Bigby’s Spells

“Great is the hand that holds dominion over

Man by a scribbled name.”

― Dylan Thomas

Bigby the Archmage

Bigby’s spells: We all know what they’re about: Hands. Interposing, Forceful, Grasping, Clenching, or Crushing hands. Or so they were until the Greyhawk Adventures Hardback was published.

They’ve broadened their scope a little since the 1e PHB was published, but the first thing I note about Bigby’s spells, even the latter ones, is that they are all evocation spells. The second thing I note is that they were all martial in the beginning, before James Ward began to mix them up a bit, even if they remain dedicated Gary’s initial theme. They are evocations meant to interact with the physical world. Violently, mostly. Most later spells continue to be martial, but there are a few that deviate from that initial intent: the Bookworm Bane, the Dextrous Digits, the Sculptures, and the Construction Crew. How useful they might be in an adventuring campaign is debatable; but these at the very least bestow a little imagination on Bigby’s creations.

Do the spells mirror the man?

Who is the man, then?

Bigby is a somewhat retiring and secretive man [.] [WG5 – 31]

[H]e conforms to the traditional role of the wizard, pale and studious. [Rogue Gallery 1e – 40]

[H]e is known for being cautious, quiet, nervous and puritanical. [PGtG – 22]

The mark to which Bigby adheres is simply “Caution.” [WG5 – 31]

Thus far, they don’t. But when we consider that Mordenkainen took Bigby in tow and again ventured into the dungeons [,] [Dragon #289 – 28] Bigby might have learned early on that “fists” and “battering rams” and the like were rather useful down there; and he might also have been coached by his perpetual mentor, Big M, that such spells might be just the thing to research.

Yet, despite how useful “lockpicking” hands might be while dungeon delving, the thought didn’t occur to Bigby, apparently; indeed, there are no initial “touchy-feely” type hands to speak of; no early “lifting,” or “sorting,” or “door opening” hands developed, at all. That seems a bit of an oversight, it would seem. There were, however, Interposing, Forceful, Grasping, Clenching, and Crushing hands. Why, one wonders, were those early spells so combat oriented? The question seems a little rhetorical, these days, I believe, regardless how many fighter-types there might be about, what with Robilar and Terik and Yrag clanking about nearby. My theory is that Bigby—the perpetual apprentice, once—was just a second set of spells for Gary Gygax to cast in combat situations. That makes Bigby less an apprentice and more a glorified henchman, to my mind. Not a real character, at all, really.

Bigby outgrew that role, I expect, thankfully. So too did his spells outgrow his original one-trick-pony purpose, too. The final tally? Combat oriented 10. Non-combat 7. Not quite 50/50, but he was getting there.

Level One

Bigby’s Bookworm Bane

Bigby’s Feeling Fingers

Level Two

Bigby’s Dextrous Digits

Bigby’s Silencing Hand

Level Three

Bigby’s Pugnacious Pugilist

A Prevailing Theme

Level Four

Bigby’s Battering Gauntlet

Bigby’s Construction Crew

Bigby’s Force Sculpture

Level Five

Bigby’s Fantastic Fencers

Bigby's Icy Grip (4e)

Bigby's Interposing Hand

Bigby’s Superior Force Sculpture

Bigby’s Strangling Grip

Level Six

Bigby’s Besieging Bolt

Bigby’s Forceful Hand

Level Seven

Bigby's Grasping Hand

Level Eight

Bigby’s Most Excellent Force Sculpture

Level 9

Bigby's Crushing Hand

Bigby’s Bookworm Bane (Evocation)

A Library in Need 

Level: 1

Components: V, S, M

Range: 20 yds

Casting Time: 1 segment

Duration: 1 turn/level

Saving Throw: None

Area of Effect Special

Explanation/Description: This spell is used to seek out and destroy one of the most feared enemies of the mage: the bookworm. When cast, the spell creates a disembodied hand that will search through a library and crush all bookworms it finds. The hand can search through 100 books or scrolls per round, seeking out bookworms with a 95% chance of detection. Once a worm is found, the hand will pursue the bookworm relentlessly, attacking with the skill of a fighter equal in level to the caster. A successful hit by the hand means the bookworm is instantly crushed to death. The hand possesses a strength of 8, so it can move aside books and scrolls in pursuit of a fleeing bookworm. The hand cannot be harmed by physical attacks, but it can be destroyed by four or more points of magical damage. The hand is incapable of performing any other function or combatting any other foe. Bigby uses the spell periodically to safeguard his valuable library. The material component is a child-sized glove made of tough leather.

[GA – 51]

Bigby’s Feeling Fingers (Evocation)

Level: 1

Components: V, S, M

Range: 60 yds

Casting Time: 1 segment

Duration: 1 hour + 1 turn per level

Saving Throw: None

Area of Effect: Special

Explanation/Description: This spell calls into existence a disembodied hand under the caster’s command. The hand cannot hold, grasp, or carry, but it does have an amazingly sensitive sense of touch. The hand’s sense of touch is so fine that it can note miniscule cracks, separations, or openings in a surface, and thus detect the presence of a secret or concealed door with a 50% chance of success. The hand can search a 10 foot by 10 foot area each turn. The hand cannot be destroyed by physical attacks, but it is dispelled if dealt four or more points of magical damage. The hand can trip a nonmagical trap if the location of the trap is known. The material components for the spell are a child-sized silk glove and a swan’s feather.

[GA – 51]

Bigby’s Dextrous Digits (Evocation)

Level: 2

Components: V, S, M

Range: 90 yds

Casting Time: 2 segments

Duration: 3 turns/level

Saving Throw: None

Area of Effect: Special

Explanation/Description: This spell summons into existence a pair of disembodied hands that will follow the mage’s every order. The hands can perform all the functions of an unseen servant, but can also accomplish deeds requiring fine coordination, such as tinkering with tools, working with laboratory equipment, sculpting, painting, or playing a musical instrument. The hands can perform any task the caster can accomplish, including non-weapon proficiencies known by the mage. The hands will perform with a dexterity equal to that of the caster. Each hand can hold and carry up to 200 g.p. weight individually, or 500 g.p. weight together. The hands can move no farther apart than the caster’s own hands. The hands can move 120 feet per round, regardless of weight carried, but can move no farther than 90 feet away from the caster or they vanish. The hands cannot act out the somatic component of a spell. The hands cannot wield a weapon in melee or punch or grapple. Although the hands are immune to physical attacks, they can be destroyed by six more points of magical damage. The material component is a pair of gloves embroidered with the mage’s initials.

[GA – 51]

Bigby’s Silencing Hand (Evocation-Enchantment)

Level: 2

Components: V, S, M

Range: 40 yds

Casting Time: 2 segments

Duration: 2 rounds/level

Saving Throw: None

Area of Effect: One creature

Explanation/Description: This spell creates an appropriately sized hand that will fly toward the chosen creature and clamp tightly over the creature’s mouth unless the creature makes its saving throw. A creature affected by the spell will be unable to talk clearly, cannot cast any spell requiring a verbal component, or use a magical item triggered by an audible command word. The hand cannot be pulled away from a creature’s mouth or be harmed by a physical attack, but can be destroyed by six or more points of magical damage, although most magical attacks carry the risk of harming the affected creature. A successful dispel magic spell destroys the hand without injury to the creature. The material component is a cloth glove smeared with sticky syrup or honey.

[GA – 52]

Bigby’s Pugnacious Pugilist (Evocation)

Level: 3

Components: V, S, M

Range: 60 yds

Casting Time: 3 segments

Duration: 2 rounds/level

Saving Throw: None

Area of Effect: Special

Explanation/Description: This spell creates a pair of man-sized hands, appearing as clenched and padded fists. The hands pummel with the effectiveness of an 18/50 strength fighter of one-half the caster’s experience level. The hands together fight as a character with AC 4 and 3 hit points per level of the mage. The hands are dispelled when they run out of hit points. The hands can pummel only, and cannot hold a weapon or grapple. The hands cannot be grappled or overborne, since they can easily flit away. The material components are a mitten stuffed with cotton and a brass bell.

[GA – 52]

Bigby’s Battering Gauntlet (Evocation)

Level: 4

Components: V, S, M

Range: 60 yds

Casting Time: 4 segments

Duration: 1 round/level

Saving Throw: None

Area of Effect: Special

Explanation/Description: This spell brings into existence a shimmering violet force shaped like a battering ram with a clenched fist as the ram’s head. The force assumes a cylindrical shape 12 feet long by 2 feet in diameter, but the caster can shorten its length to 3 feet in order to fit in a cramped space.

The spell acts as a battering ram of great power, destroying a normal door with one hit, destroying a reinforced door with three hits, destroying a stone door with five hits, and having a 50% chance to destroy a metal door (the spell is destroyed if the gauntlet fails). Only one attack can be made per round, as with any ordinary battering ram. Used against a smaller physical obstruction, such as a dungeon door or metal grate reinforced with magic, a saving throw is made for the door at the level of the mage who cast the reinforcing spell on the door. If the save is successful, the gauntlet spell is destroyed. If the save fails, the gauntlet spell begins working on the door.

Against a living target, the ram has no effect. The caster must always remain within 60 feet of the ram or it will dissipate. The ram cannot be damaged by physical attacks, but it can be destroyed by magical damage if it suffers one-half the number of hit points of the caster. Dispel magic or disintegrate spells can also destroy the gauntlet. The spell cannot be used to open chests or batter anything but a door. It only functions against portals that are designed to open at some time. The material component is a metal rod with a chain mail gauntlet slipped over one end.

[GA – 53]

Bigby’s Construction Crew (Evocation)

Level: 4

Components: V, S, M

Range: 120 yds

Casting Time: 1 turn

Duration: 12 hours

Saving Throw: None

Area of Effect: Special

Explanation/description: This spell creates as many pairs of hands as the caster’s experience level. All of the hands come equipped with carpentry tools. The hands do the work of a construction team equal in ability to any crew of professional carpenters, masons, miners, or sappers. The hands never need to rest or eat. Each pair performs as one worker. They are unable to fight or inflict physical damage on anything. They cannot be destroyed by non-magical means and each pair has as many hit points as the caster has levels. The material components include an assortment of miniature tools, worth at least 500 g.p.

[GA – 52]

Bigby’s Force Sculpture (Evocation)

Level: 4

Components: V, S, M

Range: 30 yds

Casting Time: 1 round

Duration: 1 turn/level

Saving Throw: None

Area of Effect: Special

Explanation/Description: This very flexible spell enables the mage to create a visible plane of force that can be shaped into any form the caster wishes. The caster could create a table, ladder, club, bucket, stilts, or cane, for example. Once an object is formed, it retains its form for the duration of the spell. The object imitated must be fairly rigid, can have no moving parts, cannot have a sharp point or edge, and cannot possess finely detailed features. A rope, long bow, sword, chariot, or accurate statue cannot be created with the spell. All objects formed out of force cannot be harmed by physical attacks, but can be dispelled by magical attacks that inflict more points of damage to the object than the creator’s hit points. Up to one cubic foot of matter per level of the caster can be simulated. The material component for the spell is a lump of soft clay with diamond dust mixed into it.

[GA – 52]

Bigby’s Fantastic Fencers (Evocation)

Level: 5

Components: V, S, M

Range: 60 yds

Casting Time: 5 segments

Duration: 1 round/level

Saving Throw: None

Area of Effect: Special

Explanation/Description: This spell creates one hand for every three levels of the caster, each of which holds a long sword. Each hand fights with the skill of a fighter of one-half the experience level of the caster. Each hand is AC 2 because of its small size and speed, and each can sustain 15 points of damage before being dispelled. Each fencer is capable of disarming an opponent and does so on a roll four greater than the roll needed to hit. A fencer likewise disarmed of its sword is dispelled automatically. The caster need not concentrate on the fencers to keep them functioning, but only has to give them orders as if they were henchmen. The material component is a small, silver amulet shaped like a mailed gauntlet holding a gem-encrusted sword, worth at least 1,000 g.p. (this vanishes when the spell is cast).

[GA – 52,53]

Bigby’s Icy Grasp (4e)

You conjure a giant floating hand made of chiseled ice that clutches a foe and freezes it. 

Daily

Arcane, Cold, Conjuration, Evocation, Implement 

Standard Action 

Ranged 20 

Effect: You conjure a 5-foot-tall hand of ice in an unoccupied square within range. The hand lasts until the end of your next turn. When the hand appears, it immediately makes the following attack. While the hand persists and doesn’t have a creature grabbed, you can use a standard action to command it to make the attack again or a move action to move it up to 6 squares. 

Target: One creature adjacent to the hand 

Attack: Intelligence vs. Reflex 

Hit: 2d8 + Intelligence modifier cold damage, and the hand grabs the target. The hand uses your Fortitude or Reflex if the target attempts to escape. You can end the grab as a free action.

Sustain Minor: The hand persists until the end of your next turn, and a creature grabbed by the hand takes 1d8 + Intelligence modifier cold damage.

[Dragon #401 - 57,58]

Bigby's Interposing Hand (Evocation)

Level: 5

Components: V, S, M

Range: 1"/level

Casting Time: 5 segments

Duration: 1 round/level

Saving Throw: None

Area of Effect: Special

Explanation/Description: Bigby's Interposing Hand is a large to huge-sized magic member which appears and places itself between the spell caster and his or her chosen opponent. This disembodied hand then remains between the two, regardless of what the spell caster does subsequently or how the opponent tries to get around it. The size of the Hand is determined by the magic-user, and it can be human-sized all the way up to titan-sized. It takes as many hit points of damage to destroy as the magic-user who cast it. Any creature weighing less than 2,000 pounds trying to push past it will be slowed to one-half normal movement. The material component of the spell is a glove.

[PHB 1e – 79]

Bigby’s Superior Force Sculpture (Evocation)

Level: 5

Components: V, S, M

Range: 30 yds

Casting Time: 1 round

Duration: 3 turns + 1 turn/level

Saving Throw: None

Area of Effect: Special

Explanation/Description: This spell is a more advanced form of the 4th level force sculpture spell. The object or objects formed from force can be more complex, composed of large, moving parts, or have an edge or point, but still must be fairly rigid. A wagon, quiver of quarrels, shovel, sword, or water wheel could all be simulated, but not a mechanical timepiece, crossbow, or spring. Fine details can be worked into an object, provided the caster has sufficient skill as an artisan or sculptor. Fine details take 2d4 rounds to place on an object, but remain for the duration of the spell. Up to 8 cubic feet of matter per level of the caster can be simulated. The duration of the spell is also longer than force sculpture. Superior force sculpture is otherwise identical to the 4th level spell. The material component is a lump of clay with diamond dust mixed into it.

[GA – 53]

Bigby’s Strangling Grip (Evocation)

Level: 5

Components: V, S, M

Range: 10 yds/level

Casting Time: 5 segments

Duration: 2 rounds

Saving Throw: None

Area of Effect: One creature

Explanation/Description: This spell creates a pair of disembodied hands that will seek out a creature’s throat and strangle the creature with the same effect as an attack with a garrote. The hands must make a successful attack roll to grab the creature’s throat, attacking with +4 to hit on the mage’s usual attack roll, because of the speed and ferocity of the attack. The strangling grip will strangle its victim to death by the end of the next round unless the creature is freed of the hands. The victim can break the grip if he makes a successful roll to bend bars. The grip can also be released if the mage’s concentration is broken. The limits on which creatures can be affected by the spell are the same as the restrictions on the use of a normal garrote. The material components are a pair of gloves sewn into a clutching grip around the neck of a bottle.

[GA – 53]

Bigby’s Besieging Bolt (Evocation)

Level: 6

Components: V, S, M

Range: Special

Duration: 1 round per 2

Area of Effect: Special

Explanation/Description: This spell is similar to magic missile. When the spell is cast, the mage is able to fire one magic siege bolt for every two levels of the caster. The bolt will behave as a given siege engine missile in range and effect. The type of siege missile the bolt mimics depends on the caster’s level.

Magic-user’s Level           Siege Engine Missile Mimicked

12th                                     catapult, light

14th                                     catapult, heavy

16th                                     trebuchet.

The bolts must be launched at the rate of one every two rounds in succeeding rounds. During this time the caster can do nothing else. If the spell is interrupted, no additional bolts can be launched. The bolts strike their target unerringly. The material component is a small stone sprinkled with diamond dust.

[GA – 53]

Bigby’s Forceful Hand (Evocation)

Level: 6

Components: V, S, M

Range: 1”/level

Casting Time: 6 segments

Duration: 1 round/level

Saving Throw: None

Area of Effect: Special

Explanation/Description: Bigby’s Forceful Hand is a more powerful version of Bigby‘s Interposing Hand (q.v.). It exerts a force in addition to interposing itself, and this force is sufficient to push a creature away from the spell caster if the creature weighs 500 pounds or less, to push so as to slow movement to 1” per round if the creature weighs between 500 and 2,000 pounds, and to slow movement by 50% of creatures weighing up to 8,000 pounds. It takes as many hit points to destroy as its creator has. Its material component is a glove.

[PHB 1e – 83]

Bigby's Grasping Hand (Evocation)

Level: 7

Components: V, S, M

Range: 1"/level

Casting Time: 7segments

Duration: 1 round/level

Saving Throw: None

Area of Effect: Special

Explanation/Description: Bigby's Grasping Hand is a superior version of the sixth level Bigby's Forceful Hand spell (q.v.), being like it in many ways. The Grasping Hand can actually hold motionless a creature or object of up to 1,000 pounds weight, or move creatures as a double strength Forceful Hand. The material component is a leather glove.

[PHB 1e – 86]

Bigby's Clenched Fist (Evocation)

Level: 8

Components: V, S, M

Range: ½ "/level

Casting Time: 8 segments

Duration: 1 round/level

Saving Throw: None

Area of Effect: Special

Explanation/Description: Bigby's Clenched Fist spell brings forth a huge, disembodied hand which is balled into a fist. This magical member is under the mental control of the spell caster, and he or she can cause it to strike an opponent each round. No other spell costing or magical activity may be undertaken for the duration of the spell. The Clenched Fist never misses, but the effectiveness of its blow varies from round to round.

Die Roll                Result

1-12                      glancing blow – 1 to 6 hit points

13-16                   solid punch – 2 to 12 hit points

17-19                   hard punch – 3 to 18 hit points and opponent is stunned next round

20                         crushing blow – 4 to 24 hit points and opponent is stunned for next 3 rounds

Note: Any stunned opponent allows the magic-user to add +4 to his or her die roll to determine how well the fist strikes, as the opponent is not capable of dodging or defending against the attack effectively. (This spell can be used with any of the other Hand spells of the Archmage Bigby.) The material component of this spell is a leather glove and a small device consisting of four rings joined so as to form o slightly curved line, with an "I" upon which the bottoms of the rings rest, the whole fashioned of an alloyed metal of copper and zinc. The Fist is destroyed by damage equal to the hit points of its caster being inflicted upon it.

[PHB 1e – 89]

Bigby’s Most Excellent Force Sculpture (Evocation)

Level: 8

Components: V, S, M

Range: 30 yds

Casting Time: 1 turn

Duration: 6 turns + 1 turn/ level

Saving Throw: None

Area of Effects: Special

  Explanation/Description: This spell is the most advanced form of the force sculpture spells. The object formed can be highly complex, containing many moving parts, such as a siege machine or sailing ship. Parts of an object simulated could be as flexible as a rope or the wood of a bow, so a large net, ballista, rope bridge, or collection of crossbows could be formed. As with lesser force sculptures, fine or accurate details require an additional 2d4 rounds to form, along with sufficient skill as an artist or artisan. Up to one cubic yard of matter per level of the caster can be simulated. With the exceptions noted above, the spell is otherwise identical to the 4th level spell of the same type. The material component is a lump of clay mixed with 1,000 g.p. worth of diamond dust, which vanishes when the spell is used.

[GA – 53]

Bigby's Crushing Hand (Evocation)

Level: 9

Components: V, S, M

Range: ½ "/level

Casting Time: 9 segments

Duration: 1 round/level

Saving Throw: Special

Area of Effect: Special

Explanation/Description: Bigby's Crushing Hand causes the appearance of a huge disembodied hand which is similar to Bigby's Forceful Hand and Bigby's Clenched Fist (qq.v.). The Crushing Hand is under the mental control of the spell caster, and he or she can cause it to grasp and squeeze an opponent. Damage from this constriction depends on the number of rounds it acts upon the victim:

1^st round                             1-10 hit points

2^nd & 3^rd rounds                 2-20 hit points

4^th & beyond                      4-40 hit points

The Hand can sustain hit points equal to those of the magic-user who created it before being dispelled. The material components of the spell are a glove of snake skin and the shell of an egg.

[PHB 1e – 92]

"Behold the hands, how they promise, conjure, appeal, menace, pray, supplicate, refuse, beckon, interrogate, admire, confess, cringe, instruct, command, mock and what not besides, with a variation and multiplication of variation which makes the tongue envious."

― Montaigne 

One must always give credit where credit is due. This piece is made possible primarily by the Imaginings of Gary Gygax and his Old Guard, Lenard Lakofka among them, and the new old guards, Carl Sargant, James Ward, Roger E. Moore. And Erik Mona, Gary Holian, Sean Reynolds, Frederick Weining. The list is interminable.

Special thanks to Jason Zavoda for his compiled index, “Greyhawkania,” an invaluable research tool.

The Art: 

In-the-rain by mu-an

Hands by houinart

Library by parkurtommo

Bigby’s Dextrous Digits, by Dave Sutherland (?), from Greyhawk Adventures, 1988

Bigby’s Besieging Bolt, by Dave Sutherland (?), from Greyhawk Adventures, 1988

Bigby’s Crushing Fist, by Karl Wailer, from Lords of Darkness 2e, 1988

Sources:

2010 Players Handbook 1e, 1978

2011A Dungeon Masters Guide, 1st Ed., 1979

2011 Unearthed Arcana, 1985

2023 Greyhawk Adventures, 1988

9031 The Rogues Gallery, 1980

9112 WG5 Mordenkainen’s Fantastic Adventure, 1984

9578 Player’s Guide to Greyhawk, 1998

Dragon Magazine # 401