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{{Infobox D&D creature
⚫
#Redirect [[List of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition monsters]]
|image=[[Image:Gynosphinx.JPG|200px]]
|caption=A gynosphinx
|name=Sphinx
|alignment=
|type=[[Magical beast (Dungeons & Dragons)|Magical beast]]
|subtype=
|source=
|first=
|mythical=[[Sphinx]]
|based=
|wizards_image_URL=http://www.wizards.com/dnd/images/MM35_gallery/MM35_PG233.jpg
|OGL_stats_URL=http://www.systemreferencedocuments.org/35/sovelior_sage/monstersS.html#sphinx
}}

In the ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' [[fantasy]] [[role-playing game]] [[Sphinx]]es are a type of [[Magical beast (Dungeons & Dragons)|magical beast]]. The four most common subraces of '''sphinx''' are the androsphinx, criosphinx, gynosphinx, and hieracosphinx.

==Publication history==
The sphinx was one of the earliest creatures introduced in the D&D game.

===Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1976)===
The sphinx was introduced in the earliest edition of the game, in Supplement IV: ''[[Gods, Demi-gods & Heroes]]'' (1976).<ref>[[Robert J. Kuntz|Kuntz, Robert J.]] and [[James M. Ward|James Ward]]. ''[[Gods, Demi-gods & Heroes]]'' (TSR, 1976)</ref>

⚫
===Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)===
The sphinx appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977),<ref>[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]]. ''[[Monster Manual]]'' ([[TSR, Inc.|TSR]], 1977)</ref> which introduces the four main types: the '''androsphinx''', the '''criosphinx''', the '''gynosphinx''', and the '''hieracosphinx'''.

The '''luposphinx''' appears in "The Dragon's Bestiary" column in ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #119 (March 1987).<ref>Hankins, Lance. "The Dragon's Bestiary: A Walk Through the Woods" Dragon #119 (TSR, 1987)</ref>

===Dungeons & Dragons (1977-1999)===
This edition of the D&D game included its own version of the sphinx, in the ''[[Dungeons & Dragons Master Rules]]'' (1985), in the "Master DM's Book".<ref>[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]], [[Frank Mentzer]]. ''Dungeons & Dragons'' Set 4: Master Rules'' (TSR, 1985)</ref> It was also presented as a player character class in ''[[Top Ballista]]'' (1989) and later featured in the ''Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia'' (1991).<ref>[[Aaron Allston|Allston, Aaron]], [[Steven Schend|Steven E. Schend]], [[Jon Pickens]], and Dori Watry. ''[[Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia]]'' (TSR, 1991)</ref>

===Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)===
The androsphinx, criosphinx, gynosphinx, and hieracosphinx appear first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989),<ref>[[David "Zeb" Cook|Cook, David]], et al. ''Monstrous Compendium Volume Two'' ([[TSR, Inc.|TSR]], 1989)</ref> and are reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).<ref>Stewart, Doug, ed. ''Monstrous Manual'' (TSR, 1993)</ref>

The '''dracosphinx''' was introduced for the [[Forgotten Realms]] [[campaign setting]] in the supplement ''[[Old Empires]]'' (1990),<ref>Bennie, Scott. ''[[Old Empires]]'' ([[TSR, Inc.|TSR]], 1990)</ref> and later appeared in ''Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two (1995).

The '''astrosphinx''' appeared for the [[Spelljammer]] campaign setting in the ''Monstrous Compendium Spelljammer Appendix II'' (1991).<ref>[[Allen Varney|Varney, Allen]], ed. ''Monstrous Compendium Spelljammer Appendix II'' (TSR, 1991)</ref>

The sphinx is further detailed in ''Dragon'' #244 (February 1998), in "The Ecology of the Sphinx." <ref>Richards, Jonathan M. "Ecology of the Sphinx, The" Dragon #244 (TSR, 1998)</ref>

===Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)===
The androsphinx, criosphinx, gynosphinx, and hieracosphinx appear in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000).<ref>[[Monte Cook|Cook, Monte]], [[Jonathan Tweet]], and [[Skip Williams]]. ''[[Monster Manual]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2000)</ref>

===Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)===
The androsphinx, criosphinx, gynosphinx, and hieracosphinx appear in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003).

The '''canisphinx''', the '''crocosphinx''', the '''saurosphinx''', and the '''threskisphinx''' appear in ''Sandstorm: Mastering the Perils of Fire and Sand'' (2005).<ref>[[Bruce Cordell|Cordell, Bruce]], Jennifer Clarke-Wilkes, and JD Wiker. ''[[Sandstorm (Dungeons & Dragons)|Sandstorm]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2005)</ref>

The '''loquasphinx''' appears in the ''Tome of Magic: Pact, Shadow, and Truename Magic'' (2006).<ref>Sernett, Matthew, [[Dave Noonan (game designer)|Dave Noonan]], [[Ari Marmell]], and [[Robert J. Schwalb]]. ''[[Tome of Magic: Pact, Shadow, and Truename Magic]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2006)</ref>

===Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)===
The sphinx appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008).<ref>Mearls, Mike, Stephen Schubert, and James Wyatt. ''[[Monster Manual]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2008)</ref>

==Types==
*'''Androsphinx''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|æ|n|d|r|oʊ|.|s|f|ɪ|ŋ|k|s}}{{respell|AN|droh-sfinɡks}}<ref>[[Frank Mentzer|Mentzer, Frank]]. "Ay pronunseeAY shun gyd" ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #93 (TSR, 1985)</ref>) - wise, [[Alignment (role-playing games)|good]] male creatures with the heads of male humans with leonine manes, who can cast [[Spells of Dungeons & Dragons|spells]]
*'''Astrosphinx''' - Malevolent sphinxes whose heads resemble goat skulls
*'''Canisphinx''' - jackal-headed, predatory sphinxes
*'''Criosphinx''' - male [[sheep|ram]]-headed sphinxes with low intelligence and generally the sole aim of finding a gynosphinx mate
*'''Dracosphinx''' - evil, crocodilian sphinxes that lair on river banks (Third Edition version); sphinx with traits of a red dragon (previous editions' version)
*'''Gynosphinx''' - the traditional riddle-loving sphinx with the head of a female human, and the sole female subrace, who has some innate magical powers
*'''Hieracophinx''' - evil, savage and animal-intelligent [[hawk]]-headed sphinxes
*'''Loquasphinx''' - leonine, knowledge-seeking sphinxes that are particularly interested in Truespeech (the language of Truenames)
*'''Luposphinx''' - Wolf-headed, forest-dwelling sphinxes
*'''Saurosphinx''' - reptilian-faced, conversational sphinxes
*'''Threskisphinx''' - Ibis-headed, sagely sphinxes known for their skill as magical artisans

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{D&D creatures}}

[[Category:Dungeons & Dragons creatures from folklore and mythology]]
[[Category:Dungeons & Dragons magical beasts]]
[[Category:Dungeons & Dragons standard creatures]]

Revision as of 00:45, 25 August 2012

Template:Infobox D&D creature

In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game Sphinxes are a type of magical beast. The four most common subraces of sphinx are the androsphinx, criosphinx, gynosphinx, and hieracosphinx.

Publication history

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

Dungeons & Dragons (1974-1976)

The sphinx was introduced in the earliest edition of the game, in Supplement IV: Gods, Demi-gods & Heroes (1976).[1]

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

The sphinx appears in the first edition Monster Manual (1977),[2] which introduces the four main types: the androsphinx, the criosphinx, the gynosphinx, and the hieracosphinx.

The luposphinx appears in "The Dragon's Bestiary" column in Dragon #119 (March 1987).[3]

Dungeons & Dragons (1977-1999)

This edition of the D&D game included its own version of the sphinx, in the Dungeons & Dragons Master Rules (1985), in the "Master DM's Book".[4] It was also presented as a player character class in Top Ballista (1989) and later featured in the Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (1991).[5]

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

The androsphinx, criosphinx, gynosphinx, and hieracosphinx appear first in the Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (1989),[6] and are reprinted in the Monstrous Manual (1993).[7]

The dracosphinx was introduced for the Forgotten Realms campaign setting in the supplement Old Empires (1990),[8] and later appeared in Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Two (1995).

The astrosphinx appeared for the Spelljammer campaign setting in the Monstrous Compendium Spelljammer Appendix II (1991).[9]

The sphinx is further detailed in Dragon #244 (February 1998), in "The Ecology of the Sphinx." [10]

Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)

The androsphinx, criosphinx, gynosphinx, and hieracosphinx appear in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000).[11]

Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)

The androsphinx, criosphinx, gynosphinx, and hieracosphinx appear in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003).

The canisphinx, the crocosphinx, the saurosphinx, and the threskisphinx appear in Sandstorm: Mastering the Perils of Fire and Sand (2005).[12]

The loquasphinx appears in the Tome of Magic: Pact, Shadow, and Truename Magic (2006).[13]

Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)

The sphinx appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008).[14]

Types

  • Androsphinx (/ˈændroʊ.sfɪŋks/AN-droh-sfinɡks[15]) - wise, good male creatures with the heads of male humans with leonine manes, who can cast spells
  • Astrosphinx - Malevolent sphinxes whose heads resemble goat skulls
  • Canisphinx - jackal-headed, predatory sphinxes
  • Criosphinx - male ram-headed sphinxes with low intelligence and generally the sole aim of finding a gynosphinx mate
  • Dracosphinx - evil, crocodilian sphinxes that lair on river banks (Third Edition version); sphinx with traits of a red dragon (previous editions' version)
  • Gynosphinx - the traditional riddle-loving sphinx with the head of a female human, and the sole female subrace, who has some innate magical powers
  • Hieracophinx - evil, savage and animal-intelligent hawk-headed sphinxes
  • Loquasphinx - leonine, knowledge-seeking sphinxes that are particularly interested in Truespeech (the language of Truenames)
  • Luposphinx - Wolf-headed, forest-dwelling sphinxes
  • Saurosphinx - reptilian-faced, conversational sphinxes
  • Threskisphinx - Ibis-headed, sagely sphinxes known for their skill as magical artisans

References

  1. ^ Kuntz, Robert J. and James Ward. Gods, Demi-gods & Heroes (TSR, 1976)
  2. ^ Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual (TSR, 1977)
  3. ^ Hankins, Lance. "The Dragon's Bestiary: A Walk Through the Woods" Dragon #119 (TSR, 1987)
  4. ^ Gygax, Gary, Frank Mentzer. Dungeons & Dragons Set 4: Master Rules (TSR, 1985)
  5. ^ Allston, Aaron, Steven E. Schend, Jon Pickens, and Dori Watry. Dungeons & Dragons Rules Cyclopedia (TSR, 1991)
  6. ^ Cook, David, et al. Monstrous Compendium Volume Two (TSR, 1989)
  7. ^ Stewart, Doug, ed. Monstrous Manual (TSR, 1993)
  8. ^ Bennie, Scott. Old Empires (TSR, 1990)
  9. ^ Varney, Allen, ed. Monstrous Compendium Spelljammer Appendix II (TSR, 1991)
  10. ^ Richards, Jonathan M. "Ecology of the Sphinx, The" Dragon #244 (TSR, 1998)
  11. ^ Cook, Monte, Jonathan Tweet, and Skip Williams. Monster Manual (Wizards of the Coast, 2000)
  12. ^ Cordell, Bruce, Jennifer Clarke-Wilkes, and JD Wiker. Sandstorm (Wizards of the Coast, 2005)
  13. ^ Sernett, Matthew, Dave Noonan, Ari Marmell, and Robert J. Schwalb. Tome of Magic: Pact, Shadow, and Truename Magic (Wizards of the Coast, 2006)
  14. ^ Mearls, Mike, Stephen Schubert, and James Wyatt. Monster Manual (Wizards of the Coast, 2008)
  15. ^ Mentzer, Frank. "Ay pronunseeAY shun gyd" Dragon #93 (TSR, 1985)
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