Grick
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons and Dragons fantasy
Fantasy
Fantasy is a genre of fiction that commonly uses magic and other supernatural phenomena as a primary element of plot, theme, or setting. Many works within the genre take place in imaginary worlds where magic is common...
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...
, the grick is an aberration
Aberration (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, aberration is a type of creature, or "creature type". Aberrations generally all have bizarre anatomies, strange abilities, alien mindsets, or any combination thereof....
. A grick resembles a large (roughly 8 feet long), darkly colored worm or snake-like creature. Its beak is ringed by four barbed tentacles, which are its main weapons.
Description
Within the game, gricks live underground predators which make their hunting grounds where prey is abundant, using their dark coloration to blend into shadowed areas. When prey comes near, it lashes out with its tentacles. Due to the weakness of its jaws compared to the rest of its body, it prefers to drag ensnared prey back to its lair to be consumed at its own leisure rather than to immediately eat it. The grick's rubbery hide can absorb most blows from an attacker, but the beak, however, is a weak spot, as are the tips of the tentacles.Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2003)
The grick makes its first appearance in the Monster ManualMonster Manual
The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...
for this edition (2000).
Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2008)
The grick appears again in the revised 3.5 Monster ManualMonster Manual
The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...
(2003). Additional information about gricks was later made available on Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast
Wizards of the Coast is an American publisher of games, primarily based on fantasy and science fiction themes, and formerly an operator of retail stores for games...
's website.
A more powerful version of the grick appears in the online
ONLINE
ONLINE is a magazine for information systems first published in 1977. The publisher Online, Inc. was founded the year before. In May 2002, Information Today, Inc. acquired the assets of Online Inc....
article, Perilous Gateways: Portals of the Moonstars.
Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)
The grick and the grick alpha appear in the Monster ManualMonster Manual
The Monster Manual is the primary bestiary sourcebook for monsters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It includes monsters derived from mythology, and folklore, as well as creatures created for D&D specifically...
for this edition (2008).
Miniatures
The grick appears as a Common miniature in the Giants of Legend set for the Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures GameDungeons & Dragons Miniatures Game
The Dungeons & Dragons Miniatures Game is a collectible miniatures game played with pre-painted, plastic miniature figures based on characters and monsters from the Dungeons & Dragons game. The figures are 30mm in scale...
. Another, different grick miniature was later released in the Dungeons of Dread set. The Dungeons of Dread miniature is blue, as opposed to the green coloration of the first one.
Licensing
The grick appears in the System Reference DocumentSystem Reference Document
The System Reference Document, or SRD, is a set of reference role playing game mechanics licensed under the Open Game License by Wizards of the Coast and based upon their Dungeons and Dragons role-playing game. The SRD forms the basis of WotC's various d20 System role-playing games, including the...
for use with the Open Game License. Both the grick and grick alpha are in the System Reference Document for the Game System License
Game System License
The 4th edition Game System License was released to the public on June 17, 2008. This license is similar to, but more restrictive than, the Open Game License that was created for 3rd edition of Dungeons & Dragons...
.