In the Dungeons & Dragons

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...

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 nymph is a Fey

Fey (Dungeons & Dragons)

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, Fey is a type of creature, or "creature type". Fey are usually humanoid in form, and are typified as having supernatural abilities and a connection to nature or to some other force or place....

. Nature's embodiment of physical beauty, they are so unbearably lovely that even a glimpse can blind or kill onlookers. They are based on the nymph

Nymph

A nymph in Greek mythology is a female minor nature deity typically associated with a particular location or landform. Different from gods, nymphs are generally regarded as divine spirits who animate nature, and are usually depicted as beautiful, young nubile maidens who love to dance and sing;...

s of Greek mythology

Greek mythology

Greek mythology is the body of myths and legends belonging to the ancient Greeks, concerning their gods and heroes, the nature of the world, and the origins and significance of their own cult and ritual practices. They were a part of religion in ancient Greece...

.

Publication history

The nymph first appeared in the original Blackmoor

Blackmoor (supplement)

Blackmoor is a supplementary rulebook for the original edition of the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game written by Dave Arneson...

supplement (1975).

The nymph appeared in the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons in the original Monster Manual

Monster 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...

(1977).

The nymph appeared in the second edition in the Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1989), and reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993). The grain nymph appeared for the Dragonlance

Dragonlance

Dragonlance is a shared universe created by Laura and Tracy Hickman, and expanded by Tracy Hickman and Margaret Weis under the direction of TSR, Inc. into a series of popular fantasy novels. The Hickmans conceived Dragonlance while driving in their car on the way to TSR for a job application...

 setting in the Taladas: The Minotaurs set (1991). The nymph was further detailed in Dragon

Dragon

A dragon is a legendary creature, typically with serpentine or reptilian traits, that feature in the myths of many cultures. There are two distinct cultural traditions of dragons: the European dragon, derived from European folk traditions and ultimately related to Greek and Middle Eastern...

#240 (October 1997). The grain nymph and the unseelie nymph appeared in Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Four (1998).

The nymph appeared in the third edition Monster Manual

Monster 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...

(2000), and in the 3.5 revised Monster Manual (2003). The nymph (apsara) 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 nymph appeared in the fourth edition in Monster Manual 3 (2010).

Physical description

Nymphs resemble elven women, but are unfathomably perfect and beautiful. They are so physically attractive, in fact, that the slightest glance can stun a person, drive them mad, permanently blind them, or even kill them. Nymphs are able to suppress this effect if they choose to, however.

Society

Little official has been said about the society of nymphs. They prefer attractive aquatic environments, such as a secluded cove or sandy beach, and are mostly solitary, though sometimes live in groups. They might assist a group of adventurers, or have a love affair with a man who wanders into their midst, but there is little contact between them and civilization otherwise (this is typical for a fey). Nymphs absolutely hate ugliness and evil.