1E Monsters Were More Interesting

[Halaster Blackcloak]

I've been outlining a copy of the 1E Fiend Folio. I noticed a few things about the 1E monsters. They're written a hell of a lot more interesting than the 2E versions.

For example, the retriever. In 1E, one of its eyes has a transmutation ray that can turn flesh to stone - or - turn flesh to gold, mud, or lead. You can save a victim turned to mud by casting mud to rock, then stone to flesh, if both spells are cast within 1 turn. But what if the victim is turned to gold or lead? Well, hope you have a wish handy, or you're going to be researching a gold to flesh spell for months in the hope of restoring your team mate!

Or how about death knights being created by Demogorgon and there being only 12 of these creatures in existence. Same for the Eye of Fear and Flame - only 20 known to exist.

I noticed that some powers were removed from some monsters in their 2E form, different than their 1E write ups. Some were simply left out (though a few may have appeared in late 2E and I missed them).

I always loved the flavorful texts of the monster descriptions.