AD&D 2nd Edition: Monstrous Manual Quiz

Answer: lightning

A cone of fire is the breath weapon of the red dragon. A cone of frost is the breath weapon of the arctic-dwelling white dragon. A stream of acid is the breath weapon of the swamp-dwelling black dragon.

Answer: pit fiend

Because gold dragons are of lawful good alignment, they would not ally themselves with a being of chaotic or evil alignment. The Monstrous Manual specifically notes that gold dragons often have loyal guards protecting their lairs that are either animals appropriate to the terrain, storm giants, or good-aligned cloud giants.

Answer: elemental

The neutral 'gem' dragons consist of the amethyst, crystal, emerald, sapphire, and topaz dragons. The good 'metallic' dragons consist of the brass, bronze, copper, gold, and silver dragons. The evil 'chromatic' dragons consist of the black, blue, green, red, and white dragons.

Answer: storm giant

The extremely powerful storm giants tower over mankind, having an average height of 26 feet. Fire and stone giants are mid-sized races, both having an average height of 18 feet. Wood giants (also known as voadkyn) are one of the smallest races with an average height of 9.5 feet.

Answer: immersing the vampire in running water

This is a bit of a 'trick' question. The Monstrous Manual states that immersing a vampire in running water will cause the vampire to lose one-third of its hit points each round, until it is destroyed on the third round of immersion. The Manual notes that driving a wooden stake through a vampire's heart (in and of itself) will not destroy the vampire, as removal of the stake will restore the vampire to 'unlife.' In this case, the vampire's head must also be cut off and stuffed with holy wafers.

A 'continual light' spell would be irritating to a vampire, but only direct sunlight can destroy a vampire. A cleric of sufficient level can use his/her holy symbol to 'turn' the vampire away, but not to destroy it.

Answer: False

Although the phoenix is listed as 'very rare' in the Manual, there are more than one such creatures in existence. Native to the plane of Elysium, a phoenix can be summoned to the Prime Material Plane by use of the 6th-level priest spell, 'call phoenix.' The details of this spell are included in the Monstrous Manual.

Answer: casting a 'cure disease' spell upon the green slime

The Monstrous Manual notes that a 'cure disease' spell will kill green slime, but that other attacks (including weapons and spells) have no effect.

Answer: 20%

The Manual states that magical items have a chance of being unaffected that is equal to 10% for each plus of the item. Thus, a +2 sword would have a 20% chance of being unaffected.

Answer: griffon

The half-eagle, half-lion griffon is a ferocious carnivore that preys upon horses and their kin (hippogriffs, pegasi, and unicorns). As such, they should be avoided by mounted parties that are travelling through the wilderness. Hippogriffs are omnivorous half-eagle, half-horse creatures that will 'feed on whatever is available, whether greenery, fruits, or wildlife.' Similarly, the Manual notes that ogres 'will eat anything.' Winged snakes are not even carnivorous, feeding only upon tropical fruits.

Answer: its touch will drain 2 'energy' levels from its victim

Although many types of undead can drain life energy levels by touching their victims, the ghost is not one of them. Undead creatures that can drain energy levels include vampires, spectres, wights, and wraiths.