Owlbears, Just Good Marketing.

I recently was delighted to play in a one-shot D&D 5e game wherein I played an Owling character. Shock horror I didn't have an owling figure in the collection. So, I used an Owl bear. A bit oversized but my character had a big ego, so I felt justified.

As luck would have it the final battle involved an Owl bear. So, the figure did double service. Imagine my surprise when I saw the new D&D movie trailer for release in 2023, there was a shape shifter character that turned into an owl bear. It started slaughtering the bad guys, Great stuff. Now I haven't played D&D since 1978 but I am pretty sure Owl bears were in the Monster manual for the first edition we played back then. No DM knew when to use them and I never confronted one. I have waited 44 years to fight one. It didn't go down easily, and it took my sword and 2 other magic users to finish it. Epic, then Why has it taken 44+ years for this great monster to make a film appearance. Is it due to the popular Witcher TV series having some new obscure euro monsters or is it because of the emphasis and placement it is getting in the new D&D 5e. If so, then this movie must be testament to the huge popularity of 5e.  Aimed squarely at this generation.

Alternatively, has it just been simmering in the collective unconscious for four decades.

The Dice God Bless Gary Gygax.

Have Owl bear, will travel.