D&D 5E Beasts of the Earth

[Paul Farquhar]

But the Beast of the Earth uses a monster stat block. If you look at other monster stat blocks, they don't list proficiency either. The orc's stat block doesn't list its proficiency with battle axes or scale mail armor. Does that mean an orc is not proficient with them?

There is no "proficiency" listed in a normal stat block (although it is included in the sidekick stat block). If equipment is listed, then the creature has the relevant proficiencies for those items. If no equipment is listed, then the creature is NOT proficient. A duck is not proficient in heavy armour.

 

[WayOfTheFourElements]

There is no "proficiency" listed in a normal stat block (although it is included in the sidekick stat block). If equipment is listed, then the creature has the relevant proficiencies for those items. If no equipment is listed, then the creature is NOT proficient. A duck is not proficient in heavy armour.

So an orc is not proficient with a dagger or cloth armor? A knight is not proficient with a club?

 

[TheCosmicKid]

But the Beast of the Earth uses a monster stat block. If you look at other monster stat blocks, they don't list proficiency either. The orc's stat block doesn't list its proficiency with battle axes or scale mail armor. Does that mean an orc is not proficient with them?

If you break down the math, the orc has a proficiency bonus included in its attack. Almost every monster with a weapon in its stat block is proficient with the weapon (though there are, interestingly, a few monsters who aren't proficient with their own natural weapons). Much the same goes for armor: you don't see any nonproficiency penalties in the stats for scale mail, so the orc is proficient.

More broadly, you have to remember that the stat block is intended for brevity and ease of use and at no point claims to be exhaustive, so in more complicated situations you have to again go beyond the stat block and decide what's reasonable. The orc also doesn't have a thrown rock attack listed, but it's an ordinary humanoid with ordinary humanoid capabilities, so presumably it can do that. It's also a warrior-type character, so if it picks up a warhammer or flail or other martial weapon, it's probably proficient in that too.

 

[WayOfTheFourElements]

There is no "natural" state, BotE are not natural creatures. That's what "magical" means.

No. This is why beastmasters can still have actual animals as companions. If you want your animal companion to be able to do "ape stuff", you have an ape companion, not a BotE.

So...magical creatures lack natural states? Does a unicorn lack a natural state? Does a chimera? What makes the Beast of the Earth a magical creature but not those others?

What makes the beast of the earth's limb able to attack, but not give someone the finger or pick lice when in "ape form"? Is it simply too clumsy? It is incompetent? Can't it not learn to mimic the actions and behaviors of its new form?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

So an orc is not proficient with a dagger or cloth armor? A knigh

If they are proficient in martial weapons (battleaxe), then they must be proficient in simple weapons. Same with armour, to be proficient in medium armour (scale) they must first be proficient in light armour. However an or is not proficient in heavy armour.

 

[WayOfTheFourElements]

If you break down the math, the orc has a proficiency bonus included in its attack. Almost every monster with a weapon in its stat block is proficient with the weapon (though there are, interestingly, a few monsters who aren't proficient with their own natural weapons). Much the same goes for armor: you don't see any nonproficiency penalties in the stats for scale mail, so the orc is proficient.

More broadly, you have to remember that the stat block is intended for brevity and ease of use and at no point claims to be exhaustive, so in more complicated situations you have to again go beyond the stat block and decide what's reasonable. The orc also doesn't have a thrown rock attack listed, but it's an ordinary humanoid with ordinary humanoid capabilities, so presumably it can do that. It's also a warrior-type character, so if it picks up a warhammer or flail or other martial weapon, it's probably proficient in that too.

Exactly, so what prevents the ape from also having those proficiencies? They simply aren't listed in the stat block.

 

[WayOfTheFourElements]

If they are proficient in martial weapons (battleaxe), then they must be proficient in simple weapons. Same with armour, to be proficient in medium armour (scale) they must first be proficient in light armour. However an or is not proficient in heavy armour.

Which page number can I find those rules on?

 

[Paul Farquhar]

So...magical creatures lack natural states?

Some do. There are no baby BotEs. There are no flocks of BotEs roaming the land. They appear specifically to rangers as a kind of divine gift.

What makes the beast of the earth's limb able to attack, but not give someone the finger or pick lice when in "ape form"? Is it simply too clumsy? It is incompetent? Can't it not learn to mimic the actions and behaviors of its new form?

That's the DMs call. But BotE is a BotE, and it's appearance is purely 100% cosmetic. If it bothers you I recommend you don't allow it in your game.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

Exactly, so what prevents the ape from also having those proficiencies? They simply aren't listed in the stat block.

A BotE is NOT an ape.

As for apes, have you ever tried training an ape to wear armour and use a shield effectively? When you have done that, come back and show us. These are skills (like speaking English) that an ape CANNOT learn.

 

[TheCosmicKid]

No. This is why beastmasters can still have actual animals as companions. If you want your animal companion to be able to do "ape stuff", you have an ape companion, not a BotE.

The actual ape stat block is no more an exhaustive listing of everything an ape can do than the beast of the earth stat block is. WotC is clearly testing these beast spells as a way of simplifying summoning magic so you don't have to page through the MM to find a particular stat block every time you cast the spell. I see no reason to insist so stridently that "A BotE is NOT an ape" or that its behavior is any more restricted than an ape's is.