Dungeons & Dragons

More nostalgia. Check out this ad I saw on Retrospace:

So I held up my copy of the Monster Manual next to my computer screen. The picture's identical, but it must be a different edition, since the words are in different places. I remember when I bought it (circa 1980), it seemed so expensive. I don't know how the edges of the book got worn and cracked. I haven't kept these things in a sealed vault, but I'm not using them to kill roaches, either. Must be the passage of time.

In addition to fantasy monsters like dragons and orcs and gelatinous cubes, the Monster Manual had more mundane creatures, too, such as this entry for "Owl, Giant":

Giant owls are rarely encountered as they inhabit only very wild areas. They are nocturnal predators and effective hunters. Giant owls speak their own language.

A giant owl strikes with its two sets of sharp talons and its strong beak. Its feathers allow it to fly with nearly absolute silence, thus it surprises on 1-5 (on a 6-sided die).

These creatures are intelligent and will sometimes befriend other creatures. If encountered in their lair there is a 20% chance that there will be 1-3 eggs (25%) or 1-3 hatchling owls, 20% to 70% grown. The parents will always attack any creature threatening the eggs/owlettes. Eggs sell for 1000 gold pieces, young for 2000 on the open market.