Troglodyte (Dungeons & Dragons)
Encyclopedia
The troglodytes is a fictional race of primitive reptilian humanoids
in the Dungeons & Dragons
fantasy
role-playing game
.
that dwells in subterranean places, loathes humans and slaughters all it encounters.
Troglodytes play an important role in the module Against the Cult of the Reptile God
(1982).
(1977, 1981, 1983). The troglodyte was also later featured in the Dungeons & Dragons Game
set (1991), the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991), the Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game set (1994), and the Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game set (1999).
The troglodyte was detailed in Dragon
#235 (November 1996), in the "Ecology of the Troglodyte".
The troglodyte was one of the humanoid races presented as player character races in Dragon #265 (November 1999).
The troglodyte was presented as a player character race for the Forgotten Realms
campaign setting
in Serpent Kingdoms (2004).
Dungeon
#122 (May 2005) introduced a number of troglodyte variants, including the antennae troglodyte, the clawed troglodyte, the climbing troglodyte, the flailing troglodyte, the horned troglodyte, the jumping troglodyte, the tentacled troglodyte, and the vicious troglodyte.
, with spindly but muscular arms and squat legs. It also has some lizardman
-like traits with a reptilian head and forearms, a spinal crest, and a long, slender tail.
A troglodyte is usually chaotic evil in alignment; they are considered mostly hostile towards humans and other races.
Troglodytes primarily worship their patron, a disgusting toad-lizard called Laogzed
. Some worship Ogrémoch
, prince of evil earth creatures. In ancient times, many worshiped Demogorgon
.
Troglodytes carry a repulsive odor which causes harm to those around them.
The spoken troglodyte language is apparently derived from a simplified version of the lizardfolk
tongue, but this is accompanied by a vast, full vocabulary consisting of smells generated by troglodyte scent glands. This olfactory language was apparently their original means of communication, and they adopted words from the lizardfolk dialect of Draconic purely to make themselves comprehensible to outsiders. Their olfactory language takes precedence over all others.
before they were struck mad by the demon gods they worshiped. Some few secluded groups managed to hold on to some vestige of their civilization. Near modern Irongate, a group dominated the local Flan
tribes until the rise of the Flan kingdom of Ahlissa, when the Hradikar warriors of that land threatened the reptiles' rule. Rather than confronting the humans directly, the troglodytes put themselves into a magical sleep.
Humanoid (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, humanoid is a type of creature, or "creature type". Humanoids are any creature shaped generally like a human , of Small or Medium size, with few or no supernatural or extraordinary abilities...
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...
.
Publication history
The troglodyte was introduced to the D&D game in the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)
The troglodyte appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977), where it is described as a reptilian humanoidReptilian humanoid
Reptilian humanoids comprise a common motif in mythology, folklore, science fiction, fantasy, conspiracy theories, ufology, and cryptozoology.-Male:...
that dwells in subterranean places, loathes humans and slaughters all it encounters.
Troglodytes play an important role in the module Against the Cult of the Reptile God
Against the Cult of the Reptile God
Against the Cult of the Reptile God is an adventure module for the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game, set in the game's World of Greyhawk campaign setting.-Plot:...
(1982).
Dungeons & Dragons (1977-1999)
This edition of the D&D game included its own version of the troglodyte, 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, 1981, 1983). The troglodyte 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), the Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game set (1994), and the Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game set (1999).
Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)
The troglodyte appears first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989), and is reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).The troglodyte was 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...
#235 (November 1996), in the "Ecology of the Troglodyte".
The troglodyte was one of the humanoid races presented as player character races in Dragon #265 (November 1999).
Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)
The troglodyte appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000).Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)
The troglodyte appears in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003).The troglodyte was presented as a player character race 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...
in Serpent Kingdoms (2004).
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...
#122 (May 2005) introduced a number of troglodyte variants, including the antennae troglodyte, the clawed troglodyte, the climbing troglodyte, the flailing troglodyte, the horned troglodyte, the jumping troglodyte, the tentacled troglodyte, and the vicious troglodyte.
Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)
The troglodyte appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008). The troglodyte also appeared in the Monster Manual 2 (2009) and the Monster Vault (2010).Description
Troglodytes are described as being shorter than a humanHuman (Dungeons & Dragons)
Humans are a race available for player characters in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy roleplaying game. Although short-lived by comparison, humans are the most populous of all Dungeons & Dragons races. They are renowned for their diversity and ambition, and although they lack specializations like...
, with spindly but muscular arms and squat legs. It also has some lizardman
Lizardfolk
Lizardfolk are a fictional humanoid species in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Publication history:...
-like traits with a reptilian head and forearms, a spinal crest, and a long, slender tail.
A troglodyte is usually chaotic evil in alignment; they are considered mostly hostile towards humans and other races.
Troglodytes primarily worship their patron, a disgusting toad-lizard called Laogzed
Laogzed
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Laogzed is the deity worshipped by reptilian troglodyte race. Its symbol is an oozing toad-lizard, or a lizard's head. Laogzed's sacred animal is the toad.-Publishing history:...
. Some worship Ogrémoch
Ogrémoch
Ogrémoch is an archomental in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. His symbol is an equilateral triangle with short hash marks through each side...
, prince of evil earth creatures. In ancient times, many worshiped Demogorgon
Demogorgon (Dungeons & Dragons)
In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, Demogorgon is a powerful demon prince. He is known as the Prince of Demons, a self-proclaimed title he holds by virtue of his power and influence; which in turn, is a title acknowledged by both mortals and his fellow demons...
.
Troglodytes carry a repulsive odor which causes harm to those around them.
The spoken troglodyte language is apparently derived from a simplified version of the lizardfolk
Lizardfolk
Lizardfolk are a fictional humanoid species in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game.-Publication history:...
tongue, but this is accompanied by a vast, full vocabulary consisting of smells generated by troglodyte scent glands. This olfactory language was apparently their original means of communication, and they adopted words from the lizardfolk dialect of Draconic purely to make themselves comprehensible to outsiders. Their olfactory language takes precedence over all others.
Greyhawk
Thousands of years in the past, the ancestors of the troglodytes dominated much of the OerthOerth
In the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, Oerth, pronounced as "Orth" or "oyth", is the name of the fictional planet on which one of the earliest campaign settings, the World of Greyhawk, is located...
before they were struck mad by the demon gods they worshiped. Some few secluded groups managed to hold on to some vestige of their civilization. Near modern Irongate, a group dominated the local Flan
Flan (Greyhawk)
In the World of Greyhawk campaign setting for the Dungeons & Dragons roleplaying game, the Flan are a race of humans living in the Flanaess. The Flan peoples were the first humans known to have settled the eastern portion of the continent of Oerik, the Flanaess, which is named for them...
tribes until the rise of the Flan kingdom of Ahlissa, when the Hradikar warriors of that land threatened the reptiles' rule. Rather than confronting the humans directly, the troglodytes put themselves into a magical sleep.