Cleon
Legend
The Gladiator Lizard appears four times in Advanced Dungeons & Dragons. I'll post the original stats in reverse chronological order:
The most recent official source is Fritz Leiber’s Lankhmar (1996), which uses a slightly modified version of the 2nd Edition AD&D rules:
Gladiator Lizard
Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser encountered these horrible creatures on the Bleak Shore. They have rarely been spotted in other dismal, rocky domains of Nehwon. The lizards have crested reptilian heads, bony-spiked shoulders, and arms ending with a single, yard-long claw that is sharp as a sword.
When encountered, gladiator lizards are paired into brood mates. Brood mates have a mental link that allows them to coordinate their attacks in combat. If both lizards strike the same target in the same round, the second lizard to strike gains +1 to hit on both its blows.
Gladiator lizards often live as a group where they can protect their eggs. Inside each of the giant eggs is a full-grown, though immature, gladiator lizard . These eggs can fetch up to 500 gold rilks on the black markets of Lankhmar. The lizards cannot be trained except by sorcery, but make impressive guardians in areas their owners rarely need visit.
Then comes Lankhmar: City of Adventure (1993), which uses a full "Monstrous Compendium" 2E AD&D presentation:
Gladiator Lizard
Originally from Lankhmar: City of Adventure (1993).
Next is LNA2 - Nehwon (1990), an early 2E AD&D release:
Gladiator Lizard
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: The Bleak Shore
FREQUENCY: Very Rare
ORGANIZATION: Solitary
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Carnivore
INTELLIGENCE: Very (11-12)
TREASURE: Nil
ALIGNMENT: Lawful evil
NO. APPEARING: 1-2
ARMOR CLASS: -3
MOVEMENT: 15
HIT DICE: 7
THAC0: 11
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-10
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: L (8′ tall)
MORALE: Elite (13-14)
XP VALUE: 650
Originally from LNA2 - Nehwon (1990).
Finally, the oldest source is TSR 9162: Lankhmar - City of Adventure (1985). This is the only 1st Edition AD&D version.
Gladiator Lizard
FREQUENCY: Very Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-2
ARMOR CLASS: -3
MOVE: 15″
HIT DICE/POINTS: 7 HD
% IN LAIR: 80%
TREASURE TYPE: Nil
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-10
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Very
ALIGNMENT: Lawful Evil
SIZE: L (8′ tall)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
LEVEL/XP VALUE: VII/ + 8 per hp
I don't have a pdf of Lankhmar (1985) so had to dig the physical copy out of my collection and type the text out. It took way longer than the rest of the entries combined!
…and that is all.
The most recent official source is Fritz Leiber’s Lankhmar (1996), which uses a slightly modified version of the 2nd Edition AD&D rules:
Gladiator Lizard
| Climate/Terrain: | Dismal, coastal areas |
| Organization: | Group |
| Intelligence: | Very (11–12) |
| Alignment: | Neutral evil |
| No. Appearing: | 2d4 |
| Armor Class: | –3 |
| Movement: | 15 |
| Hit Dice: | 7 |
| THAC0: | 13 |
| No. of Attacks: | 2 |
| Damage/Attack: | 1d10 |
| Special Attacks: | Mental link |
| Special Defenses: | Nil |
| Magic Resistance: | Nil |
| Size: | L (8′ tall) |
| XP Value: | 1,400 |
Fafhrd and the Gray Mouser encountered these horrible creatures on the Bleak Shore. They have rarely been spotted in other dismal, rocky domains of Nehwon. The lizards have crested reptilian heads, bony-spiked shoulders, and arms ending with a single, yard-long claw that is sharp as a sword.
When encountered, gladiator lizards are paired into brood mates. Brood mates have a mental link that allows them to coordinate their attacks in combat. If both lizards strike the same target in the same round, the second lizard to strike gains +1 to hit on both its blows.
Gladiator lizards often live as a group where they can protect their eggs. Inside each of the giant eggs is a full-grown, though immature, gladiator lizard . These eggs can fetch up to 500 gold rilks on the black markets of Lankhmar. The lizards cannot be trained except by sorcery, but make impressive guardians in areas their owners rarely need visit.
Then comes Lankhmar: City of Adventure (1993), which uses a full "Monstrous Compendium" 2E AD&D presentation:
Gladiator Lizard
| CLIMATE/TERRAIN: | Bleak Shore |
| FREQUENCY: | Very rare |
| ORGANIZATION: | Group |
| ACTIVITY CYCLE: | Any |
| DIET: | Carnivore |
| INTELLIGENCE: | Very |
| TREASURE: | Nil |
| ALIGNMENT: | Neutral evil |
| NO. APPEARING: | 1–4 |
| ARMOR CLASS: | –3 |
| MOVEMENT: | 15 |
| HIT DICE: | 7 |
| THAC0: | 13 |
| NO. OF ATTACKS: | 2 |
| DAMAGE/ATTACK: | 1–10 |
| SPECIAL ATTACKS: | Mental link (see below) |
| SPECIAL DEFENSES: | Nil |
| MAGIC RESISTANCE: | None |
| SIZE: | L (8′ tall) |
| MORALE: | Fearless (19–20) |
| XP VALUE: | 1,400 |
The two creatures which emerged in the gathering dusk held enormity even for the Mouser’s drugged mind. Shambling things, erect like men but taller, with reptilian heads boned and crested like helmets, feet clawed like a lizard’s, shoulders topped with bony spikes, forelimbs terminating in a single yard-long claw. In the semidarkness they seemed like hideous caricatures of fighting men, armored and bearing swords. Dusk did not hide the yellow of their blinking eyes.
—From “The Bleak Shore”
This extremely rare creature is only found naturally on the Bleak Shore of Nehwon. Eggs of the gladiator lizard may occasionally be taken from the Bleak Shore and the hatchlings used as guards or in zoos.
Combat: Gladiator lizards fight with extreme agility, attacking twice per round, once with each claw. When encountered in pairs, they are always brood mates. Brood mates have a mental link that allows them to coordinate attacks, giving the second gladiator lizard to attack in a round a +1 to hit.
Habitat/Society: These dangerous monsters are solitary (except when defending eggs) and extremely aggressive. They may rarely be found in other locations throughout Nehwon, usually as guardian creatures for especially rich or sacred treasures.
Ecology: Gladiator lizards appear to be of magical or alien origin. They seem never to need food or other nourishment.
The lizards are normally solitary. They mate once every five or six years and stay together until the eggs have hatched, which may take two years or more. A female gladiator lizard lays 1–4 eggs.
Young lizards emerge from their eggs fully grown. Their lifespan seems to be considerable—two decades or more. This is especially useful when they are used as guardians, since they cannot be tamed or otherwise civilized. In such cases, there is always a fail-safe device that can cage or otherwise restrain the gladiator lizards if the owner wishes to visit his valuables.
Combat: Gladiator lizards fight with extreme agility, attacking twice per round, once with each claw. When encountered in pairs, they are always brood mates. Brood mates have a mental link that allows them to coordinate attacks, giving the second gladiator lizard to attack in a round a +1 to hit.
Habitat/Society: These dangerous monsters are solitary (except when defending eggs) and extremely aggressive. They may rarely be found in other locations throughout Nehwon, usually as guardian creatures for especially rich or sacred treasures.
Ecology: Gladiator lizards appear to be of magical or alien origin. They seem never to need food or other nourishment.
The lizards are normally solitary. They mate once every five or six years and stay together until the eggs have hatched, which may take two years or more. A female gladiator lizard lays 1–4 eggs.
Young lizards emerge from their eggs fully grown. Their lifespan seems to be considerable—two decades or more. This is especially useful when they are used as guardians, since they cannot be tamed or otherwise civilized. In such cases, there is always a fail-safe device that can cage or otherwise restrain the gladiator lizards if the owner wishes to visit his valuables.
Originally from Lankhmar: City of Adventure (1993).
Next is LNA2 - Nehwon (1990), an early 2E AD&D release:
Gladiator Lizard
CLIMATE/TERRAIN: The Bleak Shore
FREQUENCY: Very Rare
ORGANIZATION: Solitary
ACTIVITY CYCLE: Any
DIET: Carnivore
INTELLIGENCE: Very (11-12)
TREASURE: Nil
ALIGNMENT: Lawful evil
NO. APPEARING: 1-2
ARMOR CLASS: -3
MOVEMENT: 15
HIT DICE: 7
THAC0: 11
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-10
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Nil
SIZE: L (8′ tall)
MORALE: Elite (13-14)
XP VALUE: 650
Found on the Bleak Shore, they hatch full-grown and ready to fight (although hatching takes many years). It stands erect with a reptilian head, boned and crested helmet, clawed lizard’s feet, shoulders topped with bony spikes, and yard-long claws in place of hands which they wield like swords, attacking twice per round. Pairs are always brood mates, having a mental link allowing them to coordinate their attacks. They speak a language of screeches and whistles.
Originally from LNA2 - Nehwon (1990).
Finally, the oldest source is TSR 9162: Lankhmar - City of Adventure (1985). This is the only 1st Edition AD&D version.
Gladiator Lizard
FREQUENCY: Very Rare
NO. APPEARING: 1-2
ARMOR CLASS: -3
MOVE: 15″
HIT DICE/POINTS: 7 HD
% IN LAIR: 80%
TREASURE TYPE: Nil
NO. OF ATTACKS: 2
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 1-10
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Nil
MAGIC RESISTANCE: Standard
INTELLIGENCE: Very
ALIGNMENT: Lawful Evil
SIZE: L (8′ tall)
PSIONIC ABILITY: Nil
Attack/Defense Modes: Nil
LEVEL/XP VALUE: VII/ + 8 per hp
This extremely rare monster is found only on the Bleak Shore of Nehwon. Hatched fully grown, the gladiator lizard is ready to fight. It takes many years to hatch one properly. This accounts for their rarity, even on the Bleak Shore.
The gladiator lizard is a shambling creature that stands erect. It has a reptilian head, boned and crested like a helmet. Its feet are clawed like a lizard’s and its shoulders are topped with bony spikes. It has no hands; instead its forearms end in a single yard-long claw. In dim light they are hideous caricatures of gladiators.
They wield their claws like swords, with extreme agility. A gladiator lizard can attack twice per round, once with each arm. When encountered in pairs, they are always brood mates. Brood mates have a mental link which allows them to coordinate their attacks. Gladiator lizards speak a language of screeches and whistles.
Originally appeared in Lankhmar - City of Adventure (1985).
The gladiator lizard is a shambling creature that stands erect. It has a reptilian head, boned and crested like a helmet. Its feet are clawed like a lizard’s and its shoulders are topped with bony spikes. It has no hands; instead its forearms end in a single yard-long claw. In dim light they are hideous caricatures of gladiators.
They wield their claws like swords, with extreme agility. A gladiator lizard can attack twice per round, once with each arm. When encountered in pairs, they are always brood mates. Brood mates have a mental link which allows them to coordinate their attacks. Gladiator lizards speak a language of screeches and whistles.
Originally appeared in Lankhmar - City of Adventure (1985).
I don't have a pdf of Lankhmar (1985) so had to dig the physical copy out of my collection and type the text out. It took way longer than the rest of the entries combined!
…and that is all.
