D&D 5E Extra Reactions or Not-Quite-Legendary Actions

[TheSword]

I liked what 5e Dark Souls did with the bloodied status. They generally got to do an additional action upon reaching half hp. Sometimes gaining additional abilities making them more dangerous. It’s a cool concept.

 

[Reynard]

There are some very good 5e monsters. The Elder Oblex I find very very cool. The problem is that most 5e monsters are terribly statted out. Try this on for size. Take a CR 15 Dragon. I automatically give Youngs and above some level of spell casting, because, well Dragons....If you go by RAW, a CR 15 and above Dragon can cast Far Step. THAT spell alone can turn an encounter into something incredibly challenging for a party.

Sure, some of the newer monsters are better because they learned some things from every other company producing 5E monsters for 3 or 5 years since the launch. I am, of course, referring primarily to the MM monsters.

 

[Reynard]

I liked what 5e Dark Souls did with the bloodied status. They generally got to do an additional action upon reaching half hp. Sometimes gaining additional abilities making them more dangerous. It’s a cool concept.

This goes back to 4E and I am pretty sure one of the Magic settings did it in 5E?

 

[TheSword]

This goes back to 4E and I am pretty sure one of the Magic settings did it in 5E?

I haven’t seen much of 4e or the MtG setting. Either way it’s cool.

 

[GMforPowergamers]

I also like giving 'bland' monsters bonus action things and ways to just move around the field more.

 

[Thomas Rainsborough]

Sure, some of the newer monsters are better because they learned some things from every other company producing 5E monsters for 3 or 5 years since the launch. I am, of course, referring primarily to the MM monsters.

No argument from me. There are a ton of 3rd part designers who are vastly more talented than the current employees at WOTC.

 

[Reynard]

No argument from me. There are a ton of 3rd part designers who are vastly more talented than the current employees at WOTC.

I wouldn't put it that way. WotC has a particular design philosophy. That doesn't say anything about the talent of their designers.

 

[Thomas Rainsborough]

I wouldn't put it that way. WotC has a particular design philosophy. That doesn't say anything about the talent of their designers.

If not the designers, then it speaks to the design philosophy of their bosses. Someone is accountable for the disastrously dumb stat blocks pumped out by WOTC.

 

[Reynard]

If not the designers, then it speaks to the design philosophy of their bosses. Someone is accountable for the disastrously dumb stat blocks pumped out by WOTC.

5E is meant to be easy to use. Whether that is a desirable design philosophy or not is a matter of personal taste. Calling the stat blocks "disastrously dumb" is the kind of hyperbole that makes it sort of hard to have a meaningful discussion, though.

 

[Thomas Rainsborough]

5E is meant to be easy to use. Whether that is a desirable design philosophy or not is a matter of personal taste. Calling the stat blocks "disastrously dumb" is the kind of hyperbole that makes it sort of hard to have a meaningful discussion, though.

You yourself stated a few posts ago that WOTC improved their monsters by looking at 3rd party material. Yes, I can give a long long list of horribly stated blocks. WOTC can take a really cool idea for a monster and then destroy that coolness with an awful stat block. I realize most DM's have neither the time nor experience to alter stat blocks, and rely on WOTC's presentation of said monsters. That is what makes this even more egregious.