The Roper for D&D Circa 1975 From The Strategic Review Vol 1., No. 2

The Roper made its debut for D&D in the summer of 1975 in The Strategic Review Volume 1, Number 2.

The Roper, AD&D Monster Manual, 1977 artist Unknown

The Roper

Number Appearing 1-3

Armor Class 0

Move 3”

Hit Dice 10-12 (8’s)

% In Lair 90%

Type Treasure D*

Bite for 5-20 points

Strand hit = must save vs. Poison

Magical Resistance 80%

Cannot be Charmed

Highly Intelligent

Alignment C

This monster appears to be a mass of foul, festering corruption. The roper is cigar-shaped, about 9’ long, with a diameter of 3’. It can stand upright in order to resemble a pillar or stalagmite or flatten itself out full length upon the floor so as to look like nothing more than a hump. The Roper has six strands of strong, sticky rope-like excretion  which it can shoot from 2” - 5”. A hit causes weakness (50% from strength) in 1-3 turns, and the Roper then draws its prey into its toothy maw where it is quickly devoured. The chance of break a strand is the same for opening a door, but every turn the Roper will drag the victim 10’ closer. This yellowish-gray beast is unaffected by lightning, takes half-damage at most from cold, but is susceptible to fire (-4 on its saving throws). 

*metal only as it devours anything else; however, it has a gizzard-like organ which can contain gems (if the roll for treasure so indicates) from 20-50 in number.

Art by Erol Otus from Advanced Dungeons & Dragons Rogues Gallery

Art by Jeff Easley, 1984

Now in looking through the information on this creature remember scale conversion so it can shoot out its rope-like excretions 20-50 feet. It can move 30 feet a turn. In my opinion this stealth predator should stay Highly Intelligent, capable of learning from encounters with other creatures including PCs and because it must locate possible routes of prey and blend into environments. Consistently in the TSR art the Roper has only one eye, of course there is always an exception. It’s important to remember the Roper appears as something it is not (column, stalagmite, mound) before it attacks and only turns into a one eyed gaping maw of teeth and shooting grappling sticky limbs as it attacks. 

Art by Daniel Horne, 1989

Words in green are grammar and spelling corrections I made to the original text.