tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post8839711919245459489..comments2024-03-26T00:09:13.941-07:00Comments on Dungeon of Signs: Monster Archaeology - Cockatrice, Basilisks, Medusae and GorgonsUnknownnoreply@blogger.comBlogger11125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-32518332202642572152017-05-14T18:56:16.697-07:002017-05-14T18:56:16.697-07:00It was indeed! 😀It was indeed! 😀Gnarley Boneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11942095647867654862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-37078851749947989372017-05-14T18:55:34.246-07:002017-05-14T18:55:34.246-07:00Wasn't Clash of the Titans also Haaryhausen?
...Wasn't Clash of the Titans also Haaryhausen?<br /><br />/runs to WikiGnarley Boneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11942095647867654862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-53576986556166717402017-05-14T17:14:34.723-07:002017-05-14T17:14:34.723-07:00That's sort of why I was shocked to find the s...That's sort of why I was shocked to find the snake bodied Medusa in Monsters & Treasure - the Wiki page of Medusa cites Clash of the Titans as the origin of the snake body Medusa idea, so it's quite fun to see the possibility that this is/was a D&Dism leeching into popular consciousness by the early 80's.Gus Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872819206286105195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-36229675869520139992017-05-14T15:49:12.286-07:002017-05-14T15:49:12.286-07:00Gygax strikes me as a Harryhausen fan. ;)
Medusae...Gygax strikes me as a Harryhausen fan. ;)<br /><br />Medusae rediscovered their legs in time for Monster Manual (1977).Gnarley Boneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11942095647867654862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-26076564325022964012017-05-13T21:20:25.226-07:002017-05-13T21:20:25.226-07:00"Seventh Voyage of Sinbad" (1958) had a ..."Seventh Voyage of Sinbad" (1958) had a Snake Woman<br /><br />https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=03k8di93r5QDavid Oakesnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-84566648447305351012017-05-13T20:21:55.292-07:002017-05-13T20:21:55.292-07:00Absolutely true - I have no idea where Gygax got s...Absolutely true - I have no idea where Gygax got snake bodied Medusa then - is it something that he invented entirely on his own, because a quick search at least turns up no earlier references.Gus Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872819206286105195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-9510147393126929232017-05-13T08:17:41.255-07:002017-05-13T08:17:41.255-07:00Monsters & Treasure 1974
Clash of the Titans 1...Monsters & Treasure 1974<br />Clash of the Titans 1981Gnarley Boneshttps://www.blogger.com/profile/11942095647867654862noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-29680706746886299602017-05-12T20:53:00.508-07:002017-05-12T20:53:00.508-07:00Yeah, the JRPG is taken almost whole cloth from D&...Yeah, the JRPG is taken almost whole cloth from D&D (Final Fantasy was supposed to be the company's last game before going under so they did not care about copyright very much). <br /><br />I like the use of petrifaction since it also adds a life-cycle to adventures. You turn to stone in the dungeon, and over time "decompose" into the piles of treasure other adventures find later. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-4869385424490447752017-05-12T10:54:59.247-07:002017-05-12T10:54:59.247-07:00Yeah Basilisks, Cockatrices, Catoblepas,and later ...Yeah Basilisks, Cockatrices, Catoblepas,and later 'Gorgons' all simply kill with stink breath of their touch. It's totally clear that there was this cool mechanic (stoning) and Gygax wanted to use it more. Still I don't mind - I think an implied world with all sorts of creature (and mostly it's dumb beasts) wandering about turning people to stone feels about right.<br /><br />As to the origin - there's always this Pokemon like taxonomical impulse in "Monsters & Treasure" where monsters come in broad classes (humanoids being the most obvious) with increasing badassitude but the same basic abilities. It feels a bit like one of those old JRPG games (though I think D&D bestiary if the ancestor here) where the sprite gets a recolor and the monsters you fought in the first level are back in the 5th with 'dire' in front of the name. Gus Lhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14872819206286105195noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-69733860429094649662017-05-12T10:29:14.200-07:002017-05-12T10:29:14.200-07:00Mmm...that should say "by ANY 7th level cleri...Mmm...that should say "by ANY 7th level cleric."JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4607464045429311026.post-66139961385063485012017-05-12T10:28:24.757-07:002017-05-12T10:28:24.757-07:00Other than Medusa (and her gorgon sisters) I'v...Other than Medusa (and her gorgon sisters) I've never read anything in folklore (or pre-D&D fantasy) to suggest petrifaction as an ability of these mythic creatures. I've always assumed that someone wanted to add Medusa to the game, then decided to deal with her power using a dedicated save, then adapted other monsters to fill out the save niche. <br /><br />Which is weird because it's one of the more vicious attacks in the game: DEATH can be cured by a 7th level cleric, but STONING requires a 12th level wizard with the right spell (in OD&D anyway).<br /><br />Interesting that the mythic gorgons were winged and immune to mortal weapons. If they had not been confined to an island (presumably based on their limited flying range) they could have easily devastated huge swaths of territory.JBhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03263662621289630246noreply@blogger.com