Flumph
Encyclopedia
The flumph is a monster found in the fictional world of the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy roleplaying game. Flumphs are described as sentient
, and are the only Lawful Good creatures in the original 1981 Fiend Folio.
,. They appeared in the Open Game Licence (3rd Edition) book Tome of Horrors from Necromancer Games
, then officially featured in the 3.5 edition adventure "Box of Flumph" by Tim Hitchcock in Dungeon
magazine #118.
Since then, license-holders Wizards of the Coast
have only used flumphs for comedic value. A 2006 April Fool's
joke announced the release of miniatures for Modrons
, flumphs, and similar creatures. As part of a 2009 April Fools joke, 4th Edition stats for the Flumph were included in the Fool's Grove Dungeon Delve article.
. A running joke is that one of a pair of flumphs accidentally serves to cushion the landing of falling characters.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
fantasy roleplaying game. Flumphs are described as sentient
Sentience
Sentience is the ability to feel, perceive or be conscious, or to have subjective experiences. Eighteenth century philosophers used the concept to distinguish the ability to think from the ability to feel . In modern western philosophy, sentience is the ability to have sensations or experiences...
, and are the only Lawful Good creatures in the original 1981 Fiend Folio.
Physical description
Flumphs are depicted as similar in appearance to jellyfish. However they float in the air rather than water, and have eyes on stalks. Flumphs are said to be completely helpless if flipped on to their 'back'.Publication history
Flumphs were first introduced in the Fiend Folio monster sourcebook for D&D 1st Edition, and updated for D&D 2nd Edition rules in the Monstrous Compendium Annual Vol. 2Monstrous Compendium
The Monstrous Compendium is a series of accessories for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Volumes:MC1 Monstrous Compendium, Volume One was published by TSR in 1989...
,. They appeared in the Open Game Licence (3rd Edition) book Tome of Horrors from Necromancer Games
Necromancer Games
Necromancer Games was an American publisher of role-playing games. With offices in Seattle, Washington and Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, the company specialized in material for the d20 System, with most of its products being released under the Open Game License of Wizards of the Coast.The company's...
, then officially featured in the 3.5 edition adventure "Box of Flumph" by Tim Hitchcock in Dungeon
Dungeon (magazine)
Dungeon Adventures, or simply Dungeon, was a magazine targeting consumers of role-playing games, particularly Dungeons & Dragons. It was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1986 as a bimonthly periodical. It went monthly in May 2003 and ceased print publication altogether in September 2007 with Issue 150...
magazine #118.
Since then, license-holders Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
have only used flumphs for comedic value. A 2006 April Fool's
April Fools' Day
April Fools' Day is celebrated in different countries around the world on April 1 every year. Sometimes referred to as All Fools' Day, April 1 is not a national holiday, but is widely recognized and celebrated as a day when many people play all kinds of jokes and foolishness...
joke announced the release of miniatures for Modrons
Modron (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the fictional multiverse of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Modrons are mechanical looking creatures native to the outer plane of Mechanus. Modrons resemble geometric shapes with humanoid limbs and represent a living, physical manifestation of law without regard to good or evil...
, flumphs, and similar creatures. As part of a 2009 April Fools joke, 4th Edition stats for the Flumph were included in the Fool's Grove Dungeon Delve article.
Flumphs in other media
Flumphs have been featured in the comic strip The Order of the StickThe Order of the Stick
The Order of the Stick is a comedic webcomic that celebrates and satirizes tabletop role-playing games and medieval fantasy through the ongoing tale of the eponymous fellowship of adventuring heroes...
. A running joke is that one of a pair of flumphs accidentally serves to cushion the landing of falling characters.
Additional reading
- Burlew, Richard. "The Order of the Stick: Dungeon Crawlin Fools" http://www.giantitp.com 2007
- Richards, Johnathan M. "The Ecology of the Flumph." DragonDragon (magazine)Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#246 (TSR, 1998).