Margoyles

[Scott]

In both the S4 and MM II illustrations, the margoyles don't appear to have wings, but they fly. So would binding them with, say a rope of entanglement, prevent them from flying?

[geneweigel]

From the E. Gary Gygax article "WHY GARGOYLES DON'T HAVE WINGS BUT SHOULD" POLYHEDRON #21 (JAN 1985):

So, have you ever noticed that while gargoyles can fly, according to the stats in the AD&D® Monster Manual, the illustration shows the critter sans aerial appendages? (Don't try to tell me those dark shadows are wings!) Sure you have, and I am not too pleased about it either, What the heck , it's an older work, and such mistakes will happen. Hey! Wait a minute! I just took a gander at the nasty Margoyle. It has
great spikes, but no wings either? What the heck is going on, anyway? I screwed up the name, spelling it correctly on the heading as MARLGOYLE, but then laziness set in, for twice in the text I dropped the bloody L, so now we have an (incorrect) MARGOYLE but what about its wings? MM II is a superior work, in my opinion, and I do hope that some future edition will show nice leathery wings on both the gargoyle and its cousin, the mar(l)goyle!

[Scott]

Thanks Gene.

[geneweigel]

As an interesting aside I have both official Gygax era TSR minis of gargoyles:

1980 Grenadier: 5002 Monsters www.dndlead.com/Grenadier/5000s.htm#thumb

1983 TSR 5306 Basic Figure Set www.dndlead.com/TSR/boxed-sets.htm#thumb

And they both have wings.

Also as an aside the 1983 TSR gargoyle is mounted on the same wall as the Spider-man from the MARVEL SUPERHEROES boxed set. Some of the blister carded minis in the 1983 series were not distributed as much as the boxed sets (which I have all of even Dragonlance, Conan and Star Frontiers) and my friend Henry got a bunch off Ebay a few years ago and the ogre was a miniature replica of the statue-like rubber toy. That I thought was cool although I don't think he is going to open it.

[GRWelsh]

Gene is like a Gygax-Era D&D Trivia Genie.

"Here's the answer. And -- " POOF! "Here are some examples. And -- " POOF! "Here is some associated trivia that may be of interest to you."

[geneweigel]

<<<SPOILER WARNING >>>

I almost forgot the mutant gargoyle from S1 TOMB OF HORRORS (1978) has wings too. In area #8 GARGOYLE LAIR and then there is a statue of a mutant in area #11 THE THREE ARMED STATUE:

[GRWelsh]

I've always loved the cover artwork for the Grenadier boxed sets, especially "Dungeon Explorers" and "Woodland Adventurers." It's not the greatest artwork but it really captures the D&D atmosphere.

[geneweigel]

Dec 5, 2013 11:28:47 GMT -5 GRWelsh said:

I've always loved the cover artwork for the Grenadier boxed sets, especially "Dungeon Explorers" and "Woodland Adventurers." It's not the greatest artwork but it really captures the D&D atmosphere.

It blows that I threw out all the boxes to fit them all into a nuts and bolts organizer and retained the non-D&D or later ones (90's) that I didn't use in a box. I could go into details but use your imagination...

"He's got empty boxes taking up half the apartment!" etc...

Yeah, they are definitely atmospheric. They should be made into posters.

On that note, its weird that my father was so medieval in what he had around him and I never appreciated it because he was such an asshole. Top that off with my addled brother selling everything that wasn't nailed down and its quite a loss, never mind those AD&D boxes, I could have easily furnished my dungeon with half his shit.

[Scott]

I thought the orcs from the 83 monster tribes box set really captured what I thought was the AD&D orc look.

[geneweigel]

The orc officer is crudely made but its one of my all time favorites as well as the other three because they capture the snout without making them look like pigs.