FREQUENCY:     Very rare ([Temperate Wilderness Mountains], [Temperate Wilderness Hills], [Temperate Wilderness Forest])
FREQUENCY:     Very rare ([Temperate Wilderness Swamp], [Temperate Wilderness Plains], [Temperate Wilderness Desert])
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Tropical Wilderness Mountains], [Tropical Wilderness Forest], [Tropical Wilderness Swamp])
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Tropical Wilderness Plains], [Tropical Wilderness Desert])
FREQUENCY: Rare ([Dungeon Level V])

NO. APPEARING:     2-5
ARMOR CLASS:     4
MOVE:     15"
HIT DICE:     6
% IN LAIR:     25% (12 Displacer Beasts: mountainous/subterranean, TPL54:9th, REF4.74)
TREASURE TYPE:     [D]
NO. OF ATTACKS:     2 ~ 13
DAMAGE/ATTACK:     2-8/2-8
SPECIAL ATTACKS:     Nil
SPECIAL DEFENSES:     -2 on opponent's attack dice
MAGIC RESISTANCE:     Save as Lord (F12) +2 on die
INTELLIGENCE:     Semi-
ALIGNMENT:     Neutral
SIZE:     L
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE:     V | 475 + 8

SAVES: 5.6.7.6.8 <1>

TALK: These fierce creatures hate (H) all life, but they particularly hate blink dogs.
    <-20% for active character & -15% for the rest of the party : DMG.240>

A pack of these monsters always contains only full-grown beasts.
The molecular vibrations of the displacer beast are such that it always appears
to be 3' (left, right, ahead, or behind) its actual position. Thus, these
monsters always cause opponents to subtract 2 from attack dice rolls and
add 2 to their dice rolls for saving throws.  In combat the displacer beast
lashes out with its two tentacles, inflicting horrible wounds with the rough,
horney edges of these appendages.

Description: This vaguely puma-like creature is bluish black,
its tentacles are dead black,
the horney edges of the tentacles are brownish yellow,
and its eyes glow a {hellish} green.

Displacer Beast--Vaguely inspired by a PJ Farmer critter in his "Created Universes" series,
but not drawn from any specific thing therein.
 

Quote:
Originally Posted by Tav_Behemoth
Was the displacer beast inspired by the Couatl in Van Vogt's "Voyage of the Black Destroyer"?

It was Van Vogt's Voyage of the Space Beagle when i read it...but I suspect the story is the same, yes <big grin>
 

The displacer beast was most assuredly inspired by A. E. van Vogt's Voyage of the Space Beagle.

<1: +2 bonus is figured into the above numbers>

Dragon 108: stats for displacer beast cubs are given at REF4.75