Azer (Dungeons & Dragons)

Azer
Characteristics
Alignment lawful neutral
Type Outsider
Image Wizards.com image
Stats Open Game License stats

The azer (/ˈzər/ AY-zər)[1] is a dwarf-like outsider in the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game. In the 3rd edition of the game, azers originate on the Elemental Plane of Fire.[2] In the 4th edition version, they are the result of dwarves' slavery to giants and titans.[3]

Publication history

The azer was introduced to the D&D game in the first edition of Advanced Dungeons & Dragons.

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 1st edition (1977-1988)

The azer first appears in the first edition Monster Manual II (1983).[4] The azer king Amaimon is mentioned in this book.

Advanced Dungeons & Dragons 2nd edition (1989-1999)

The azer appears for the Spelljammer campaign setting in Practical Planetology (1991).

The azer later appears as a fire elemental kin in Secrets of the Lamp (1993) for the Al-Qadim setting along with their king Amaimon, and the noble azers.[5]

The azer then reappears in Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (1994), with the same information as in Secrets of the Lamp.[6]

Dungeons & Dragons 3.0 edition (2000-2002)

The azer appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2000).[7]

Savage Species (2003) presented the azer as both a race and a playable class.[8]

Dungeons & Dragons 3.5 edition (2003-2007)

The azer appears in the revised Monster Manual for this edition (2003).

An azer named Ironheart, Servant of Fire appeared in Weapons of Legacy (2005).

Dungeons & Dragons 4th edition (2008-)

The azer appears in the Monster Manual for this edition (2008), including the azer warrior, the azer foot soldier, the azer rager, the azer taskmaster, and the azer beastlord.[3]

Physical description

In the game, an azer resembles a dwarf with brass-colored skin, and hair and beard of flames.[2] They are often seen wearing kilts of bronze, copper, or brass. Their bodies are so hot that their weapons conduct this heat. Azers love gems, and constantly wage war against efreeti. Despite all this, however, azers never start a fight unless the foe is carrying gems, and may take a foe prisoner.

Society

In the 3rd edition Dungeons & Dragons game, azer society is best described as collectivist, as every individual has a place in society, and matters of the state are more important than that of the individual. Azers live within fortresses made of bronze on the Elemental Plane of Fire, and nobles wield absolute power.

Their game alignment is always lawful neutral.[2]

The azer are led by Amaimon (/əˈmmən/ ə-MY-mən.[1])

Other publishers

The azer appeared in Paizo Publishing's book Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 2 (2010), on page 39.[9]

References

  1. 1 2 Mentzer, Frank. "Ay pronunseeAY shun gyd" Dragon #93 (TSR, 1985)
  2. 1 2 3 Monster Manual v3.5, pages 21-22.
  3. 1 2 Mearls, Mike, Stephen Schubert, and James Wyatt. Monster Manual (Wizards of the Coast, 2008)
  4. Gygax, Gary. Monster Manual II (TSR, 1983)
  5. Baur, Wolfgang, Secrets of the Lamp (TSR, 1993)
  6. Wise, David, ed. Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume One (TSR, 1994)
  7. Cook, Monte, Jonathan Tweet, and Skip Williams. Monster Manual (Wizards of the Coast, 2000)
  8. Eckelberry, David, Rich Redman, and Jennifer Clarke Wilkes. Savage Species (Wizards of the Coast, 2003)
  9. Baur, Wolfgang, Jason Bulmahn, et al. Pathfinder Roleplaying Game Bestiary 2 (Paizo Publishing, 2010)

External links

See also

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