Will we get a classic Chimera? (ie. no dragon head)

[Wolfspider]

So far 4e seems to do a good job of removing D&D-specific twists on classic monsters

Really?

 

[Klaus]

I know; I bought his book and your counters!

You, sir, I like!

 

[Fifth Element]

I would like if gorgons became Steno, Euryale and Medusa (and become really tough) instead of metal bulls too.

Why does everything have to be greek? Why can't we use the bestiary gorgon? (Though also having a catoblepas is confusing).

 

[arscott]

Yeah, folks. The metal bull gorgon isn't D&D specific.

 

[Maltrok]

I always liked the dragon headed Chimera.

 

[med stud]

Why does everything have to be greek? Why can't we use the bestiary gorgon? (Though also having a catoblepas is confusing).

I like the Greek gorgons more than the metal bulls. Not that I have anything against the metal bulls but I would like them to have their own names instead. I also like the thought of unique monsters.

 

[starwed]

Various descriptions of a chimera

Also:

CHIMAERA (Chimaira), a fire-breathing monster, which, according to the Homeric poems, was of divine origin. She was brought up by Amisodarus, king of Caria, and afterwards made great havoc in all the country around and among men. The fore part of her body was that of a lion, and the hind part that of a dragon, while the middle was that of a goat. (Hom. Il. vi. 180, xvi. 328 ; comp. Ov. Met. ix. 646.) According to Hesiod (Theog. 319, &c.), she was a daughter of Typhaon and Echidna, and had three heads, one of each of the three animals before mentioned, whence she is called trikephalos or trisômatos. (Eustath. ad Hom. p. 634; Eurip. Ion, 203, &c.; Apollod. i. 9. § 3, ii. 3. § 1.) She was killed by Bellerophon, and Virgil (Aen. vi. 288) places her together with other monsters at the entrance of Orcus. The origin of the notion of this fire-breathing monster must probably be sought for in the volcano of the name of Chimaera near Phaselis, in Lycia (Plin. H. N. ii. 106, v. 27; Mela. i. 15), or in the volcanic valley near the Cragus (Strab. xiv. p. 665, &c.), which is described as the scene of the events connected with the Chimaera. In the works of art recently discovered in Lycia, we find several representations of the Chimaera in the simple form of a species of lion still occurring in that country.

Source: Dictionary of Greek and Roman Biography and Mythology.

 

[hong]

When will you get me what?

 

[LowSpine]

Since the Hydra has returned to its snakey Greek roots, I wonder if we'll get a Chimera with goat and lion heads with a serpent tail, like this sculpture:

I'd just as soon lose the middle colored "dragon" head of D&D's chimera entirely -- it looks jarring most of the time, and the goat/lion serpent motif seems cooler.

Trouble is - that is just a lion. Its tail is pointless and a goat head on the side is also pointless. So in the end it is just an odd looking lion.

 

[Fallen Seraph]

Trouble is - that is just a lion. Its tail is pointless and a goat head on the side is also pointless. So in the end it is just an odd looking lion.

Not really, your average lion can't breath fire, or is a omen for various ill-passings.