Naga (Dungeons & Dragons)
Encyclopedia
In the Dungeons & Dragons
role-playing game
, nagas comprise a variety of similar species of intelligent aberrations
with widely differing abilities and alignments
. Nagas appear as large snake like creatures with humanoid heads. They often range widely in coloring and scale patterns, but are all usually about the same size. Most will 'stand' at a height about equal to or just above that of a regular human (six feet or so), but because of the length of their trailing tails they can raise themselves up by a few feet, to intimidate foes, or simply get a better view. The four most common races of naga are the dark naga, guardian naga, spirit naga, and water naga.
, The Strategic Review #3, August 1975.
The naga also appeared in Supplement IV: Gods, Demi-gods & Heroes
(1976).
The dark naga first appeared among several new creatures in the "Creature Catalog" insert in Dragon
#89 (September 1984).
(1977), and Expert Set
(1981 & 1983). The naga 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).
The dark naga appeared in the Anauroch
supplement (1991) for the Forgotten Realms
campaign setting
, and in Monstrous Compendium Forgotten Realms Appendix II (1991). The dark naga then appeared in the revised Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (1993), and the Monstrous Manual (1993). The dark naga is further detailed in Dragon
#261 (July 1999), in "The Ecology of the Dark Naga."
The banelar, a relative of the naga for the Forgotten Realms setting first appeared in Dragon
#197 (September 1993), and later appeared in Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994). The bone naga first appeared in The Ruins of Myth Drannor
(1993), and later appeared in Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994).
The banelar appeared in Monstrous Compendium
: Monsters of Faerun (2001).
The asp Shinomen naga, the chameleon Shinomen naga, the cobra Shinomen naga, the constrictor Shinomen naga, and the greensnake Shinomen naga appeared in Oriental Adventures
(2001).
The ha-naga is introduced in the Epic Level Handbook
(2002). The bone naga appeared in Monster Manual II (2002). The bright naga appears in the Miniatures Handbook (2003).
The bone naga template for the Forgotten Realms setting appeared in Serpent Kingdoms (2004), including the bone naga dark naga sample creature. Also appearing in this book are the banelar naga, the faerunian ha-naga, the iridescent naga, and the nagahydra.
The worm naga appeared in the adventure "The Spire of Long Shadows" in Dungeon
#130 (January 2006).
According to "The Ecology of the Dark Naga", the guardian, spirit and water nagas are "true" nagas, while the dark naga (and its undead counterpart the bone naga) merely resemble them. The article does not mention the other types of naga.
and her son Parrafaire
, except for dark nagas, who venerate Sess'Innek
.
campaign setting, the nagas of the Shinomen Forest are an ancient race of noble creatures. These nagas have humanoid torsos and snake tails. Five bloodlines are known to exist: asp, chameleon, cobra, constrictor, and greensnake.
campaign setting
, nagas were created by the reptilian creator race, the sarrukh
, along with yuan-ti
. The banelar and iridescent nagas originated in the Realms, as well as a Faerûnian version of the ha-naga.
Dungeons & Dragons
Dungeons & Dragons is a fantasy role-playing game originally designed by Gary Gygax and Dave Arneson, and first published in 1974 by Tactical Studies Rules, Inc. . The game has been published by Wizards of the Coast since 1997...
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...
, nagas comprise a variety of similar species of intelligent aberrations
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....
with widely differing abilities and alignments
Alignment (role-playing games)
In some role-playing games, alignment is a categorisation of the moral and ethical perspective of the player characters, non-player characters, monsters, and societies in the game....
. Nagas appear as large snake like creatures with humanoid heads. They often range widely in coloring and scale patterns, but are all usually about the same size. Most will 'stand' at a height about equal to or just above that of a regular human (six feet or so), but because of the length of their trailing tails they can raise themselves up by a few feet, to intimidate foes, or simply get a better view. The four most common races of naga are the dark naga, guardian naga, spirit naga, and water naga.
Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1976)
The guardian naga, the spirit naga, and the water naga first appeared in the official newsletter of TSR GamesTSR, Inc.
Blume and Gygax, the remaining owners, incorporated a new company called TSR Hobbies, Inc., with Blume and his father, Melvin Blume, owning the larger share. The former assets of the partnership were transferred to TSR Hobbies, Inc....
, The Strategic Review #3, August 1975.
The naga also appeared in Supplement IV: Gods, Demi-gods & Heroes
Gods, Demi-gods & Heroes
Gods, Demi-Gods & Heroes is a supplementary rulebook for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Contents:The work provides information on the pantheons and constructs of the Egyptian, Hindu, Greek, Celtic, Norse, Finnish, Aztec, Mayan, Chinese, and Japanese mythologies, as well as...
(1976).
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)
The guardian naga, the spirit naga, and the water naga appear in the first edition Monster Manual (1977)..The dark naga first appeared among several new creatures in the "Creature Catalog" insert in Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#89 (September 1984).
Dungeons & Dragons (1977-1999)
This edition of the D&D game included its own version of the naga, in the Dungeons & Dragons Basic SetDungeons & Dragons Basic Set
The original Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set boxed set was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1977, and comprised a separate edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, distinct from the first edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons game, which was initially published in the same...
(1977), and Expert Set
Dungeons & Dragons Expert Set
The Expert Set is an expansion boxed set for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. It was first published in 1981 as an expansion to the Basic Set.-1981 printing:The D&D Basic Set saw a major revision in 1981 by Tom Moldvay...
(1981 & 1983). The naga was also later featured in the Dungeons & Dragons Game
Dungeons & Dragons Game (1991 boxed set)
The New Easy to Master Dungeons & Dragons Game is an accessory for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1991....
set (1991), the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991), and the Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game set (1994).
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)
The guardian naga, the spirit naga, and the water naga appear first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989), and are reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).The dark naga appeared in the Anauroch
Anauroch (accessory)
Anauroch is an accessory for the fictional Forgotten Realms campaign setting for the second edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. The book, with product code TSR 9320, was published in 1991, and was written by Ed Greenwood, with cover art by Brom and interior art by...
supplement (1991) for the Forgotten Realms
Forgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
, and in Monstrous Compendium Forgotten Realms Appendix II (1991). The dark naga then appeared in the revised Forgotten Realms Campaign Setting (1993), and the Monstrous Manual (1993). The dark naga is further detailed in Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#261 (July 1999), in "The Ecology of the Dark Naga."
The banelar, a relative of the naga for the Forgotten Realms setting first appeared in Dragon
Dragon (magazine)
Dragon is one of the two official magazines for source material for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game and associated products, the other being Dungeon. TSR, Inc. originally launched the monthly printed magazine in 1976 to succeed the company's earlier publication, The Strategic Review. The...
#197 (September 1993), and later appeared in Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994). The bone naga first appeared in The Ruins of Myth Drannor
The Ruins of Myth Drannor
The Ruins of Myth Drannor is an accessory for the 2nd edition of the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, published in 1993....
(1993), and later appeared in Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994).
Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)
The dark naga, the guardian naga, the spirit naga, and the water naga appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000).The banelar appeared in Monstrous Compendium
Monstrous Compendium
The Monstrous Compendium is a series of accessories for the Advanced Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Volumes:MC1 Monstrous Compendium, Volume One was published by TSR in 1989...
: Monsters of Faerun (2001).
The asp Shinomen naga, the chameleon Shinomen naga, the cobra Shinomen naga, the constrictor Shinomen naga, and the greensnake Shinomen naga appeared in Oriental Adventures
Oriental Adventures
Oriental Adventures is the title shared by two hardback rulebooks published for different versions of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game...
(2001).
The ha-naga is introduced in the Epic Level Handbook
Epic Level Handbook
The Epic Level Handbook is a rulebook by Wizards of the Coast for the 3rd edition of Dungeons & Dragons.-Contents:This books contained rules for Dungeons & Dragons 3rd edition characters to attain levels above 20, the limit in the core rulebooks...
(2002). The bone naga appeared in Monster Manual II (2002). The bright naga appears in the Miniatures Handbook (2003).
Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)
The dark naga, the guardian naga, the spirit naga, and the water naga appears in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003).The bone naga template for the Forgotten Realms setting appeared in Serpent Kingdoms (2004), including the bone naga dark naga sample creature. Also appearing in this book are the banelar naga, the faerunian ha-naga, the iridescent naga, and the nagahydra.
The worm naga appeared in the adventure "The Spire of Long Shadows" in Dungeon
Dungeon (magazine)
Dungeon Adventures, or simply Dungeon, was a magazine targeting consumers of role-playing games, particularly Dungeons & Dragons. It was first published by TSR, Inc. in 1986 as a bimonthly periodical. It went monthly in May 2003 and ceased print publication altogether in September 2007 with Issue 150...
#130 (January 2006).
Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)
The naga appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008).Description
Nagas, resembling giant snakes, vary in appearance. Some have humanoid heads and some are more snake-like, and the torso may or may not be covered in scales. Each type of naga has a certain amount of spell casting power.Types
- Banelar Naga http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/mof_gallery/MonFaePG18.jpg - purplish naga that can manipulate magic items with short tentacles around its face; named after their association with the deity Bane
- Bone Naga http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/mm2_gallery/88268_620_10.jpg - a unique type of undeadUndead (Dungeons & Dragons)In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, undead is a classification of monsters that can be encountered by player characters. Undead creatures are most often once-living creatures, which have been animated by spiritual or supernatural forces....
naga - Bone Naga Template http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/sk_gallery/82343.jpg - can be applied to any naga to create an undead creature
- Bright Naga http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/mhbk_gallery/76977_CN.jpg - chaotic evil naga that can mock sorcerous spellcasting
- Brine Naga - powerful naga that resembles a sea serpent
- Dark Naga - lawful evil
- Guardian Naga - lawful good
- Ha-naga http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/EPIC_Gallery/Gallery5a/44198_C5_Ha-Naga.jpg - a massive and powerful naga lord, often worshipped by spirit nagas as a god
- Iridescent Naga http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/sk_gallery/82345.jpg - chaotic good
- Master Naga - Possesses seven cowled heads, wearing giant gems whose value corresponds with the naga's age.
- Spirit Naga - chaotic evil
- Water Naga - neutral
- Worm Naga - powerful servants of the deity Kyuss transformed into nagas
According to "The Ecology of the Dark Naga", the guardian, spirit and water nagas are "true" nagas, while the dark naga (and its undead counterpart the bone naga) merely resemble them. The article does not mention the other types of naga.
Society
Most nagas worship the naga creator goddess ShekinesterShekinester
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Shekinester is the threefold deity of the nagas. She can appear as the aspect of spirit nagas, water nagas, and guardian nagas...
and her son Parrafaire
Parrafaire
In many campaign settings for the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Parrafaire is the naga deity of guardianship. He guards magical secrets and hidden places underground...
, except for dark nagas, who venerate Sess'Innek
Sess'innek
In the Dungeons & Dragons role-playing game, Sess'Innek is a tanar'ri lord that is worshipped by the lizard kings as a deity of Civilization and Dominion...
.
Shinomen nagas
In the RokuganRokugan
Rokugan is the fictional empire which is the main power in the Legend of the Five Rings setting, the basis for the Legend of the Five Rings Collectible Card Game, Legend of the Five Rings Role-Playing Game, the board game Art of War and the now out of print Clan War Miniatures game, all from...
campaign setting, the nagas of the Shinomen Forest are an ancient race of noble creatures. These nagas have humanoid torsos and snake tails. Five bloodlines are known to exist: asp, chameleon, cobra, constrictor, and greensnake.
Nagas in the Forgotten Realms
In the Forgotten RealmsForgotten Realms
The Forgotten Realms is a campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. Commonly referred to by players and game designers alike as "The Realms", it was created by game designer Ed Greenwood around 1967 as a setting for his childhood stories...
campaign setting
Campaign setting
A campaign setting is usually a fictional world which serves as a setting for a role-playing game or wargame campaign. A campaign is a series of individual adventures, and a campaign setting is the world in which such adventures and campaigns take place...
, nagas were created by the reptilian creator race, the sarrukh
Sarrukh
Within the Forgotten Realms setting of the game Dungeons & Dragons, the sarrukh are a race of reptilian humanoids. They are one of the five progenitor races, or Creator Races, of Faerûn. Eons prior to the current storyline of Dungeons & Dragons, they built and maintained empires across most of the...
, along with yuan-ti
Yuan-ti
The yuan-ti are a fictional species of evil snakemen in the role-playing game Dungeons & Dragons. The species comprises a number of castes. In some campaign settings, the yuan-ti are descended from evil human cultists who mixed their bloodlines with those of serpents...
. The banelar and iridescent nagas originated in the Realms, as well as a Faerûnian version of the ha-naga.
Related creatures
- Nagahydra - Five-headed abomination combining features of nagas and hydrasHydra (Dungeons & Dragons)In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, the hydra is a reptilian magical beast that has anywhere from five to twelve heads.-Dungeons & Dragons :...
.