Lizardfolk
Encyclopedia
Lizardfolk are a fictional humanoid
species in the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy role-playing game
.
supplement booklet authored by Gary Gygax
and Robert Kuntz. The lizardman artwork that appeared on the inside front cover of that supplement :Image:Tsr logo lizardfolk.png was used as part of the official TSR, Inc.
logo from 1975 through 1978.
(1975). It is described as an aquatic monster with a rude intelligence, that is fond of eating human flesh.
The lizard king, a more intelligent and evil relative to the more common lizard man, was introduced in the Fiend Folio
(1981)
(1977, 1981, 1983), and was also later featured in the Dungeons & Dragons Game
set (1991), the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991), the Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game set (1994), and the Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game set (1999).
The Malpheggi lizard man was detailed as a player character race in the Hollow World boxed set in the "Player's Guide" (1990).
The bakali, a relative of the lizard man from the world of Krynn
in the Dragonlance
campaign setting
, was introduced in the Time of the Dragon boxed set, in the "Rulebook of Taladas" booklet (1989), and also appeared in the Tales of the Lance set, in the "World Book of Ansalon" booklet (1992).
The lizard man of Krynn was detailed in the Dragonlance Monstrous Compendium. (1990)
The lizard man was presented as a player character race for the Spelljammer
campaign setting
in The Complete Spacefarer's Handbook (1992).
The lizard man is further detailed as a playable character race in The Complete Book of Humanoids
(1993), and is later presented as a playable character race again in Player's Option: Skills & Powers
(1995).
The Athasian lizard man and lizard king were introduced for the Dark Sun
campaign setting in Wanderer's Chronicle: Mind Lords of the Last Sea
(1996).
The Malatran lizard man and lizard king were detailed in Polyhedron
#121 (July 1996).
The lizardfolk is detailed as a player character race for the Forgotten Realms
campaign setting in Races of Faerûn (2003).
The lizardfolk is presented as both a race and a playable class for the Hollow World campaign setting in Dragon #318 (April 2004).
The lizard king, and lizard queen, are detailed in Serpent Kingdoms for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting. (2004).
The blackscale lizardfolk and the poison dusk lizardfolk were introduced in Monster Manual III (2004).
The lizardfolk were detailed in Dragon
#335 (September 2005), in the "Ecology of the Lizardfolk".
The dark talon lizardfolk, including the soldier, champion, shaman, wasp rider, and Yarshag the dark talon king, were introduced in Monster Manual IV (2006).
, whose main agenda is the reproduction and survival of the species.
Campaign Setting most lizardfolk worship Ka the Preserver.
Campaign Setting. They are thought to originally have been groundlings who were captured as slaves by humans or mind flayers
and transported into wildspace. Lizardfolk in wildspace are more advanced than their groundling cousins. They often decorate their bodies with tattoos and body paint.
Spacefaring lizardfolk believe that they the advances in their race are due to increased proximity to the various suns of wildspace. They seek to continue the advancement of their race and deliberately fly ships containing lizardfolk eggs close to suns.
Lizardfolk mostly use the same sort of ships as humans, but have a special breeding ship design called the bloatfly. The bloatfly is a heavily armed vessel containing a large tank of water for incubating eggs. They are normally coated with black tar in order to retain as much heat as possible.
Campaign Setting, lizardfolk are elevated to the point of being not only an important race but also a race playable as PCs. The lizardfolk of Arcanis are more often called Ss'ressen, and they are divided into several campaign-specific sub-races. Most Ss'ressen are part of the evil Ssethregoran Empire, though a few sub-races have separated geographically and theologically from their brethren to live in relative peace with mankind.
Humanoid (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, humanoid is a type of creature, or "creature type". Humanoids are any creature shaped generally like a human , of Small or Medium size, with few or no supernatural or extraordinary abilities...
species in the Dungeons & Dragons
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 role-playing game
Role-playing game
A role-playing game is a game in which players assume the roles of characters in a fictional setting. Players take responsibility for acting out these roles within a narrative, either through literal acting, or through a process of structured decision-making or character development...
.
Publication history
Lizard men first officially appeared as part of the original D&D game in the 1975 GreyhawkGreyhawk
Greyhawk, also known as the World of Greyhawk, is a fictional world designed as a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
supplement booklet authored by Gary Gygax
Gary Gygax
Ernest Gary Gygax was an American writer and game designer best known for co-creating the pioneering role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons with Dave Arneson. Gygax is generally acknowledged as the father of role-playing games....
and Robert Kuntz. The lizardman artwork that appeared on the inside front cover of that supplement :Image:Tsr logo lizardfolk.png was used as part of the official TSR, Inc.
TSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
logo from 1975 through 1978.
Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1976)
The lizard man was introduced to the game in its first supplement, GreyhawkGreyhawk (supplement)
Greyhawk is a supplementary rulebook written by Gary Gygax and Robert J. Kuntz for the original edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game...
(1975). It is described as an aquatic monster with a rude intelligence, that is fond of eating human flesh.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)
The lizard man appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977), where it is described as a semi-aquatic creature that dwells underwater, and is omnivorous but prefers human flesh.The lizard king, a more intelligent and evil relative to the more common lizard man, was introduced in the Fiend Folio
Fiend Folio
Fiend Folio is the title shared by three products published for successive editions of the fantasy role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons...
(1981)
Dungeons & Dragons (1977-1999)
This edition of the D&D game included its own version of the lizard man, in the Dungeons & Dragons Basic SetDungeons & Dragons Basic Set
The original Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set boxed set was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1977, and comprised a separate edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, distinct from the first edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game, which was initially published in the same...
(1977, 1981, 1983), and was also later featured in the Dungeons & Dragons Game
Dungeons & Dragons Game (1991 boxed set)
The New Easy to Master Dungeons & Dragons Game is an accessory for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1991....
set (1991), the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991), the Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game set (1994), and the Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game set (1999).
The Malpheggi lizard man was detailed as a player character race in the Hollow World boxed set in the "Player's Guide" (1990).
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)
The lizard man and lizard king appear first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1989), and are reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).The bakali, a relative of the lizard man from the world of Krynn
Krynn
Krynn is the fictional world of the Dragonlance novels, co-written by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis. It has also been used in many other books, set in the Dragonlance universe. It is also used as the main setting in the Dragonlance campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing...
in the Dragonlance
Dragonlance
Dragonlance is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of popular fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived Dragonlance while driving in their car on the way to TSR for a job application...
campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
, was introduced in the Time of the Dragon boxed set, in the "Rulebook of Taladas" booklet (1989), and also appeared in the Tales of the Lance set, in the "World Book of Ansalon" booklet (1992).
The lizard man of Krynn was detailed in the Dragonlance Monstrous Compendium. (1990)
The lizard man was presented as a player character race for the Spelljammer
Spelljammer
Spelljammer is a campaign setting for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, which features a fantastical outer space environment....
campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
in The Complete Spacefarer's Handbook (1992).
The lizard man is further detailed as a playable character race in The Complete Book of Humanoids
Complete Book of Humanoids
The Complete Book of Humanoids is a sourcebook for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It was written by Bill Slavicsek for TSR, in 1993....
(1993), and is later presented as a playable character race again in Player's Option: Skills & Powers
Player's Option: Skills & Powers
Player's Option: Skills & Powers is a supplemental sourcebook to the core rules of the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. This 192-page book was published by TSR, Inc. in 1995. The book was designed by Douglas Niles and Dale Donovan...
(1995).
The Athasian lizard man and lizard king were introduced for the Dark Sun
Dark Sun
Dark Sun is a Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting featuring the fictional desert world of Athas. The original Dark Sun Boxed Set campaign setting was released in 1991....
campaign setting in Wanderer's Chronicle: Mind Lords of the Last Sea
Mind Lords of the Last Sea
Mind Lords of the Last Sea is an accessory for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1996....
(1996).
The Malatran lizard man and lizard king were detailed in Polyhedron
Polyhedron (magazine)
Polyhedron was a magazine which started out as the official publication of the RPGA . Publication began in the year 1981, and the target audience was players of the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game...
#121 (July 1996).
Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)
The lizard man appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000), where it is known as the lizardfolk.The lizardfolk is detailed as a player character race for the Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
campaign setting in Races of Faerûn (2003).
Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)
The lizardfolk appears in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003).The lizardfolk is presented as both a race and a playable class for the Hollow World campaign setting in Dragon #318 (April 2004).
The lizard king, and lizard queen, are detailed in Serpent Kingdoms for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting. (2004).
The blackscale lizardfolk and the poison dusk lizardfolk were introduced in Monster Manual III (2004).
The lizardfolk were detailed in Dragon
Dragon (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...
#335 (September 2005), in the "Ecology of the Lizardfolk".
The dark talon lizardfolk, including the soldier, champion, shaman, wasp rider, and Yarshag the dark talon king, were introduced in Monster Manual IV (2006).
Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)
Lizardfolk appear in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008).Environment
Lizardfolk are normally found in temperate marshes and swamps. Lizardfolk are passable swimmers however, and may be found in underwater cave systems.Typical physical characteristics
Lizardfolk are primitive reptilian humanoids typically standing from six to seven feet tall. Their scales are normally dull, earthy colors such as green, brown, or gray. They have a tail for balance, which measures three to four feet long. Typical weight is between 200 and 300 pounds (90 and 136 kg). There are several species of lizardfolk however, and these can range from 3 foot (0.9144 m) pygmies to 9 feet (2.7 m) giants.Society
Lizardfolk society is primarily patriarchal, with the strongest member normally in charge. Shamans are typically counselors, and normally do not lead tribes. Where ever they make their home, survival is the main priority for any lizardfolk. Lizardfolk mostly worship the deity SemuanyaSemuanya
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Semuanya is the deity worshipped by the lizardfolk race in many campaign settings. The symbol of Semuanya is a single reptile egg. Its sacred animal is the alligator.-Publication history:James M...
, whose main agenda is the reproduction and survival of the species.
Variants
- Blackscale http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/mmiii_gallery/83018.jpg - Larger and more barbaric, with dark scales and an affinity towards acid.
- Dark Talon http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/mm4_gallery/98695.jpg - Murderous lizardfolk, toughened by alchemical infusions of black dragon blood. They seek to conquer lands controlled by other humanoid races.
- Lizard King http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/sk_gallery/82338.jpg - Demon-blooded lizardfolk who often rule tribes of their non-fiendish kin. Serve the demon lordDemon lord (Dungeons & Dragons)In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, demon lords are demons who have gained great power and established a position of preeminence among demonkind. Each demon lord has a unique appearance and set of abilities. Most control at least one layer of the Abyss...
Sess'InnekSess'innekIn the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Sess'Innek is a tanar'ri lord that is worshipped by the lizard kings as a deity of Civilization and Dominion...
. - Malpheggi - A more advanced lizardfolk found in the Hollow World.
- Poison Dusk http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/mmiii_gallery/83019.jpg - Smaller, chameleon-like lizardfolk who frequently utilize poisoned arrows.
- Quanak - PsionicPsionics (role-playing games)Psionics, in role-playing games, is a broad category of fantastic abilities originating from the mind, similar to the paranormal psionic abilities that some people claim in reality.- Common features :...
lizardfolk. - Shazak - Found in the Savage Coast these lizard folk were once slaves, but are now free. They are more intelligent and civilized than most lizardfolk.
- Viletooth - Lizardfolk with genetic relations to Black Dragons.
Lizardfolk in Mystara
In the MystaraMystara
Mystara is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role playing game. Although it has officially been dropped from production by its creators, many fans continue to develop and evolve this fantasy setting jointly, continuing its original theme of group development.-Development:It...
Campaign Setting most lizardfolk worship Ka the Preserver.
Lizardfolk in Spelljammer
Lizardfolk are one of the primary factions in the SpelljammerSpelljammer
Spelljammer is a campaign setting for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, which features a fantastical outer space environment....
Campaign Setting. They are thought to originally have been groundlings who were captured as slaves by humans or mind flayers
Illithid
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, illithids are monstrous humanoid aberrations with psionic powers. In a typical Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting, they live in the moist caverns and cities of the enormous Underdark...
and transported into wildspace. Lizardfolk in wildspace are more advanced than their groundling cousins. They often decorate their bodies with tattoos and body paint.
Spacefaring lizardfolk believe that they the advances in their race are due to increased proximity to the various suns of wildspace. They seek to continue the advancement of their race and deliberately fly ships containing lizardfolk eggs close to suns.
Lizardfolk mostly use the same sort of ships as humans, but have a special breeding ship design called the bloatfly. The bloatfly is a heavily armed vessel containing a large tank of water for incubating eggs. They are normally coated with black tar in order to retain as much heat as possible.
Lizardfolk in Arcanis
In the ArcanisArcanis
Arcanis was originally a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons game, created and supported by Paradigm Concepts. It is also the name of the fictional world where the setting takes place...
Campaign Setting, lizardfolk are elevated to the point of being not only an important race but also a race playable as PCs. The lizardfolk of Arcanis are more often called Ss'ressen, and they are divided into several campaign-specific sub-races. Most Ss'ressen are part of the evil Ssethregoran Empire, though a few sub-races have separated geographically and theologically from their brethren to live in relative peace with mankind.