FREQUENCY: Uncommon
FREQUENCY: Uncommon ([Dungeon Level III])
FREQUENCY: Very rare ([Temperate
Wilderness Mountains])
FREQUENCY: Very
rare ([Tropical Wilderness Mountains])
NO. APPEARING: 1
ARMOR CLASS: 8
MOVE: 6“
HIT DICE: 4
% IN LAIR: Nil
TREASURE TYPE: See below
NO. OF ATTACKS: 1 ~ 15
DAMAGE/ATTACK: 2-8
SPECIAL ATTACKS: Paralyzation,
surprise on 1-3
SPECIAL DEFENSES: Immunity
to some attacks
MAGIC RESISTANCE: See below
INTELLIGENCE: Non-
ALIGNMENT: Neutral
SIZE: L (10’ cube)
LEVEL/X.P. VALUE: III |
150 + 4
The gelatinous cube is one
of the scavengers not uncommon in dungeons.
Its cubic form is ideal
for cleaning all living organisms, as well as carrion, from the floor and
walls of underground passageways.
Certain very large cubes
are taller so as to be able to garner mosses and the like from ceilings
as well. <cf. memory moss>
Surprise on 1-3: Gelatinous
cubes are nearly transparent and are difficult to see (thus
surprise
on 1-3).
Treasure:
As these monsters travel about they sweep up metallic
and other items which are
“indigestible” to them. This includes treasure
types J,
K,
L,
M,
N,
Q
as well as a potion,
dagger,
or similar items. <perhaps roll on the
Misc.
Utensils and Personal Items table: 2d6, highest die indicates number
of potential items>
Such material will remain
in the body of a gelatinous cube for several weeks
before being cast out (thus
deposited somewhere on the floor).
Paralyzation: If a
gelatinous cube touches (hits) an opponent, a saving throw versus
paralyzation must be made,
or the creature touched is anesthetized for 5-
20 melee rounds.
The ’cube then surrounds
the victim, secretes digestive
fluids, and digests a meal.
Damage caused to opponents is due to the
digestive secretions.
Gelatinous cubes can be hit
by all forms of weapons, and attacks by fire
have normal effects.
Immunity to some attacks:
Cold will have no effect on these monsters unless
they fail their saving throw,
in which case they are slowed 50% and do
only 1-4 hit points of damage.
Electricity, fear, holds, paralyzation,
polymorph, and sleep based
attacks have no effect on gelatinous cubes.
01-07 = Dagger +1, +2 vs.
creatures larger than man-sized
08-11 = Dagger +2, +3 vs.
creatures larger than man-sized
12 = Dagger
of Venom
13-17 = Dagger +1
18-20 = Dagger +2
21 = Dagger +2, Longtooth
22-23 = Dagger +3
24-00 = normal dagger
Quote:
Originally
Posted by taliesin15
Mr.
Gygax:
Any
thoughts on where Oozes come from? Especially Grey Ooze and Gelatinous
Cubes--are these supposed to originate from the experiments of crazy evil
wizards, or from Demons/Devils?
Heh...
As
the chap that made up both of them, I had better have an idea as to where
they came from 
My concept wasthat both were accidental creations of careless wizard alchemists that dumped various failed magical and alchemical experiments down the drain or into some cess pit. These admixtures affected single-celled life forms, thus eventually engendering the various jellies (and a gelatinous cube is one of those), oozes, puddings. The slimes were generated in similar fashion, the waste affecting normal slime.
Cheers,
Gary
Quote:
Originally
Posted by Mycanid
Ya
know Gary ... I have been wondering about something on and off for some
time now.
Who thought up the idea of the gelatinous cube? And was there a piece of fiction that sparked it? Or was it just ... jello? :\
The
'Cube was my cration. It was inspired by the amoeba and gelatin. Perhaps
I also had in the back of my mind the old EC Comisc SF story about Mars
being covered in dormand gookum, that stuff having devoured all other life
forms on the planet. When the crew returns to earth they are feted at a
banquet, with a dessert course of strawberry Jello. "Good Grief! It;s dormant
gookum!!!"
How I loved those Weird Science, Crypt of Horror, and all the rest of the EC Comics line
Gary
Comments
thank
you Gary.
We
made a living jello G-cube joke on monday. Who knew we were so close to
the truth?
For
Gary
Quote:
Originally
Posted by Mycanid
Care
to share the story of the first time in the game you sprung it on the players? 
there
was a group going through the 2nd level, and the fighter scouting ahead
walked right into the Gelatinous Cube thinking some spell or gas was makinghis
vision blurry. Only after that PC being nearly killed did the others note
the "floating" coins and such.
That's
about the best I can do recalling the incident after 35 years
Cheerio,
Gary
Comments
For
the game
Wish
I could have been one of your players. Thanks for everything.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Gentlegamer
Gary Gygax loves Gelatinous
Cubes. Especially with Cool Whip.
Actually I prefer real whipped
cream!
Cheers,
Gary
Comments
Sorry, this is my favorite
post of Gary's on the whole site.
Oh, man. :)