D&D (2024) D&D Monster Manual (2025)

[Remathilis]

So we have seen hints that we will likely have:

• Bugbear Warriors
• Bullywug Warriors
• Veteran Warriors
• Infantry Warriors

The 2014 DMG had species templates for modifying the NPC stat blocks in the MM. The bugbear, bullywug, and vereran where all stat blocks in the 2014 MM. Bugbear and Bullywug were also templates in the 2014 DMG.

The list above almost makes it look like warrior would be the template (though I can't see a shared thread between the Bugbear and Bullywug warriors). Perhaps in the 2024 MM the templates are species (bullywug and bugbear here) and "class" (veteran and infantry here) and the NPC base stat block is simply "Warrior?"

IDK, something is not making sense to me right now with the information we have.

I don't think there will be all that much continuity. I think warrior is going to be a way of saying "low CR grunt" version of the monster. There will probably be a bunch of different bugbears, kobolds and such filling the roles leader, caster, etc.

 

[dave2008]

I don't think there will be all that much continuity. I think warrior is going to be a way of saying "low CR grunt" version of the monster. There will probably be a bunch of different bugbears, kobolds and such filling the roles leader, caster, etc.

I don't have any issue with that, I just hope the warrior versions aren't replacing the generic versions. I prefer the bugbear in 2014 MM to the 2024 bugbear warrior. My hopes it that there is also a generic bugbear in the 2025 MM.

 

[ad&d wilderness encounter]

I don't have any issue with that, I just hope the warrior versions aren't replacing the generic versions. I prefer the bugbear in 2014 MM to the 2024 bugbear warrior. My hopes it that there is also a generic bugbear in the 2025 MM.

it'd be really weird for them to cut that out. but then again, this is WOTC

 

[Chaosmancer]

Oh, sure, butnit would be great if there was a formal easy-peasy chart. Better yet if it stealthed in a variety of alternative playable Species.

Agreed, and I could see it happening

 

[Chaosmancer]

it'd be really weird for them to cut that out. but then again, this is WOTC

I really don't see how it is weird, in fact, I think it is a good move.

These are combatants, these are warriors. By making that clear, it helps make these cultures more diverse. A bullywug merchant might have their leap... but they might not have the strength, dex, con, or weapon proficiency of a warrior... because they are not warriors. They are some OTHER part of the Bullywug society.

I will acknowledge this is breaking from traditional views that all monstrous species are deadly threats to a man, but I think it is a good move to give mental space for acknowledging more complex societies.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

I hold the same view. This same thing was even suggested by Volo’s years back. Monster Manual Gnolls were referenced as Gnolls Warriors.

It makes sense, these are not the generic members of their species (which would probably be commoners) but their combatants.

They plan to update all the old monsters so we will probably have both the Bugbear Warrior and Bugbear Chief.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

I don't have any issue with that, I just hope the warrior versions aren't replacing the generic versions. I prefer the bugbear in 2014 MM to the 2024 bugbear warrior. My hopes it that there is also a generic bugbear in the 2025 MM.

What does the 2014 Bugbear do better in your view?

 

[dave2008]

What does the 2014 Bugbear do better in your view?

I like the simple higher damage of the morningstar and longer range of the javelin. I do like the longer reach and the interaction between unarmed strike and hammer of the 2024 version

 

[Remathilis]

I don't have any issue with that, I just hope the warrior versions aren't replacing the generic versions. I prefer the bugbear in 2014 MM to the 2024 bugbear warrior. My hopes it that there is also a generic bugbear in the 2025 MM.

The bugbear warrior is filling essentially the same niche as the generic bugbear, so I don't see a value in both being in the book. The 2014 bugbear will still work fine if you prefer it to the 2024, and I'd rather see extra stat blocks dedicated to far more different types of bugbears like the chief or a caster or such.

 

[Paul Farquhar]

If you say “bugbear” it implies the stat-block represents the entire species. “Bugbear Warrior” indicates an average grunt, who may not be representative. Nothing more to it than that.