Level Up (A5E) Monster preview thread!

[dave2008]

I was really excited for the monster book, but now I'm not sure if the new versions are all that different than the old ones .... The lore and encounter stuff is great, but I'm just not convinced at this point. I'm all in on the other book for sure.....

I can't speak for all of the monsters, but the green and black dragons they have previewed are significant improvements over the MM versions.

So is the aboleth,
and the behir,
not sure about the cambion (never used them),
so is the cockatrice,
same with the dread knight (death knight),
and the ettin (though I think they should have given it a reaction ability since it has reactive),

I guess I don't see what your looking at, so far only the ghoul and hippogriff seem as if they have gotten through with only minor modifications.

 

[Nebulous]

I noticed the hell hound has its lawful evil alignment buried down in the statblock area.

 

[Darkwynters]

Intellect devourer or invisible stalker… not a lot of “I” monsters. lol

 

[Tonguez]

I noticed the hell hound has its lawful evil alignment buried down in the statblock area.

That looks deliberate since the other monsters dont even have alignment, must be a feature of planar beings, though the Cambion gets a spawn of evil ability it doesnt get an alignment trait either.

I can't speak for all of the monsters, but the green and black dragons they have previewed are significant improvements over the MM versions.

So is the aboleth,
and the behir,
not sure about the cambion (never used them),
so is the cockatrice,
same with the dread knight (death knight),
and the ettin (though I think they should have given it a reaction ability since it has reactive),

I guess I don't see what your looking at, so far only the ghoul and hippogriff seem as if they have gotten through with only minor modifications.

While I agree they’re are better, they are still pretty generic and the behaviour table has some nice ideas but the other ones are pretty basic. I’d love to have bit more narrative with the encounter groups and some more interesting variants (so far only the Coralfish has stood out for me).

The question is is it so much better that its worth the investment or can I as come up with my own ideas?
How the book provides advice and guidelines for encounter design and monster variants is going to be a decider

 

[dave2008]

While I agree they’re are better, they are still pretty generic and the behaviour table has some nice tables the other ways are simples ideas. I’d love to have bit more narrative with the encounter groups and some more interesting variants (so far only the Coralfish has stood out for me).

Well we have seen less than a dozen of 300+ monsters, so I wouldn't jump to conclusions. However, what I have seen is generally better than in the MM from a stat block perspective alone. The dragons in particular are a real upgrade.

I personally don't need anymore narrative regarding the encounter groups, but I will point out that the 5e MM doesn't even provide encounter groups. So that seems you've been given a $10 and your asking for $20.

The question is is it so much better that its worth the investment or can I as come up with my own ideas?

Sure. I love monster books and have all the WotC and many 3PP books. In terms of a combination of lore and monster mechanics, this is the best 5e monster book I have seen. Now IIRC, they are recreating all the monsters from the MM. Some we find of less value just because of that, but I not me.

And I get making your own, I have over 200+ custom 5e monsters I've posted on these forums and I generally like them better (but I am biased ). However, it is a question of doing the work as well.

How the book provides advice and guidelines for encounter design and monster variants is going to be a decider

I could be wrong, but I think that will be in the core book, not the bestiary.

 

[Tonguez]

And I get making your own, I have over 200+ custom 5e monsters I've posted on these forums and I generally like them better (but I am biased ). However, it is a question of doing the work as well.

I could be wrong, but I think that will be in the core book, not the bestiary.

come to think of it you might be one of the reasons Im spoilt for choice I do like your work and there are so many variant monters list around now that product previews like this maybe get unfairly judged.

 

[Nebulous]

While I agree they’re are better, they are still pretty generic and the behaviour table has some nice ideas but the other ones are pretty basic. I’d love to have bit more narrative with the encounter groups and some more interesting variants (so far only the Coralfish has stood out for me).

For interesting variants, I have found the Monster Manual Expanded trilogy of books quite indispensable. It's what I would have expected from WotC, but 3pp came through in spades.

 

[Faolyn]

The question is is it so much better that its worth the investment or can I as come up with my own ideas?
How the book provides advice and guidelines for encounter design and monster variants is going to be a decider

Since I did the "private playtest" for some of the monsters, I can say that most of the monsters have some very different and quite cool abilities.

 

[Imaculata]

Loving the previews. I think this book will make an excellent birthday present for a friend of mine, who is currently our 5e DM.

 

[dave2008]

Loving the previews. I think this book will make an excellent birthday present for a friend of mine, who is currently our 5e DM.

Man - I need players like you! I buy all of the books!