The White Ape

[strangebrew]

I was looking through some OD&D stuff and was stuck at how often white apes are mentioned in the LBBs (wandering monster tables, wizard's stronghold defenders, etc), but that there wasn't an entry for "white ape".

I don't think the Holmes edition mentions white apes at all, except for the non-white ape in the example dungeon. I know that AD&D Monster Manual has an entry for Carnivorous Ape (I think), and of course the B/X set from '81 has an entry for Ape, White. The B/X white ape doesn't seem very Martian, however.

Does anyone know where stats for the white ape first appeared? Strategic Review or Dragon? Or is B/X the first occasion, seven years after they were first mentioned??

Does anyone use white apes in their games? How many hit dice do you give them?

This has all lent a aura of mystery to the white ape which might make it my new favorite monster.

[talysman]

I'm pretty sure the ERB white ape was intended there. I think someone posted some stats for Barsoomian monsters somewhere on the forums...

[darkling]

White apes were kind of ubiquitous in the early spec fic. In addition to ERB, both HPL and REH mention white apes a time or two.

[waysoftheearth]

Monster & Treasure Assortment (1977) lists the "Carnivorous Ape" which is described as AC 6, 4 HD, with two attacks per round. If both hit a single target, it gets a third attack. I.e., it can possibly cause three dice of damage in a single round.

I think these stats were essentially attributable to the four armed giant ape of Barsoom, although this isn't explicitly stated.

[strangebrew]

The Barsoomian White Ape was definitely intended, since it appears on a optional wandering monster list for "Arid Plains" along with Banths, Thoats, Tharks, etc. I think its interesting how the white ape makes the jump into the mainstream, being a possible defender for Evil High Priests, where the rest of the Martian gang are relegated to an obscure, optional table. One of the great quirks of the game.

May 1, 2012 23:50:19 GMT -6 waysoftheearth said:

I think these stats were essentially attributable to the four armed giant ape of Barsoom, although this isn't explicitly stated.

Hmm interesting. I'm assuming that M&TA follows the Greyhawk rules for monsters, so that many of them have 2 or more attacks? If so, I would interpret this as a "bear hug" attack similar to the mechanics found in later books.

For the record, I like the B/X rendition more than the more mundane carnivorous ape of AD&D, if only for the Erol Otus artwork.

Attachments:

[Finarvyn]

May 1, 2012 23:50:19 GMT -6 waysoftheearth said:

I think these stats were essentially attributable to the four armed giant ape of Barsoom, although this isn't explicitly stated.

This is correct. I think that Gary used Warriors of Mars as a supplement to his early OD&D games.

[Aplus]

Not related to stats or anything like that, but last summer Jim Ward told me white apes were one of Gary's favorite monsters to use.

[rossik]

i thought the white ape was a lovecraft reference

[darkling]

It could just vary by the reference. I was reading B3 earlier today in prep for hopefully running it later this week, and the white ape in the caverns there has nothing particularly barsoomian about it.

[Deleted]

Gary didn't use Warriors of Mars, he just did up his own stats predating WoM game. Ernie went to Barsoom, and Rob spent a lot of money on having his sage (Herb) research how to get there also.

[blackbarn]

I had white ape come up on the wandering monster table and just used the ogre stats. I think the Barsoomian one would be tougher, but the ogre worked in a pinch. The PCs also found the body of a dead white ape in a recent room they discovered, slain by someone other than themselves...

[Alex]

May 1, 2012 23:26:18 GMT -6 darkling said:

White apes were kind of ubiquitous in the early spec fic. In addition to ERB, both HPL and REH mention white apes a time or two.

I also believe Michael Crighton refers to them in Congo, if I'm not mistaken (it's been 15-20 years).