Beholders =/= Langoliers?

Desert Hare

Banned
Banned
Exactly how long ago was Stephen Kings' The Langoliers first published?

I wonder if it's possible that the Langolier inspired the creator of the Beholder to have almost the same basic shape.
 

log in or register to remove this ad

Exactly how long ago was Stephen Kings' The Langoliers first published?.

Wiki had it at 1990. D&D had beholders for more than a decade before that.

I wonder if it's possible that the Langolier inspired the creator of the Beholder to have almost the same basic shape.

The Beholder has its shape because it is one of Gary Gygax's punny monsters. It comes from the ancient phrase "Eye of the Beholder" so a Beholder is a giant eye.
 

Nope. Gotta disagree. Langoliers have two D&D equivalents, neither are beholders. Sphere of annihilation was in 1E back in the 70's. Basic D&D made the sphere into a creature [sorta] late 80's / early 90's called the blackball.

Sphere of Annihilation
A sphere of annihilation is a globe of absolute blackness, a ball of nothingness 2 feet in diameter. The object is actually a hole in the continuity of the multiverse. Any matter that comes in contact with a sphere is instantly sucked into the void, gone, and utterly destroyed. Only the direct intervention of a deity can restore an annihilated character.
A sphere of annihilation is static, resting in some spot as if it were a normal hole. It can be caused to move, however, by mental effort (think of this as a mundane form of telekinesis, too weak to move actual objects but a force to which the sphere, being weightless, is sensitive). A character’s ability to gain control of a sphere of annihilation (or to keep controlling one) is based on the result of a control check against DC 30 (a move action). A control check is 1d20 + character level + character Int modifier. If the check succeeds, the character can move the sphere (perhaps to bring it into contact with an enemy) as a free action.
Control of a sphere can be established from as far away as 40 feet (the character need not approach too closely). Once control is established, it must be maintained by continuing to make control checks (all DC 30) each round. For as long as a character maintains control (does not fail a check) in subsequent rounds, he can control the sphere from a distance of 40 feet + 10 feet per character level. The sphere’s speed in a round is 10 feet +5 feet for every 5 points by which the character’s control check result in that round exceeded 30.
If a control check fails, the sphere slides 10 feet in the direction of the character attempting to move it.
If two or more creatures vie for control of a sphere of annihilation, the rolls are opposed. If none are successful, the sphere slips toward the one who rolled lowest.
Should a gate spell be cast upon a sphere of annihilation, there is a 50% chance (01-50 on d%) that the spell destroys it, a 35% chance (51-85) that the spell does nothing, and a 15% chance (86-100) that a gap is torn in the spatial fabric, catapulting everything within a 180-foot radius into another plane. If a rod of cancellation touches a sphere of annihilation, they negate each other in a tremendous explosion. Everything within a 60-foot radius takes 2d6×10 points of damage. Dispel magic and mage’s disjunction have no effect on a sphere.
See also: talisman of the sphere (below).
Strong transmutation; CL 20th.

Umbral Blot (Blackball)
44183_C5_umbralblot.jpg


<table class="statBlock" cellspacing="0"> <tbody><tr class="odd"> <th>Size/Type:</th> <td>Medium Construct</td> </tr> <tr class="even"> <th>Hit Dice:</th> <td>57d10+170 (483 hp)</td> </tr> <tr class="odd"> <th>Initiative:</th> <td>+18 (+10 Dex, +8 Superior Initiative)</td> </tr> <tr class="even"> <th>Speed:</th> <td>Fly 90 ft. (perfect)</td> </tr> <tr class="odd"> <th>Armor Class:</th> <td>40 (+10 Dex, +20 natural)</td> </tr> <tr class="even"> <th>Base Attack/Grapple:</th> <td>+42/+45</td> </tr> <tr class="odd"> <th>Attack:</th> <td>Disintegrating touch +45 melee (5d6 plus disintegrating touch (Fort DC 38))</td> </tr> <tr class="even"> <th>Full Attack:</th> <td>Disintegrating touch +45 melee (5d6 plus disintegrating touch (Fort DC 38))</td> </tr> <tr class="odd"> <th>Space/Reach:</th> <td>5 ft./5 ft.</td> </tr> <tr class="even"> <th>Special Attacks:</th> <td>Disintegrating touch, vortex</td> </tr> <tr class="odd"> <th>Special Qualities:</th> <td>Blindsight 200 ft., construct traits, fast healing 10, planar travel, SR 44; acid, cold, electricity, fire, and sonic resistance 30</td> </tr> <tr class="even"> <th>Saves:</th> <td>Fort +19, Ref +29, Will +29</td> </tr> <tr class="odd"> <th>Abilities:</th> <td>Str 10, Dex 30, Con Ø, Int 14, Wis 30, Cha 30</td> </tr> <tr class="even"> <th>Skills:</th> <td>Hide +62, Listen +52, Move Silently +62, Sense Motive +43, Spot +52, Survival +43</td> </tr> <tr class="odd"> <th>Feats:</th> <td>Alertness, Combat Reflexes, Improved Initiative, Skill Focus (Sense Motive), Skill Focus (Survival), Stealthy, Track</td> </tr> <tr class="even"> <th>Epic Feats:</th> <td>Epic Prowess (×3), Epic Skill Focus (Hide), Epic Skill Focus (Listen), Epic Skill Focus (Sense Motive), Epic Skill Focus (Spot), Epic ToughnessSuperior Initiative (×5), </td> </tr> <tr class="odd"> <th>Environment:</th> <td>Any</td> </tr> <tr class="even"> <th>Organization:</th> <td>Solitary</td> </tr> <tr class="odd"> <th>Challenge Rating:</th> <td>32</td> </tr> <tr class="even"> <th>Treasure:</th> <td>None</td> </tr> <tr class="odd"> <th>Alignment:</th> <td>Always neutral</td> </tr> <tr class="even"> <th>Advancement:</th> <td>58-63 HD (Medium-size); 64-79 HD (Large); 80-95 HD (Huge); 96-171 HD (Gargantuan)</td> </tr> </tbody></table> Combat

Disintegrating Touch (Ex)

Any material object that comes into contact with a blackball is immediately disintegrated unless it succeeds at a Fortitude save (DC 38). A character or object that has been disintegrated by an umbral blot disappears completely, leaving behind not even dust to mark its passing. Those who make a successful saving throw still take 5d6 points of damage from the disintegrating touch. Likewise, weapons or objects that save take a like amount of damage. (Remember, tended or held objects save with the same bonus as their owners.)
Vortex (Ex)

Normally a blackball insulates itself somehow from the air around it (otherwise it would perpetually be at the center of a howling wind-storm). If it chooses, instead of allowing the air to bend around it, the blackball can suspend this insulation, causing a sudden rush of wind to pour toward the blackball from all directions. This vortex sucks all the air from a 30-foot-by-30-foot-by-30-foot room in a single round, creating a sudden influx of air in its direction. All flying or floating creatures within 30 feet of the umbral blot who fail a Reflex save (DC 38) are swept along with the wind into contact with the blackball. Nonflying creatures within 30 feet who fail a Reflex save (DC 19) are pulled into contact with the umbral blot. Contact with an umbral blot could lead to disintegration, as noted above.
Spell Immunities (Ex)

In addition to the spells that an umbral blot is immune to because of its construct traits, it is immune to disintegration spells and variations thereof.
Planar Travel (Ex)

A blackball can fold space at will, allowing it to use ethereal jaunt, dimension door, greater teleport, or plane shift at will as a standard action.
Construct Traits

Immune to mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, phantasms, patterns, and morale effects), and to poison, sleep, paralysis, stunning, disease, death effects, necromantic effects, and any effect that requires a Fortitude save unless it also works on objects. Cannot heal damage (though regeneration and fast healing still apply, if present). Not subject to critical hits, nonlethal damage, ability damage, ability drain, or energy drain. Not at risk of death from massive damage, but destroyed when reduced to 0 hit points or less; cannot be raised or resurrected. Darkvision 60 ft.
 
Last edited:


Terry Kuntz came up with the beholder after he had been playing in my campaign for about two months. Where he got the idea I have no idea, but I latched onto it immediately, and with his kind permission made it an integral creature in the D&D roster of ugly customers to encounter.

Gary Gygax (1938–2008), August 17, 2003, EN World Q&A IV

from the excellent Origins of D&D Monsters website.
 

Remove ads

Top