The Unusual Origin Of Iconic Dungeons And Dragons Monsters

When gamers first got their hands on the Monster Manuals for the Dungeons and Dragons roleplaying game they went crazy for the far out menagerie of creatures they would soon be facing in fantasy combat. But many players and dungeon masters found themselves wondering- where did these kooky critters come from?

It turns out some of the most iconic monsters, like the Rust Monster and the Owlbear just to name a few, were based on a toy line made in Hong Kong and sold in discount stores back in the 1970s. Gary Gygax, the creator of D&D, picked up a bag of these funky little rubber monster figures and the rest is rpg history.

Via io9