Worg (Dungeons & Dragons)

Infobox D&D creature
name=Worg
alignment=
type=Magical beast
subtype=
source=
first=
mythical=Worg
based=
wizards_image_URL=http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/MM35_gallery/MM35_PG257.jpg
OGL_stats_URL=http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/monstersTtoZ.html#worg

In the "Dungeons & Dragons" fantasy roleplaying game, the worg is a wolf-like magical beast.

Publication history

The worg was introduced to the D&D game in the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.

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

The dire wolf (worg) appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977), under the wolf entry. [Gygax, Gary. "Monster Manual" (TSR, 1977)]

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

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

Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)

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

The young worg appears in the module "Barrow of the Forgotten King" (2007).

Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)

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

Description

The worg is a larger, more intelligent, and demonic version of the wolf. It resembles a normal wolf, but is larger, and has a fiendish, demonic countenance and glowing eyes.

Worgs, despite the higher intelligence and demonic traits, tend to act, for the most part, like regular wolves. They stalk around in dark forests and gloomy plains, hunting in packs (though they are also sometimes solitary). Lone worgs tend to hunt creatures smaller than themselves, while packs hunt large game. They attack with their teeth, and also have the benefit of stealth and keen senses. Worgs bring gloom and menacingness wherever they go, and are said to have connections with demons.

Worgs are sometimes enslaved by orcs, goblins, and other such creatures to act as mounts, and as attack dogs. Sometimes they are specifically bred for these purposes.

Worgs, unlike most animalistic creatures, can speak. They can speak both Common and Goblin, as well as a language of their own.

They are neutral evil in alignment.

References