Black Flag Making the Commoner cool

[bedir than]

One of the things that late-5e systems try to do better than the 2014 base model is making every monster interesting. In 2024 WotC D&D an example is the Ape, which now has a rock throwing ability.

When perusing the Monster Vault from Kobold Press I went straight to the NPCs today. I've liked Kobold's NPCs for quite some time, but when I looked at the Commoner I was pleasantly surprised -- even the Commoner has a cool thing!

The Angry Mob function fits so many narratives that inspire our games, but hasn't been satisfactory (I tried to solve this similar issue with a Swarm of Commoners). The Angry Mob is a rush function that does damage based on the size of the group that can swarm towards the victim. The save is a bit too easy IMO, but overall the rule and 'monster' do what the narrative demands.

Page 378 of their SRD

 

[sevenbastard]

Nice! That's a trick I will pilfer.

 

[Krachek]

Best way to go over 300 pages.

 

[bedir than]

Best way to go over 300 pages.

the 2014 5.1 SRD is 403.
The A5eSRD is probably over 1000.

Black Flag being 385 isn't an indication of anything really

 

[Krachek]

the 2014 5.1 SRD is 403.
The A5eSRD is probably over 1000.

Black Flag being 385 isn't an indication of anything really

I agree, I was mocking about the coolness of adding special trait to all monster, just to have a special trait…
Crowd effect or overwhelming numerous opponents is a cool effect and should be used more often. But to make it the special attack of the “commoner” is a kind of amusing.

 

[bedir than]

I agree, I was mocking about the coolness of adding special trait to all monster, just to have a special trait…
Crowd effect or overwhelming numerous opponents is a cool effect and should be used more often. But to make it the special attack of the “commoner” is a kind of amusing.

Level Up's Beastiary also had a cool thing for every monster, and 2024 attempts to