D&D 5E New Monster Manual Cover

From IGN, the cover of the 2025 Monster Manual!

@Morrus

 

[dave2008]

Be that as it may, Im pretty sure Ive heard him flat out say WotC isn't allowed to change the past. Doesn't mean they can't add to it, I suppose.

And I am pretty sure you are mistaken. I heard those stories and I've seen the "quotes" and none of them turned out to be true. I find that we tend to see what we want to see and remember what we want to remember. These are all to often only partial truths or flat out falsehoods. We are all susceptible.

 

[dave2008]

Ed's words are backed up by WotCs actions, no way they would not have just reverted the Spellplague if they actually had a choice in the matter. I think its specifically novels though, not sure about Source books, but I know the novels can't be retconned out of canon, which makes resetting FR impossible, but that is part of FRs charm its history is eternal as is its endless evolution as an on going story.

FR is the REAL Neverending Story.

There is no evidence it is factual. I have seen Ed attributed with saying "anything" published in the realms by TSR/WotC is canon. If that is the case, WotC can make it whatever they want. However, I have not seen him actually saying this, just people saying he did.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

For those complaining about using a spell in front of a beholder, look at the light reflected on the beholder. She isn’t in front of it. She is beside it.

The anti-magic ray is a 90 degrees cone or 45 degrees in all directions from the direct center line from the eye, she's outside of the angle.

 

[MNblockhead]

All three together

View attachment 366071View attachment 366072View attachment 366073

As expected, the cover shows monsters at different challenge levels (goblins, ogre, gelatinous cube, mimic, displacer beast, flame skull, beholder, and kraken [not necessarily in that order], as they've done with PHP and DMG covers, which I like. I was sure they would have put an ancient dragon on the cover as the big bad and the highest CR creatures for both the PHP and DMGs were draconic (gold dragon and dracolich) and having dragons on display makes sense for a 50th anniversary edition. I would have liked to see a dragon on the cover of the MM for the symmetry with the other books and because, well, I like dragons. But I love this cover's take on the beholder. I also like the open chest on top of the structure, that's a nice touch.

 

[Kobold Avenger]

Might be artistic license. Might be that Beholders got the "expanded family" treatment they teased with vampires. Who's to say, until the actual MM comes out.

There already is an "advanced Beholder" but it's called the Hive Mother and it's usually had some differences to make it distinct from the standard Beholder.

 

[MNblockhead]

I liked it better when the art wasn't revealed until you seen it at the store.

Yeah, and receiving Dragon Magazine by mail, removing the protective brown paper sleeve to reveal the treasure within.

On the plus side I can now excitedly discuss new D&D stuff with lots of interested people online, rather than my parents. "That's nice, hon."

 

[MNblockhead]

I had completely forgotten about the Flameskull's existence, but now looking at the images side by side it makes more sense that it is indeed a flameskull.

Demilich art.
View attachment 366079

Flameskull art.
View attachment 366082

GREEN FLAME!

(Sorry, I couldn't resist, Acquisitions Incorporated has thoroughly conditioned me to do this.)

 

[Charlaquin]

The anti-magic ray is a 90 degrees cone or 45 degrees in all directions from the direct center line from the eye, she's outside of the angle.

In 5e, cones are 57.2958 degrees. She’s still outside it, for sure, but. Yeah.

 

[MNblockhead]

That Beholder looks Huge, as in Beholders have maybe 7 or 8 feet in diameter and therefore large. But this one looks like its diameter is more than twice Minsc's height whose someone that's at least 6 feet tall.

He dreamed big.

 

[Reynard]

It wasn't just work for hire though. He sold the rights and then did work for them. He made it first, then sold it.

The end result is the same as far as I can tell.