Gray Philosopher
- Thread starter BOZ
- Start date
frankthedm
First Post
Pretty esoteric question.
Chances are the critter was in an old module, most of them are that way, but I don't have a clue which one. I would guess it was a rarer module since it did not make it into the Rules Cyclopedia
BTW, I like the Grey Philosopher, but because of it's just sit there while the Malices attack combat strategy, it will get hosed pretty bad in 3E combat. I'd recommend the Grey Philosopher spawn temporary Malices each time it is struck. Lets say 1 per 5 damage or fraction there of. Otherwise the Grey Philosopher is power attack bait. The temporary ones fade at a rate similar to the rate the creature heals back down to the amount deserved based on Age / HD
Chances are the critter was in an old module, most of them are that way, but I don't have a clue which one. I would guess it was a rarer module since it did not make it into the Rules Cyclopedia
BTW, I like the Grey Philosopher, but because of it's just sit there while the Malices attack combat strategy, it will get hosed pretty bad in 3E combat. I'd recommend the Grey Philosopher spawn temporary Malices each time it is struck. Lets say 1 per 5 damage or fraction there of. Otherwise the Grey Philosopher is power attack bait. The temporary ones fade at a rate similar to the rate the creature heals back down to the amount deserved based on Age / HD
Last edited:
Cthulhudrew
First Post
Nope. First appearance was in the first Creature Catalog.
It did make an appearance in an issue of Dungeon at one point, though. Issue #15, "In Pursuit of the Slayer," by Carl Sargent. It is a spirit of a cleric killed on a battlefield that currently resides in a Barrowmound.
It did make an appearance in an issue of Dungeon at one point, though. Issue #15, "In Pursuit of the Slayer," by Carl Sargent. It is a spirit of a cleric killed on a battlefield that currently resides in a Barrowmound.
Allandaros
Explorer
I just want to say that the idea behind the Grey Philosopher is, bar none, the niftiest monster I've seen for any edition of D&D.
Olgar Shiverstone
Legend
What's a Grey Philosopher, pray tell? I never owned those products. Inquiring minds want to know!
Prince of Happiness
First Post
Olgar Shiverstone said:
From the 2nd Creature Catalogue: "A gray philosopher is the undead spirit of a chaotic cleric who died with some important philosophical deliberations unresolved in his or her mind. In its undead state, the philosopher does nothing but ponder these weighty matters."
The Malices are the Philospher's eeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee-vil thoughts that manifest as angry little boo-ghosts that attack people, animals, and small children.
Allandaros
Explorer
The idea of being attacked by a long-dead philosopher's evil thoughts just seems so awesome to me. Really puts my dislike of utilitarianism into perspective. 
Oh, and also...when you destroy the G.P., it's said to look up with an evil glint in its eyes and laugh maniacally as it disintegrates (because it just resolved its puzzle).
When an undead laughs as it's destroyed, particularly when it didn't attack the PCs itself...they get soooo creeped out. It's a yayfor.
Oh, and also...when you destroy the G.P., it's said to look up with an evil glint in its eyes and laugh maniacally as it disintegrates (because it just resolved its puzzle).
When an undead laughs as it's destroyed, particularly when it didn't attack the PCs itself...they get soooo creeped out. It's a yayfor.
Prince of Happiness
First Post
Allandaros said:The idea of being attacked by a long-dead philosopher's evil thoughts just seems so awesome to me. Really puts my dislike of utilitarianism into perspective.
Oh, and also...when you destroy the G.P., it's said to look up with an evil glint in its eyes and laugh maniacally as it disintegrates (because it just resolved its puzzle).
When an undead laughs as it's destroyed, particularly when it didn't attack the PCs itself...they get soooo creeped out. It's a yayfor.
There's definitely a truckload of OSSUM! going on with this one. I always thought about building a dungeon around one of these dudes, or having one that takes place in a Pompeii-like ruin where an ancient academy devoted to chaotic philosophy is unearthed and...wow! There's a *lot* of them!
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