D&D 5E Here's some 5E monsters

[Grazzt]

On that note, I am starting to suspect that Challenge rating is chosen first, and everything else gets chosen after that. Which would make monsters more like 4E than many other aspects of this edition...

I am thinking you are correct. Honestly for all the stuff I didn't like about 4e, monster design was one I thought they got right (when it came to figuring baseline numbers like attack and AC and defenses and such).

 

[Quickleaf]

Indeed, the searcher is an odd duck concept-wise. Actually, now I'm wondering if the searcher should have all of the wraith's immunities and resistances except for necrotic and charmed...

Yes, it is an odd duck. Actually, that's partly why I chose to convert the astral searcher, because it's a monster that requires some art/interpretation in converting, rather than being straight numbers.

What I like about monsters like this is that it makes you alternate between "process" design & "results" design while you're converting it. For example, all the fiddly stuff I was trying to preserve (and will likely cut as per all your suggestions) - like the bypassing physical armor, the unusual resistances, the "Astral"-ness of the monster - those together would yield a result that has a coherence about the monster's story and function in the world.

Of course, as was pointed out, getting a "close enough" result may be possible with less complicated stats.

 

[jadrax]

For example, all the fiddly stuff I was trying to preserve (and will likely cut as per all your suggestions) - like the bypassing physical armor, the unusual resistances, the "Astral"-ness of the monster - those together would yield a result that has a coherence about the monster's story and function in the world.

Actually, thinking about it, 5e already has a mechanism for ignoring AC:

Astral Claws: The astral searcher chooses one creature within 10 feet of it that it can see. The target must succeed on a DC 12 Charisma saving throw against this magic or take 7 (1d8+2) psychic damage. Additionally, the target loses a precious memory, and along with it a skill proficiency and a spell slot (if any) until their next short rest.

 

[Evenglare]

I'm surprised you guys haven't made a beta fan bestiary or something and converted monsters and compiled it for those already beginning to run 5e campaigns.

 

[Quickleaf]

Actually, thinking about it, 5e already has a mechanism for ignoring AC:

Astral Claws: The astral searcher chooses one creature within 10 feet of it that it can see. The target must succeed on a DC 12 Charisma saving throw against this magic or take 7 (1d8+2) psychic damage. Additionally, the target loses a precious memory, and along with it a skill proficiency and a spell slot (if any) until their next short rest.

I was hesitant to do it that way, in case making it "looks like a melee attack, but it is not a melee attack" had unexpected interactions with the rules. I'm still not sure about this.

I'd thought about just doing it that way at first, and looking back over the original monster you might be right... Originally, in 2e, it treated all targets as AC 5 and only rings of protection and high Wisdom modifiers altered the AC. So Dexterity didn't even apply, and yet it is explicitly described as a touch attack:
"The creature attacks with its ghostly claws, as it must touch its victim to be effective. The attack is like a searing lash of psychic energy."

And I went with Charisma being its attack (and the save involved, if any), rather than Wisdom, since Charisma is force of personality, and that seems to map better to what the astral searcher is - emotional energy desperate for a physical form.

 

[JEB]

I was hesitant to do it that way, in case making it "looks like a melee attack, but it is not a melee attack" had unexpected interactions with the rules. I'm still not sure about this. (rest snipped)

The approach [MENTION=7175]jadrax[/MENTION] suggests is interesting, but I agree with you, keeping it an attack seems truer to the intention. (Sorry, jadrax.) If it was meant to be a "save or suffer" sort of attack, 2E designers would have had no issue with making it such.

I'm surprised you guys haven't made a beta fan bestiary or something and converted monsters and compiled it for those already beginning to run 5e campaigns.

Believe me, the prospect is tempting, but I'm held back by the possibility of some oversight in my guidelines - what good would 562 monsters be if they all have a huge error? (That's why I have those caveats at the start.) For now, I'll probably limit my own conversions to a few experiments and the ones I need for games.

I do reserve the right to go conversion crazy after we have the full monster rules, of course.

That said, not to volunteer everyone, but there's clearly a lot of expertise here that could help with special requests...

 

[jadrax]

I was hesitant to do it that way, in case making it "looks like a melee attack, but it is not a melee attack" had unexpected interactions with the rules. I'm still not sure about this.

The approach [MENTION=7175]jadrax[/MENTION] suggests is interesting, but I agree with you, keeping it an attack seems truer to the intention. (Sorry, jadrax.) If it was meant to be a "save or suffer" sort of attack, 2E designers would have had no issue with making it such.

Hey, no problem. I am very much just putting ideas down on paper (well you know what I mean) to see if they 'look right'. Its very hard to say anything concrete one way or the other right now.

 

[sidonunspa]

Actually, thinking about it, 5e already has a mechanism for ignoring AC:

Astral Claws: The astral searcher chooses one creature within 10 feet of it that it can see. The target must succeed on a DC 12 Charisma saving throw against this magic or take 7 (1d8+2) psychic damage. Additionally, the target loses a precious memory, and along with it a skill proficiency and a spell slot (if any) until their next short rest.

The mechanic is already supported with the Sacred Flame spell... auto hit, save for zero damage.

 

[Grazzt]

The mechanic is already supported with the Sacred Flame spell... auto hit, save for zero damage.

That's kind of how I did it for the Apparition I converted (from 1e Fiend Folio and Tome series we did).

 

[Tormyr]

I'm surprised you guys haven't made a beta fan bestiary or something and converted monsters and compiled it for those already beginning to run 5e campaigns.

While it would be nice, August 8 and monsters being added to Basic is only two weeks away. Yes, it will still be a limited bestiary in Basic, but making our own monsters is a lot of work for only two weeks.

EDIT: I should say that it seems to be too much work for a comprehensive list. I am sure lots of people, me included are going through the effort of converting specific creatures for our campaigns.