D&D (2024) Another D&D 2024 Monster Preview: The Kuo-Toa!

Following the ancient green dragon preview, here's a look at another iconic D&D monster from the 2025 Monster Manual!

 

[Nebulous]

I kind of like how the save is beside the stat now. I am not jumping into this new edition, there's others I rather check out, but I have liked mostly what I've seen so far.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

I’m glad they removed the lore of them being former Mind Flayer slaves. We already have enough of those in D&D. Their backstory lore is now more similar to Aboleths than Gith/Duergar/Grimlocks/Derro, which I think makes sense.

 

[Demetrios1453]

T

He term Underdark comes from the Realms. Greyhawk never had a name for it (I xould be wrong).

The Underdark as a term was first used in the 1986 Dungeoneer's Survival Guide, several years before the first FR set.

 

[Scribe]

I noticed that the “usually” is gone from both monsters’ alignments again. Though, I guess neither has the humanoid creature type, so that seems to be the line they’re drawing for who it’s ok to define as always evil.

Did Wizards remove the "you can always change alignment" text?

I somehow doubt it, but that never stopped anyone for the last decade...

 

[Parmandur]

I’m glad they removed the lore of them being former Mind Flayer slaves. We already have enough of those in D&D. Their backstory lore is now more similar to Aboleths than Gith/Duergar/Grimlocks/Derro, which I think makes sense.

It doesn't even contradict that as a possibility, leaves things open for DM decisions.

Well done.

 

[mamba]

Definitely like the new art better, would have liked them still manifesting their gods into existence

 

[Micah Sweet]

Can't speak to pre-3e lore, as I've never been much of a Greyhawk lore or drow lore aficionado, and my 1e-era lore in particular is spotty at best, but WotC put out a "Drow of the Underdark" book in 3.5e that was modeled after Greyhawk lore - namely including a chapter on the city of Erelhei-Cinlu, which as I understand it is the "Menzoberranzan" equivalent for Greyhawk, introduced back in Against the Giants/Vault of the Drow.

The FR line had its own "Underdark" book during the 3e/3.5e era filling a similar role (though more broadly focused, rather than fixated specifically on drow), as well as a "City of the Spider Queen" adventure book.

So "Underdark" as a term has been treated as setting neutral since at least 3e/3.5e.

I get that, but my memory extends through the TSR era, and I'm pretty sure it was developed as a term for the Realms. Happy to be proven wrong though.

 

[Micah Sweet]

I’m glad they removed the lore of them being former Mind Flayer slaves. We already have enough of those in D&D. Their backstory lore is now more similar to Aboleths than Gith/Duergar/Grimlocks/Derro, which I think makes sense.

Unless they removed all the lore like that, although I suspect that would be fine with you too.

 

[Micah Sweet]

The Underdark as a term was first used in the 1986 Dungeoneer's Survival Guide, several years before the first FR set.

Fair enough.

 

[Scribe]

Unless they removed all the lore like that, although I suspect that would be fine with you too.

Actually the only one that even mentions 'servitude' is the Gith. Everything was updated in MotM to 'suffered experiments'.