D&D (2024) Saving Thow importance changed. Strength is now a valuable save

[ECMO3]

The 2024 MM isn't out now, time traveller.

I am still playing games and unarmed strikes is something any monster can do (as an attack no less).

I could see a DM saying a ghost or something like that could not do it, but that is homebrew.

 

[Charlaquin]

Monsters aren't making unarmedstrikes and they not using weapon masteries though.

If you look at the monsters in the PHB, They either grapple on a hit or is it Strength save.

More frequently, they don’t have a grapple attack in their stat block, so they would need to use an unarmed strike if they want to grapple.

The crocodile and giant crab grapple on it.
The constricted snake grapples with a strength save.

Sure, but a goblin or orc or whatever has neither, but can still make unarmed strikes.

Grappling Monsters aren't grappling with unarmed strikes.

That’s kinda up to how the DM decides to play the monsters. Nothing stops a monster with at least one free hand from using an unarmed strike to grapple though.

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

That’s kinda up to how the DM decides to play the monsters. Nothing stops a monster with at least one free hand from using an unarmed strike to grapple though.

Of course, many don't have hands which grappling requires.

Sorry, giant eagles, no lambs for you!

 

[Minigiant]

More frequently, they don’t have a grapple attack in their stat block, so they would need to use an unarmed strike if they want to grapple.

Sure, but a goblin or orc or whatever has neither, but can still make unarmed strikes.

That’s kinda up to how the DM decides to play the monsters. Nothing stops a monster with at least one free hand from using an unarmed strike to grapple though.

But the whole point and premise behind this is that stuff saves have increased importance.

A DM can shift anything personally.

Therefore we have to use the base stat block rules as an assumption that something has changed

 

[Charlaquin]

But how often will DMs bother to have enemies push or grapple via Unarmed Strike when they can just use monsters that can push or knock prone automatically on a hit?

Not all monsters that a DM might want to have push or grapple a PC will have such abilities. Like, sure, a wolf can just do it on a hit, but sometimes you don’t want a wolf, you want an orc, or a bugbear, or whatever.

I reckon there will be overall fewer Str saves happening as a result but I’ll wait to see for myself.

I think it’ll vary quite a bit from table to table. Personally, I like to have monsters favor enabling themselves and/or their allies to attack with advantage over attacking without advantage, so I anticipate them making a lot of unarmed strikes to knock a target down and gang up on them. For DMs who prefer to just have every monster use its higest damage attack every round, there may be fewer unarmed strikes being made.

 

[Charlaquin]

Of course, many don't have hands which grappling requires.

Sorry, giant eagles, no lambs for you!

I think a talon counts

 

[fluffybunbunkittens]

I think a talon counts

I think a proper test for this, is to give the giant eagles a sword and a shield.

 

[Charlaquin]

But the whole point and prayers behind this is that stuff saves have increased importance

Is there maybe a typo in this sentence because I can’t make sense of it as-written?

A DM can shift anything personally.
Therefore we have to use the base stat block rules as an assumption that something has changed

A DM doesn’t have to shift anything for a monster to make an unarmed strike. Thats just an action available for any creature to take. Always has been.

 

[ECMO3]

But the whole point and prayers behind this is that stuff saves have increased importance.

A DM can shift anything personally.

Therefore we have to use the base stat block rules as an assumption that something has changed

Attack is a base action available to anyone.

 

[Ashrym]

I think a proper test for this, is to give the giant eagles a sword and a shield.

They still won't show up until after the hard part is over.