D&D 1st Edition Beholder
Have I Played This Edition?
No, though I do use a lot of 1E monsters in my 2E games. Also, full disclosure: I’ve never run or played in any game with a beholder, ever.
Technical Presentation
The stat block begins with encounter building information, which makes a lot of sense in a game where monsters appear in random encounters. Then it sort of gets hard to follow. We’ve got what looks like combat information (movement speed and hit dice), then more encounter building information (% in lair, treasure type), then more combat information (attacks, damage, specials). Then finally we have role playing and exploration information intelligence, alignment, size) followed by yet more combat information (psionic ability).
Why are the combat stats mixed in with all the other stuff? I suppose it’s important to keep in mind that 1E rewards players who avoid combat—so from that point of view movement speed and (maybe?) HD are useful to put ahead of the combat section, because players will probably attempt to outrun or hide from the threat. And maybe 1E psionics are not really combat?—I don’t really know, as I will freely admit that I’ve never been able to make sense of that part of the game.
Maybe the 1E stat block format works really well for 1E. But, I've learned that when running 1E/OSR monsters in other games, the DM' is well-served by a set of colored highlighters and a willingness to mark up an expensive book.
Moving down to the descriptive prose, we start with a physical description, with advice about habitat. Then (in the same paragraph) we get detailed info about the AC of eye stalks and the central eye. It’s heavily implied that the smart way to fight a beholder is to dismantle it eye by eye, rather than to attack the body and waste time wearing down its ablative hp.
Next we have two separate sections, one devoted to the eye attacks (which further reinforces the notion that eye stalks ought to be targeted first), and one detailing the Beholder’s behavior if the PCs try to negotiate.
All in all, I find the prose layout reasonably clear, other than the (very questionable) decision to squeeze eye stalk AC info in the same paragraph as their preferred habitat.
What Kind of Ideas Does This Give Me?
Geeze, what a nasty thing to throw at 1E players! No matter which way the encounter goes, it’s sure to be memorable. Do they sweat their way through a negotiation? Do they run with their tails between their legs? Do they cooperate to dismantle the creature’s eye stalks before it devastates them? I almost want to put a 1E beholder in my game now, so I can see how my group handles it.
Playstyle Quote
If confronted by a particularly powerful party there is a 50% chance they will listen to negotiations — either to be bribed not to attack or to pay a ransom to not be attacked, depending on the strength of the opposing party.
Final Rating
I award this MM entry eight severed eye stalks out of ten.
