manual II) [3.0]
Forestfolk (Wizards of the Coast web site) [3.5]
Forgewraith (Sharn: City of Towers) [3.5]
Forlarren (Fiend Folio) [1e]
Forlorn Husk (Sandstorm) [3.5]
Foul Gibberer (Dungeon #162) [4e]
Fox, Dire (Dragon #291) [3.0]
Fox, Hoar (Fiend Folio) [1e]
Fox, Arctic (Frostburn) [3.5]
Fractine (MC7: Monstrous Compendium Spelljammer Appendix) [2e]
Frelôn (Savage Coast Monstrous Compendium Appendix) [2e]
Frigidarch (Dragon #129) [1e]
Frog, Archer (Dragon #247) [2e]
Frog, Ghoul (Dragon #247) [2e]
Frog, Firetongue (Dragon #285) [3.0]
Frog, Giant Vampire (Dragon #50) [1e]
Frost Worm (Monster Manual) [3.0]
Frostwind Virago (Monster Manual V) [3.5]
Fungoid (AC8: Dragon Tiles: Revenge of Rusak/AC9: Creature Catalogue/DMR2: Creature Catalog) [BECMI]
Fungus, Cushion (Dragon #172) [2e]
Fungus, Friendly (Dragon #196) [2e]
Fungus, Explodestool (Dragon #89) [1e]
Fungus, Phantom (Monster Manual) [3.0]
Fungus, Fetid (Monster Manual V) [3.5]
Fungus, Vermeil (Savage Coast Monstrous Compendium Appendix) [2e]
Fungus, Slaver (Wizards of the Coast web site) [3.0]
Fungus, Gray (Wizards of the Coast web site) [3.5]
Fungus Hulk (Return to White Plume Mountain) [2e]
Fyrefly (MC14: Monstrous Compendium Fiend Folio Appendix/Monstrous Manual) [2e]