Basilisk (fantasy role play)

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Many fantasy roleplaying games have included a version of the mythological basilisk among the creatures that the players may encounter. The creatures are frequently lizard-like with the ability to turn characters to stone.[1]

Basilisks and variations of the monster have appeared in every edition of the Dungeons & Dragons franchise.[2][non-primary source needed] Within Dungeons & Dragons, the basilisk is depicted a giant lizard with eight legs,[3] and as a reptilian monster whose gaze can turn creatures to stone.[1] The basilisk received detailed coverage in Dragon #81 (January 1984), in "The Ecology of the Basilisk," by Ed Greenwood.[4] A figurine of the basilisk was included in the D&D Miniatures: Giants of Legend set #13 which was released in 2004.

The basilisk has also appeared in d20 System games by Necromancer Games in their Tome of Horrors sourcebook[5][non-primary source needed] and Paizo Publishing's Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary[6][non-primary source needed].

In the Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets video game, the player, as Harry, encounters the basilisk in a climactic battle before the last cut scene of the game. During the battle, Harry fights with a sword rather than with the wand the character has used through the previous portions of the game. The basilisk is represented as spitting poison which hurts the character.[7]

In the MMORPG EverQuest, the basilisks have a stone breath attack.[8][non-primary source needed]

In its strategy guide for the computer game Heroes of Might and Magic III, GameSpot describes the basilisks the "saving grace" of the Fortress castle type, as they are a "surprisingly effective" unit for the mid-game being "good in speed, offense, defense, and hit points" with a petrification power and the ability to be upgraded to "Greater Basilisk".[9]

References

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  3. Greenwood, Ed. "The Ecology of the Basilisk," Dragon #81 (TSR, 1984)
  4. Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
  5. Bulmahn, Jason (lead designer). Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary (Paizo Publishing, 2009)
  6. Turning the Page: Children's Literature in Performance and the Media edited by Fiona M. Collins, Jeremy Ridgman. Published by Peter Lang.
  7. EverQuest: Prima's Official Strategy Guide Prima Games, 2003. ISBN 076154237X, 978076154237
  8. Gamespot Unofficial Game Guide to Heroes of Might and Magic III Elliott Chin. (Gamespot 1999) ISBN 1-58422-025-2