What is a homunculus to you?
What comes to mind when you hear that term? What characters from mythology, literature, or popular culture are you reminded of?
How do you use homunculi in your games?
Makes me think of the Golden Voyage of Sinbad cause that's where the monster originated.
(http://horrorcultfilms.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/11931869_gal.jpg)
Some sort of small servant created via alchemy. Or just a little monster created via alchemy.
The idea goes back to I believe the 1400s? The real life character Frankenstein was based on, Dippel, was reportedly trying to make one. Among other strange things. What gave Shelly the idea for Frankensteins experiments in crating life. But Dippel was trying the classic alchemical methods.
In Bride of Frankenstein there's the other 'mad doctor' who has jars with miniature people he has created in them. I think that was my first thought.
Also, some sort of lesser alchemical/sorcerous clone of the alchemist/sorceror himself... kind of like a 'fork' in transhuman terms.
(http://horrorcultfilms.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/11931869_gal.jpg)
Quote from: hedgehobbit;967331Makes me think of the Golden Voyage of Sinbad cause that's where the monster originated.
(http://horrorcultfilms.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2012/08/11931869_gal.jpg)
No, it originated with sixteenth century alchemists.
However, that's a damn fine representation of one. Golden Voyage is a must-see movie.
My first thought is the Peking Humunculus from Tom-Baker-era Doctor Who.
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My next thought is middle-school Latin class, where humumculus is just a word for a little man.
They've almost never occurred as creatures in the RPG campaigns I've run or been in. They might exist in Dominions.
Weirdly, the first thing that came to mind was Galen's humunculus from Babylon 5 Crusade. It was the same size and shape and general look as Galen (although simpler and slightly cartoonish) but it just acted as a remote sensor and interaction platform for Galen to use. A technological homunculus which is used a humanoid drone for the operator.
I also thought of "The Golden Voyage of Sinbad" from 1973. Does anyone have the art from Monster Manual? I may be mistaken but I seem to recall the Monster Manual homunculus appeared to be based on the Sinbad one. Maybe I am misremembering.
Quote from: Simlasa;967346In Bride of Frankenstein there's the other 'mad doctor' who has jars with miniature people he has created in them. I think that was my first thought.
Also, some sort of lesser alchemical/sorcerous clone of the alchemist/sorcerer himself... kind of like a 'fork' in transhuman terms.
Slightly off-topic but I saw BoF not long ago and it's great! A fun, fast-moving, and surprisingly "Modern" movie that didn't feel old or creaky at all.
Quote from: Dumarest;967388I also thought of "The Golden Voyage of Sinbad" from 1973. Does anyone have the art from Monster Manual?
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The Homunculus from the D&D Monster Manual is exactly like the one from Golden Voyage and absolutely nothing like the alchemical ones (which were tiny men that lived inside of sperm)
Yes it does. I misunderstood what you meant by "originated from."
Quote from: jeff37923;967387Weirdly, the first thing that came to mind was Galen's humunculus from Babylon 5 Crusade. It was the same size and shape and general look as Galen (although simpler and slightly cartoonish) but it just acted as a remote sensor and interaction platform for Galen to use. A technological homunculus which is used a humanoid drone for the operator.
Used to call those things like Avatars and Waldos. Theres been a bunch of terms for remote piloted androids.
well personally I think of them as Creature created by alchemy usually humanoid in form.
Though my perspective is irrevocably influenced by the like of rental magica and grimgrimoire.
(http://faqsmedia.ign.com/faqs/image/article/807/807982/Image54.JPG)
(https://vignette4.wikia.nocookie.net/rentalmagica/images/1/14/Lapis.gif/revision/latest?cb=20130402100734)
I always took them as being somehow an extension of the alchemist/wizard... that they're distinct from summoned creatures and golems by nature of the relationship.
Quote from: Skarg;967386My first thought is the Peking Humunculus from Tom-Baker-era Doctor Who.
Now, that was just creepy beyond measure.
It's kind of interesting that both the Peking Humunculus and the Humunculus in the Sinbad movie featured Tom Baker as a major character.
Quote from: Skarg;967565It's kind of interesting that both the Peking Humunculus and the Humunculus in the Sinbad movie featured Tom Baker as a major character.
Those historical alchemists failed to create one because Tom Baker is a necessary material component for their creation.
Quote from: Simlasa;967467I always took them as being somehow an extension of the alchemist/wizard... that they're distinct from summoned creatures and golems by nature of the relationship.
The historical attempts to create them seem to indicate they were supposed to be free willed "thingies". Effectively vat grown life. One can imagine if any had been successfull they would have promptly run off to terrorize the countryside.
I've asked about homunculi on other forums.
Full Metal Alchemist gets brought up a lot there.
I'm surprised nobody has said anything about Roger the Homunculus from Hellboy.
Quote from: Cave Bear;968339I've asked about homunculi on other forums.
Full Metal Alchemist gets brought up a lot there.
I'm surprised nobody has said anything about Roger the Homunculus from Hellboy.
Maybe, like me, they've never heard of Hellboy? I had to look it up to find out it was a comic book and a movie.
It's only one thing to me.
(http://www.d2baal.com/bmz_cache/e/e87c975c9dd188715399f85541b2ca50.image.270x323.gif)
And yes, I'm old enough to remember when I stayed up to see "The Golden Voyage of Sinbad" for its premiere on the Saturday Night Late Movie.
Quote from: Cave Bear;967330What is a homunculus to you?
What comes to mind when you hear that term? What characters from mythology, literature, or popular culture are you reminded of?
How do you use homunculi in your games?
In my upcoming Lion & Dragon RPG, I present the medieval-authentic version of the Homunculus. It's something Magisters (magic-users) can create.
To make it you need a special type of jar, the intact womb of a mare, regular supplies of fresh human blood and a mandrake root that was seeded with the sperm of a man dying from hanging.
Huh. Really? I expected some kind of reaction to that last post.
Quote from: RPGPundit;969967Huh. Really? I expected some kind of reaction to that last post.
I only just now read it. I like that it immediately suggests all kinds of hilarious misadventure from people trying to acquire and maintain the needed ingredients. Does the dying man need to die, or can you just keep one in the barn and have him be dying, (ahem) harvest (cough), then save him before he actually dies?
Ask David Carradine.
Quote from: RPGPundit;969495In my upcoming Lion & Dragon RPG, I present the medieval-authentic version of the Homunculus. It's something Magisters (magic-users) can create.
To make it you need a special type of jar, the intact womb of a mare, regular supplies of fresh human blood and a mandrake root that was seeded with the sperm of a man dying from hanging.
What makes the jar so special?
Quote from: Cave Bear;970284What makes the jar so special?
It once belonged to Tom Baker.
Quote from: rawma;970844It once belonged to Tom Baker.
Good one.:p
Quote from: Cave Bear;970284What makes the jar so special?
It's a special type of alchemical jar, made specifically for this purpose. It's meant to work as a kind of incubator.
Quote from: Skarg;969970I only just now read it. I like that it immediately suggests all kinds of hilarious misadventure from people trying to acquire and maintain the needed ingredients. Does the dying man need to die, or can you just keep one in the barn and have him be dying, (ahem) harvest (cough), then save him before he actually dies?
That's a good question. I would say that as long as the guy is being hung, he could be saved and made to go through it all repeatedly.
Wait, are you saying he needs to be hung or hanged? Two different things!
Quote from: RPGPundit;969967Huh. Really? I expected some kind of reaction to that last post.
You going to have other "necromantic" medieval magic items in there, like the Hand of Glory?
Quote from: RPGPundit;969967Huh. Really? I expected some kind of reaction to that last post.
Just now read it, and my reaction is "cool, he did his research."
Quote from: RPGPundit;969495In my upcoming Lion & Dragon RPG, I present the medieval-authentic version of the Homunculus. It's something Magisters (magic-users) can create.
To make it you need a special type of jar, the intact womb of a mare, regular supplies of fresh human blood and a mandrake root that was seeded with the sperm of a man dying from hanging.
What does the authentic one do?
The D&D one was golem-lite.
Quote from: Spinachcat;971560What does the authentic one do?
Disappoint and frustrate the alchemist who wasted time and resources making something that didn't work.
Quote from: RPGPundit;971423It's a special type of alchemical jar, made specifically for this purpose. It's meant to work as a kind of incubator.
Question what / how is the jar made???
Quote from: CRKrueger;971525You going to have other "necromantic" medieval magic items in there, like the Hand of Glory?
Yup, the Hand of Glory is in there.
Quote from: kosmos1214;971873Question what / how is the jar made???
I don't go into that much detail in the book; there's a fine line to manage between what's interesting details and what's too much fluff.