Hecatoncheires (Dungeons & Dragons)
| Hecatoncheires | |
|---|---|
| First appearance | Gods, Demi-Gods & Heroes (1976) |
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the hecatoncheires is a type of fictional monster.
Publication history[edit]
The hecatoncheires is based on the creature with the same name from Greek mythology.[1]
Dungeons & Dragons (1974–1976)[edit]
The hundred handed one was introduced in the earliest edition of the game, in Supplement IV: Gods, Demi-gods & Heroes (1976).[2]
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977–1988)[edit]
The hecatoncheires (hundred handed one) appeared in the first edition AD&D Deities & Demigods (1980).[3]
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989–1999)[edit]
The hecatoncheires appeared in second edition AD&D in Legends & Lore (1990).
Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition (2000-2007)[edit]
The hecatoncheires appeared in Epic Level Handbook (2002).
Description[edit]
Like in mythology, the hecatoncheires were presented as giants with one-hundred arms and fifty heads in early editions. They also had the ablity to throw a whole "barrage of boulders" at their enemies.[4] In later editions their description was changed to "abominations that are formed from the fusion of one-hundred beings."[1] In another version they were reduced in power, appearing as "a mere four-armed giant".[4]
Reception[edit]
Screen Rant contributor Scott Baird compiled a list of the game's "10 Most Powerful (And 10 Weakest) Monsters, Ranked" in 2018, calling this one of the strongest.[1]
Baird's colleague Marley King recommended the hecatoncheires for Dungeons Masters to pit against high-level parties as a monster that is not "too cliché". He commented - aside from the monsters many attacks, and high perception - it got was given "incredible martial prowess" in the game, hearkening back to the importance of skill in battle in the culture it was taken from.[5]
Reviewer Nicholas Montegriffo from The Gamer counted the hecatoncheires among the "15 most powerful monsters from D&D history" and called them "worthy foes for epic heroes". He found the down-scaling of offensively useable arms sad.[4]
Likewise, CBR contributor Jonathan H. Kantor listed the hecatoncheires among the deadliest monsters of D&D and all of fantasy.[6]
References[edit]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 Baird, Scott (May 20, 2018). "Dungeons & Dragons: 10 Most Powerful (And 10 Weakest) Monsters, Ranked". ScreenRant. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ↑ Kuntz, Robert J. and James Ward. Gods, Demi-gods & Heroes (TSR, 1976)
- ↑ Ward, James and Robert Kuntz. Deities and Demigods (TSR, 1980)
- ↑ 4.0 4.1 4.2 Montegriffo, Nicholas (December 25, 2020). "Dungeons And Dragons: The 15 Most Powerful Monsters From D&D History". The Gamer. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ↑ King, Marley (December 1, 2021). "Best D&D Monsters For High-Level Parties That Aren't Too Cliché". ScreenRant. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
- ↑ Kantor, Jonathan H. (October 10, 2018). "13 Most Powerful D&D Monsters (And 12 Weakest)". ScreenRant. Retrieved February 21, 2022.
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