Roc (Dungeons & Dragons)

Roc
Characteristics
Alignment Neutral
Image Wizards.com image
Stats Open Game License stats
Publication history
Mythological origins Roc

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the roc is a gargantuan, eagle-like animal, based on an earlier creature from myth and fantasy also named the Roc.

Publication history

The roc was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the D&D game.

Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1976)

The roc was one of the first monsters introduced in the earliest edition of the game, in the Dungeons & Dragons "white box" set (1974), where they were described as large and fierce birds that nest in mountains, and are hostile to creatures of Chaos and Neutrality.[1]

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)

The roc appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977),[2] where it is described as a huge eagle-like bird that inhabits the highest mountains, and preys upon large creatures such as cattle, horses, and elephants.

The moon roc appeared in the module Needle (1987).

Dungeons & Dragons (1977-1999)

This edition of the D&D game included its own version of the roc, which came in three sizes: the small roc, the large roc, and the giant roc. These all appeared in the Dungeons & Dragons Expert Set (1981 & 1983),[3][4] and later in the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991).[5]

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)

In the second edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons, the roc appears first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989),[6] and is reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).[7]

The Athasian roc for the Dark Sun campaign setting appeared in Monstrous Compendium Dark Sun Appendix: Terrors of Athas (1992).[8]

The common Zakharan roc, the two-headed Zakharan roc, and the great Zakharan roc for the Al-Qadim campaign setting appeared in Land of Fate (1992).

Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)

The roc appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000).[9]

The chaos roc appeared in Monster Manual II (2002).[10]

Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)

The roc appears in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003).

Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)

The roc appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008).[11]

Description

Rocs are birds so large that one can carry off an elephant.

A roc is always neutral in alignment, and generally prefers warm mountainous terrain. Rocs are usually solitary, but sometimes found in mated pairs.

References

  1. Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson. Dungeons & Dragons (3-Volume Set) (TSR, 1974)
  2. Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual (TSR, 1977)
  3. Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson [1974], edited by Dave Cook. Dungeons & Dragons Expert Set (TSR, 1981)
  4. Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson [1974], edited by Frank Mentzer. Dungeons & Dragons Set 2: Expert Rules (TSR, 1983)
  5. Allston, Aaron, Steven E. Schend, Jon Pickens, and Dori Watry. Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (TSR, 1991)
  6. Cook, David, et al. Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (TSR, 1989)
  7. Stewart, Doug, ed. Monstrous Manual (TSR, 1993)
  8. Baas, Walter. Monstrous Compendium Dark Sun Appendix: Terrors of Athas (TSR, Inc., 1992)
  9. Cook, Monte, Jonathan Tweet, and Skip Williams. Monster Manual (Wizards of the Coast, 2000)
  10. Bonny, Ed, Jeff Grubb, Rich Redman, Skip Williams, and Steve Winter. Monster Manual II (Wizards of the Coast, 2002)
  11. Mearls, Mike, Stephen Schubert, and James Wyatt. Monster Manual (Wizards of the Coast, 2008)