Spectre (Dungeons & Dragons)

Infobox D&D creature
name=Spectre
alignment=lawful evil
type=Undead
subtype=
source=
first=
mythical=
based=
wizards_image_URL=http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/MM35_gallery/MM35_PG232.jpg
OGL_stats_URL=http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/monstersS.html#spectre

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, the spectre is an undead creature.

Publication history

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

Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1976)

The spectre was one of the first monsters introduced in the earliest edition of the game, in the Dungeons & Dragons "white box" set (1974), where they were described as having no corporeal body and being able to drain life energy levels. [Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson. "Dungeons & Dragons" (3-Volume Set) (TSR, 1974)]

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

The spectre appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977), [Gygax, Gary. "Monster Manual" (TSR, 1977)] where it is described as a powerful undead human that haunts the most desolate of places, such as tombs and dungeons, and drains the life energy of opponents.

Dungeons & Dragons (1977-1999)

This edition of the D&D game included its own version of the spectre, in the "Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set" (1977), [Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson [1974] , edited by J. Eric Holmes. "Dungeons & Dragons Basic Set" (TSR, 1977)] and "Expert Set" (1981 & 1983). [Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson [1974] , edited by Dave Cook. "Dungeons & Dragons Expert Set" (TSR, 1981)] [Gygax, Gary, and Dave Arneson [1974] , edited by Frank Mentzer. "Dungeons & Dragons Set 2: Expert Rules" (TSR, 1983)] The spectre was 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)] and the "Classic Dungeons & Dragons Game" set (1994).

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

The spectre 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 spectre undead dragon appears in "Dragon" #234 (October 1996).

Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)

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

Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)

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

Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)

The spectre appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008). [Mearls, Mike, Stephen Schubert, and James Wyatt. "Monster Manual" (Wizards of the Coast, 2008)]

Description

A spectre is an incorporeal creature that resembles a ghost, with a hatred for all living things. A spectre drains the life energy from living creatures, turning them into new spectres upon death. A spectre is powerless in natural sunlight and flees from it. A spectre is always lawful evil. A spectre appears as a humanoid, but with a mostly transparent and faintly luminous form. A spectre looks much as it did in life, and can be recognized by someone who knows what the person looked like.

References