D&D (2024) Do you think we will get MM Playtest Packets?

[Parmandur]

They will, but if Multiverse and the other recent books are anything to go by, there won't be anything too controversial, though I expect lots of discussion of whatever the new CR system will be. Maybe a long thread discussing alignment being made optional on everything, even celestials and fiends, though that ship sailed a while ago so maybe not.

Perkins already spulled that it's the Xanathar's Encounter system with some adjustments.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

But if everyone gets them, how will know how "special" the PCs are?

Monsters get tons of things players don't get.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Monsters get tons of things players don't get.

Very much not the point.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Very much not the point.

Well the point is you seem to hate players being special in some way.

 

[The Myopic Sniper]

Weapon Mastery should be stripped from PCs and simply be made Weapon Properties and then PC matial classes should get class appropriate ways to build on those properties. For D&D, I like PCs and Monsters to work in the same general universe. 5e already leans too hard into making them different.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Well the point is you seem to hate players being special in some way.

PC, yes. Players no.

 

[Mirrorrorrim]

Weapon Mastery should be stripped from PCs and simply be made Weapon Properties and then PC matial classes should get class appropriate ways to build on those properties. For D&D, I like PCs and Monsters to work in the same general universe. 5e already leans too hard into making them different.

I prefer design that lets people opt into complication. If mastery abilities were a basic function of every weapon, no matter the training (which sounds weird to me, to be honest), and every humanoid used a weapon that Topples (trips) or Saps (Disadvantage on next attack), or Graze (damages on a miss), with every attack, that sounds like a terrible experience for players and DMs of larger groups of minions.

 

[beta-ray]

I'm not sure. We'll get a preview for sure (I hope), but full playtests and surveys? Not sure.

 

[Kobold Stew]

I think Weapon Mastery should only be a thing for classed characters. If the monster is a classed "Fighter" or another class where it is appropriate, then it's fine to add the add-on effect in the weapon attack. But it should not spill over into just any creature with a weapon.

I couldn't disagree more. Look at how easy weapon masteries are becoming for PCs. If the same abilities are not given to the monsters using weapons "professionally" (not all, but many -- I used the example of a gnoll), that's just you-get-a-pony exceptionalism.

But here's a compromise: even if it's just the Goblin Boss, the Gnoll Pack Lord, the Hobgoblin Captain and Warlord... it should be there as default in many of the monster stat blocks.

 

[Parmandur]

I couldn't disagree more. Look at how easy weapon masteries are becoming for PCs. If the same abilities are not given to the monsters using weapons "professionally" (not all, but many -- I used the example of a gnoll), that's just you-get-a-pony exceptionalism.

But here's a compromise: even if it's just the Goblin Boss, the Gnoll Pack Lord, the Hobgoblin Captain and Warlord... it should be there as default in many of the monster stat blocks.

I could certainly see.ot.showing up, but we'll see.