D&D 5E Does anyone who got an mm at Gencon want to offer up spoilers to us?

[Thaumaturge]

are there any stuff for PC's - templates or races, etc?

Flipping through it, there is very little rules info for PCs. There's a good amount of lore. There are plenty of allies and villains.

There is some stuff, though. It's just hard to tease out without knowing it's there:

• Half-dragon (I didn't notice a half-demon/devil)
• Quasits as familiars
• PC vampires.
• More I'm sure, but they don't have their own section.

Thaumaturge.

 

[FreeXenon]

thanks

 

[gyor]

According to Mike Mearls the Empyreans aka Titans, will be more like the AD&D titans, so I was unfamilar with them and did some research.

They have magic resistance, they're over 25 feet tall, spell like abilities, most are Chaotic Good, massive intelligence to got with thier size, and each has a special attack and a special ability, and they are emotionally unstable. This is the ad&d Titan, so the 5e Empyrean (Titan) is likely to be simularly designed, but in 5e terms, like resistance to magic spells and maybe advantage on saving throughs. Could be a Giant or Celestial type, probably Giant.

Just guesses on my part.

 

[Thaumaturge]

With some of the more powerful creatures, there is a sidebar detailing the most iconic D&D version of that creature.

Examples include:

• Vampire (Strahd)
• Death Knight (Soth)
• Demilich (Acererak)

Thaumaturge.

 

[Remathilis]

Someone is paying attention. I think they look awesome. Apparently, it's reused artwork, though. I'll be extra cautious, and just recommend you look there to see the pictures..

Good stuff. Very Diterlizzi and really gets my PS going.

I don't see any, though they look fairly easy to reverse engineer..

I figured as much from the already released stat blocks. Just wondering if there was any more info.

• Gain blindsight
• Pick a color get resistance/breath weapon.
• One minor bit I'm leaving out.

It seems very easy to apply between turns of combat even.

Thaumaturge.

So no recalculating strength scores. Good. Does it change the CR/XP value though?

Also, does the Monster Manual have the rules for upgrading/building new monsters or will that be in the DMG?

 

[ExploderWizard]

They are pretty boring, they are one of the many monsters that are in the free DM's Basic pdf on the WoTC site.


Lizardfolk
Medium humanoid (lizardfolk, neutral)
Armor Class 15 (natural armor, shield)
Hit Points 22 (4d8 + 4)
Speed 30 ft., swim 30 ft.
STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA
15 (+2) 10 (+0) 13 (+1) 7 (−2) 12 (+1) 7 (−2)
Skills Perception +3, Stealth +4, Survival +5
Senses passive Perception 13 Languages Draconic Challenge 1/2 (100 XP)

Hold Breath. The lizardfolk can hold its breath for 15 minutes.

Actions
Multiattack. The lizardfolk makes two melee attacks, each one with a different weapon.

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.
Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.

Heavy Club. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) bludgeoning
damage.

Javelin. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 30/120 ft., one target.
Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing damage.

Spiked Shield. Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 5 (1d6 + 2) piercing
damage.

Lizardfolk are primitive reptilian humanoids that lurk in swamps and jungles. Fiercely territorial,
they kill when it is expedient and do whatever it takes to survive.


So a bunch of attacks that are all the same +4 to hit and 1d6+2 damage, and they can hold their breath, same old school type monster that is just a sack of hit points. I would love to see a racial ability like a gnashing bite that grabs you, or a tail slap that trips, maybe different types of lizard folk that spit venom, or have chameleon skin.

Boredom isn't found in a monster's stat block. It is the failure of the DM to use a monster in interesting ways that make them boring. Atmosphere, context, and specific circumstances applied well by the DM can yield interesting encounters regardless of stat blocks.

Imagine the PCs slowly paddling their small skiff through a murky fen. The air is still and quiet, with the occasional distant bullfrog to be heard in the distance. As the party paddles through the calm water, a pair of green scaly arms reaches up out of the water, snagging the poor gnome, and dragging him beneath the black water.

Should the gnome's player be bored right about now because the lizard man has hold breath as his racial feature? I would imagine under the circumstances that knowing that would be terrifying.

 

[Thaumaturge]

According to Mike Mearls the Empyreans aka Titans, will be more like the AD&D titans, so I was unfamilar with them and did some research.

They have magic resistance, they're over 25 feet tall, spell like abilities, most are Chaotic Good, massive intelligence to got with thier size, and each has a special attack and a special ability, and they are emotionally unstable. This is the ad&d Titan, so the 5e Empyrean (Titan) is likely to be simularly designed, but in 5e terms, like resistance to magic spells and maybe advantage on saving throughs. Could be a Giant or Celestial type, probably Giant.

Just guesses on my part.

Pretty good guesses. Celestial type. Everything else is spot on. You forgot to guess they are legendary.

Good stuff. Very Diterlizzi and really gets my PS going.

Agreed.

I figured as much from the already released stat blocks. Just wondering if there was any more info.

Not that I see.

So no recalculating strength scores. Good. Does it change the CR/XP value though?

It doesn't call that out. However, there is a stat block for a half-dragon veteran (CR 5), which is called out as being the human veteran (CR 3) with the template applied.

Also, does the Monster Manual have the rules for upgrading/building new monsters or will that be in the DMG?

The first few pages walk you through some pieces of creature building: hit die by size, proficiency bonus by CR. But there aren't a series of tables saying how damage or spellcasting should interact with CR. I'm guessing that'll be in the DMG.

EDIT: on the first real page, the DMG "contains advice for modifying monsters and creating your own".

Thaumaturge.

 

[Thaumaturge]

Also, make sure to read the disclaimer. For the sake of your brain.

Thaumaturge.

 

[jadrax]

Lizardfolk have the racial ability to use Spiked Shields, no one else can do that! ;o)

 

[Thaumaturge]

Lizardfolk have the racial ability to use Spiked Shields, no one else can do that! ;o)

Some of them also have a reason to wield a trident instead of a spear.

Thaumaturge.