Bugbear (Dungeons & Dragons)

articleissues
synthesis = April 2008
context = April 2008DD-in-universe

Infobox D&D creature
name=Bugbear
alignment=Chaotic Evil
type=Humanoid
subtype=Goblinoid
source=
first=Monster Manual (1977)
mythical=Bugbear
based=
wizards_image_URL=http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/MM35_gallery/MM35_PG29.jpg
OGL_stats_URL=http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/monstersBtoC.html#bugbear

In the "Dungeons & Dragons" role-playing game, a bugbear is a massive humanoid distantly related to goblins and hobgoblins. Named for the bugbear of legend, the bugbears of "Dungeons & Dragons" are goblinoid creatures, larger and stronger than hobgoblins. They speak Goblin.

Publication history

The bugbear was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the D&D game.

Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1976)

The bugbear was introduced to the game in its first supplement, "Greyhawk" (1975). [Gygax, Gary and Robert Kuntz. "" (TSR, 1975)] They are described as great hairy goblin-giants.

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)

The bugbear appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977), [Gygax, Gary. "Monster Manual" (TSR, 1977)] where it is described as a larger cousin of the goblin.

Dungeons & Dragons (1977-1999)

This edition of the D&D game included its own version of the bugbear, in the "Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set" (1977, 1981, 1983). [Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson [1974] , edited by J. Eric Holmes. "Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set" (TSR, 1977)] [Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson [1974] , edited by Tom Moldvay. "Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set" (TSR, 1981)] [Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson [1974] , edited by Frank Mentzer. "Dungeons & Dragons Set 1: Basic Rules" (TSR, 1983)] The bugbear was featured as a player character race in the "Orcs of Thar" gazetteer (1989). Bugbears were also later featured in the "Dungeons & Dragons Game" set (1991), the "Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia" (1991), [Schend, Steven E., Jon Pickens, and Dori Warty (Editors). "Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia" (TSR, 1991)] the "Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game" set (1994), and the "Dungeons & Dragons Adventure Game" set (1999 & 2000).

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)

The bugbear appears first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume One (1989), [Cook, David, et al. "Monstrous Compendium Volume One" (TSR, 1989)] and is reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993). [Stewart, Doug, ed. "Monstrous Manual" (TSR, 1993)]

The bugbear of the Dragonlance campaign setting appeared in the "Tales of the Lance" boxed set, in the "World Book of Ansalon" booklet (1992).

The bugbear is detailed as a playable character race in "The Complete Book of Humanoids" (1993). [Slavicsek, Bill. "The Complete Book of Humanoids" (TSR, 1993)] The bugbear is later presented as a playable character race again in "Player's Option: Skills & Powers" (1995).

Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)

The bugbear appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000). [Cook, Monte, Jonathan Tweet, and Skip Williams. "Monster Manual" (Wizards of the Coast, 2000)]

The reptilian bugbear appeared in "Savage Species" (2003). [Eckelberry, David, Rich Redman, and Jennifer Clarke Wilkes. "Savage Species" (Wizards of the Coast, 2003)]

"Races of Faerûn" (2003) presented the bugbear as a player character race for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting. [Reynolds, Sean K., Forbeck, Matt, Jacobs, James, Boyd, Erik L. "Races of Faerûn" (Wizards of the Coast, 2003)] The chameleon bugbear appears in "Underdark" (2003).

Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)

The bugbear appears in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003).

The bugbear overseer and bugbear stonejack goblinoids appeared in "Drow of the Underdark" (2007).

Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)

The bugbear appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008), under the goblin entry, including the bugbear warrior and the bugbear strangler. [Mearls, Mike, Stephen Schubert, and James Wyatt. "Monster Manual" (Wizards of the Coast, 2008)]

Physical description

Bugbears resemble hairy, feral goblins standing seven feet tall. They take their name from their noses and claws, which are similar to those of bears. Their claws are not long and sharp enough to be used as weapons, so bugbears often armor and arm themselves with a variety of purloined gear. Most often, this gear is second-rate and in poor repair. Bugbears tend to be Chaotic Evil in alignment, favoring the Rogue class.

ociety

Bugbears have their own pantheon, led by Hruggek. They live a life based around survival and often become rogues. Bugbears also make excellent barbarians. They tend to be sound military tacticians and individuals are highly intelligent, though immoral.

Bugbears in other media

Bugbears were one of the monsters in ', "Temple of Elemental Evil", "Icewind Dale", "Icewind Dale 2" as well as in '

A bugbear appears in the D&D Miniatures: Dragoneye set #46 (2004).

References