HOLMENTZER MONSTERS: E - K

E - Elf

F - Giant Ferret

G - Gargoyle, Gelatinous Cube, Ghoul, Giant, Gnoll, Gnome, Goblin, Gray Ooze, Green Slime, Griffon

H - Halfling, Harpy, Hell Hound, Hippogriff, Hobgoblin, Horse, Human, Hydra

K - Kobold

 

Elf is in H & M. The main stat diff between the two is Hit Dice. Holmes Elves are 1 + 1 HD, whereas Mentzer Elves are 1 HD. Moldvay, like Holmes, has 1 + 1, so this is a Mentzer change. As for alignment, we see Holmes' "chaotic good (some neutral)" translated into "neutral" only. Holmes' description is super brief, relying on the character section of his manual to fill in the gaps. That said, he does mention that elves are generally "of two sorts, wood elves and high elves". Mentzer on the other hand, which is via Moldvay, has no mention of these different sorts of elves. Likewise, in Mentzer, there only need be 15 elves in a group to have a leader, vs. 50ish in Holmes. I have posted about elves before, & probably need to revisit the topic in more depth regarding Holmentzer, but for now, I'm thinking I'll use Mentzer for high elves (less HP, less elves per leader) & Holmes for wood elves (more HP, more elves per leader).

Giant Ferret is Mentzer, via Moldvay.

Gargoyle is in H & M. Holmes' Gargoyle remains fairly intact through the editions, the only real diff being that Mentzer, via Moldvay, varies a Gargoyle's claw & bite damage (1-3/1-6, respectively), whereas Holmes has 1d4 damage down the line. "As depicted in medieval architecture, gargoyles are reptilian, horned, taloned, fanged, winged beasts of hideous aspect. They will attack nearly anything that approaches them and are at least semi-intelligent and cunning," says Holmes; "As pictured in medieval architecture, they are horned, clawed, fanged, winged, hideous-looking beasts... very cunning and at least semi-intelligent. They will attack nearly anything that approaches them," says Mentzer. Mentzer, via Moldvay, adds that Gargolyes cannot be affected by sleep or charm spells & also suggests that a DM not use them unless a party is equipped w/ a magical weapon.

Gelatinous Cube is in H & M. Again we have a Holmes monster remaining statistically & descriptively intact @ the core: "They move through rooms and corridors... sweeping them clean of all living and dead material. In the process they may pick up indigestable items like gold and gems and carry them within their body," says Holmes; "moves through the rooms and corridors of a dungeon, sweeping the halls clean of all living and dead material. In the process, it may pick up items it cannot dissolve (such as weapons, coins, and gems)," says Mentzer. Though H & M, via Moldvay, both discuss Saving vs. Paralysis when one is hit by a GC, it is interesting to pay close attention to Dr. Holmes' descriptor here: "Flesh that comes into contact with the cube is anesthetized unless a saving throw against paralysis is made." While the later editions translate this to mean that GCs cause paralysis, is that what Holmes is truly saying? Mentzer, via Moldvay, also adds that GCs surprise on 1-4 on 1d6 b/c they are "hard to see". Lastly, Mentzer diverges from Moldvay in allowing the chance of encountering 1d4 GCs in a lair, vs. one.

Ghoul is in H & M, & the Mentzer version is again an elab on Holmes' core monster stats/description. The only real difference between editions is in regard to who/what a ghoul can paralyze: Mentzer, via Moldvay, speaks in size ("any creature of ogre-size or smaller"), vs. type in Holmes ("any human/humanoid figure"). Lastly, Mentzer adds that ghouls are immune to sleep and charm spells.

Giant is Holmes.

Gnoll is in H & M. Holmes' entry remains intact, w/ only minimal changes to Damage & Treasure Type. One interesting thing to note, is that Holmes says gnolls are like "hyena-men". Mentzer carries on this idea, but also adds the bit that "Gnolls are rumored to be the result of a magical combination of a gnome and a troll by an evil magic-user." It could be argued, that these are actually two different ways to look @ the gnoll monster from a physical standpoint, though in Mentzer, like Moldvay, they are fused together.

Gnome is in H & M, & while Mentzer is via Moldvay, what you have is Holmes' brief entry @ the core, hacked & littered about a longer description w/ group info, lair, etc.

Goblin is in H & M. The major diff is that Mentzer's Goblin is faster than Holmes' (90 feet turn vs. 60 feet turn). This change is purely Mentzer, as Moldvay reflects Holmes. Other than diff Treasure Types, what you have here is another Holmes @ core entry, w/ one small divergence via Moldvay, pertaining to the number of bodyguards a goblin king has @ their service.

Gray Ooze is in H & M. Holmes' stats remain intact in Mentzer, & some choice bits of his description survive as well (e.g. "this seeping horror"). But while Holmes simply tells us an ooze "can corrode metal in one turn", Mentzer, via Moldvay, goes further by saying the ooze "secretes an acid... will dissolve and destroy normal armor or weapons in only 1 round, and magic items in one turn". Lastly, like the Gelatinous Cube entry, Mentzer diverges from Moldvay to suggest numerous oozes @ once, plus adds that an ooze lair may contain "a special treasure made of stone (DM's choice)".

Green Slime is in H & M. Major diff is that Mentzer's Green Slime, via Moldvay, can move. Holmes' GS is "non-mobile" though it sometimes "drops from high places". Other than that, the description in Mentzer is basically Holmes w/ mechanical info on burning off the slime, etc. Something worth noting, is that while Holmes mentions fire affecting a GS, once it hits flesh, it "must be excised or treated" w/ magic. The later editions cut any mention of excising & focus on burning off the slime. Lastly, Mentzer diverges in a number of ways from Moldvay statistically: lowers Morale from 12 to 7, gives Treasure Types (Holmes & Moldvay have "nil"), & Mentzer's GS is Lawful, instead of Neutral. Holmes' Green Slime has no alignment. Holmes GS for Holmentzer.

Griffon is Holmes.

Halfling is Mentzer, via Moldvay, w/ only a small diff in Treasure Types.

Harpy is in H & M. Mentzer, via Moldvay, is almost identical to Holmes, stat-wise, except Holmes has 1d4 damage for a Harpy's weapon attack vs. 1d6 in Mentz. As for the description, one subtle diff presents itself when combing the verbage of each. Holmes: "By their singing they lure men to them, their touch then charms them and they are killed and devoured. Any creature hearing the harpy song must make its saving throw against spells or be drawn irresistibly to his doom!" Notice that while a saving throw determines whether a harpy's song will lure an adventurer or not, Holmes says it is the harpy's touch that actually charms the victim. Mentzer: "By their singing, harpies lure creatures to them to be killed and devoured. Any creature hearing the harpies' songs must make a Saving Throw vs. Spells or be Charmed." Mentzer says that failing the song throw not only leads the victim to the harpies, but also, b/c of this, the victim is charmed. While I would like to brood on the implications of this difference here, I'm gonna save it for a later post. For now, just note the nuances. Lastly, Mentzer increases Harpy's "Save As" to Fight: 6 from Moldvay's Fighter: 3. Mentzer does this vs. F: 3 Harpy's getting +2 on all Saving Throws. For Holmentzer, I'm going w/ Mentzer's Harpy for now.

Hell Hound is Holmes.

Hippogriff is Holmes.

Hobgoblin is in H & M. Another Holmes @ core entry, Mentzer, via Moldvay, elabs on specifics regarding a hobgoblin king & his cronies. That said, Mentzer's hobgoblin king is quite powerful compared to Holmes'. Not only does Mentzer's fight as a 5 HD monster (Holmes says as ogre, which is 4 + 1), but also, he gets +2 damage. For Holmentzer, may as well use Mentzer.

Horse is Holmes. The entry includes light horses, medium horses, heavy war horses, draft horses, and mules.

Human is Mentzer. Mentzer deals w/ "occasional random encounters with 1-3 humans". More on this singular entry down the road.

Hydra is Holmes.

Kobold is in H & M. Holmes' Kobolds are "evil dwarf-like creatures" that behave like goblins, "but are less powerful". They are nimble, moving @ 120 feet/turn, & as well, "are highly resistant to magic" gaining +3 on all saving throws, except for dragon breath. Mentzer's kobolds, which are straight from Moldvay, w/ one change regarding movement (Mentzer's 90' sits between Holmes' 120' & Moldvay's 60'), are "small, dog-like men... scaly, rust-brown skin & no hair." This "dog-like men" description seems to have originated w/ Moldvay, though I'm going to guess it has something to do w/ that kobold drawing in the AD&D Monster Manual? That said, Mentzer's kobolds have nothing to do w/ magical resistance, & though the chieftain is equal w/ Holmes', the bodyguards are weaker. For Holmentzer, I'm going w/ Holmes on this one.

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