Phoenix Phonics

[tleilaxu]

This isn't a rules question because I'm not looking for stat blocks (though if people have them feel free)

I am just curious: why isn't the phoenix in the MM? Where can a d20 version be found?

When displacer beasts take precidence over a legitmately legendary creature whose myth has existed for millenia then isn't that a problem? Isn't that a drift from the gamization of myth to the gamization of the game itself?

Let's see a phoenix, and a sphinx and a golden fleece, aye?

 

[LostSoul]

I would have liked to have seen a phoenix in the Monster Manual, but I can see why they left it out.

If you are looking for a phoenix, you've got a pretty good idea what it is and does (big bird made out of fire that explodes when it dies, and comes back 500 years later). But nobody who hasn't played D&D will know what a displacer beast is. So they have to throw in their D&D mythos monsters because otherwise they would fade away.

Nobody's going to forget about the phoenix.

 

[LightPhoenix]

I would have liked to have seen a phoenix in the Monster Manual, but I can see why they left it out.

If you are looking for a phoenix, you've got a pretty good idea what it is and does (big bird made out of fire that explodes when it dies, and comes back 500 years later). But nobody who hasn't played D&D will know what a displacer beast is. So they have to throw in their D&D mythos monsters because otherwise they would fade away.

Nobody's going to forget about the phoenix.

One, technically the phoenix doesn't explode when it dies. Maybe the D&D one does, idk. And some sources say 500, some say 1000, it's hazy.

Two, I'm so glad people can spell "phoenix" with an 'oe' - it's a pet peeve of mine, and I opened this thread with trepidation. I realize 'oe' isn't a vowel blend we use much in English, but still...

Three, I can't tell you how much that last sentence makes me happy. Phoenixes are great mythic creatures.

PS - My name does NOT come from that horrid, horrid Phoenix saga in X-Men. I just love the real world phoenix mythology.

 

[Piratecat]

Scott's Creature Catalog did a wonderful conversion of the phoenix. I assume that it will be published in the upcoming Tome of Horrors.

 

[I'm A Banana]

Phoenix = Great mount for a paladin who was a blackguard....

Phoenix = Great icon of the sun gods

Phoenix = A mythic creature whose identity is only slightly less muddled than the Basilisk/Cockatrice/whatever.

Phoenix = A powerful inhabitant of Elysium, in 2e

Phoenix = Something I want to roast marshmallows with on the weekends....

 

[ghettognome]

I really was upset to see that the Phoenix wasn't in the monsters manual. I pulled out my 2e one and started to work on my own conversion. I was pondering trying to create a smaller version of one, and try and turn it into a familiar for a high level wizard. I can't think of any wonderful creature to be better suited to become one.

 

[Grazzt]

I am just curious: why isn't the phoenix in the MM? Where can a d20 version be found?

When displacer beasts take precidence over a legitmately legendary creature whose myth has existed for millenia then isn't that a problem? Isn't that a drift from the gamization of myth to the gamization of the game itself?

WotC left out certain monsters because they wanted a certain number of monsters for each challenge rating (more lower to mid CR monsters than high CR monsters). Someone from WotC said this on the WotC msgbrds, but I can't recall who it was.

Oh and like PC said, you can find the phoenix on my website.