Type Monstrous humanoid Mythological origins Harpy | Image Wizards.com image | |
Stats Open Game License stats | ||
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the harpy is a monstrous humanoid creature with the lower body, legs, and wings of a bird.
Contents
- Publication history
- Dungeons Dragons 1974 1976
- Advanced Dungeons Dragons 1st edition 1977 1988
- Dungeons Dragons 1977 1999
- Advanced Dungeons Dragons 2nd edition 1989 1999
- Dungeons Dragons 30 edition 2000 2002
- Dungeons Dragons 35 edition 2003 2007
- Dungeons Dragons 4th edition 2008 2014
- Description
- Other publishers
- References
Publication history
The harpy was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the D&D game.
Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1976)
The harpy was introduced to the game in its first supplement, Greyhawk (1975). It is described as having the lower body of an eagle and the upper body of a human female.
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)
The harpy appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977), where it is described as having the body of a vulture but the upper torso and head of woman. Their sweet-sounding calls were said to cause creatures to approach the harpy, who then tortures and devours them.
The harpy was detailed in a pair of articles in Dragon #115 (November 1986), in the "The Ecology of the Harpy: Songs of Beauty" and "The Ecology of the Harpy: Songs of Death."
Dungeons & Dragons (1977-1999)
This edition of the D&D game included its own version of the harpy, in the Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set (1977, 1981, 1983). The harpy appears as a player character class in Top Ballista in the "DM's booklet" (1989). The harpy was also later featured in the Dungeons & Dragons Game set (1991), the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991), and the Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game set (1994).
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)
The harpy appears first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1989), and is reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).
Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)
The harpy appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000).
Savage Species (2003) presented the harpy as both a race and a playable class.
Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)
The harpy appears in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003), along with the harpy archer.
Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-2014)
The harpy appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008). They are depicted with avian features instead of reptilian.
Description
A harpy is usually chaotic evil and usually solitary, though will sometimes take flight in small groups. A harpy's song captivates nearby creatures, causing them to walk directly into the harpy's clutches.
Other publishers
The harpy appeared in Paizo Publishing's book Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary (2009), on page 172. The harpy is fully detailed in Paizo Publishing's book Mythical Monsters Revisited (2012), on pages 22–27.