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

[Kobold Avenger]

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Those creatures next to the main rakshasa might be different types of rakshasa? Looks like they've got backwards hands, too!

3e insisted that some Rakshasas had other types of animal heads, but it mostly just showed feline heads.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

Looks like they've got backwards hands, too!

I really wish they'd drop that! It just looks wrong, and not in cool disturbingly otherworldly way, but in "Was the artist drunk?"/ "Is this AI?" way.

 

[Minigiant]

I really wish they'd drop that! It just looks wrong, and not in cool disturbingly otherworldly way, but in "Was the artist drunk?"/ "Is this AI?" way.

The wrongness is the point.

It's what drives you to avoid of kill it with fire.

 

[Crimson Longinus]

The wrongness is the point.

It's what drives you to avoid of kill it with fire.

But it just looks stupid.

 

[Minigiant]

But it just looks stupid.

It's distinctively stupid and mostly unused elsewhere.
It's good business.

 

[dave2008]

But it just looks stupid.

In your opinion. I always thought that was something that comes from the original mythology.

To be clear, I don't particularly like it (the backwards hands) and find it disturbing. However, I think that can be a good thing sometimes. We need, I believe, to sometimes be able to accept, perhaps even embrace, things we don't like.

 

[Retreater]

I guess you haven't been paying attention then. A lot more changes than just HP. Are you actively trying not to see the changes?

I've only seen one review from someone who had a PDF copy. He didn't get into all the details.
I was more referring to the original 5e design principle that monsters are balanced based on "HP damage they can take" and "HP damage they can deal out." Removing stuff like needing silver or magic to damage lycanthropes rubs me the wrong way.

 

[Imaro]

Assuming we don't have goliaths or giants or other large PCs. Sure. But I could still loot it.

So it would be loot as opposed to gear. I'm actually thinking having the gear entry is an elegant way of quickly calling out what equipment a monster/NPC has that can be used by PC's. I like it more now than I did at first as it serves a clear purpose for something that has come up often enough in my game... while easily ignored by those who don't want or need it.

 

[dave2008]

I've only seen one review from someone who had a PDF copy. He didn't get into all the details.
I was more referring to the original 5e design principle that monsters are balanced based on "HP damage they can take" and "HP damage they can deal out." Removing stuff like needing silver or magic to damage lycanthropes rubs me the wrong way.

They didn't remove it though (at least for lycanthropes), they change it. We haven't actually seen the 2024 lycanthropes yet, but if they follow the approach of VRGtR then they will have regeneration that doesn't work if you attack with a silvered weapon. Thematically that works better for me, but not everyone agrees of course. There are also a host of other defenses, traits, and actions that go beyond just HP and damage. Also, they specifically have added "interesting" things which you claimed they didn't.

Lately, you have a habit of making bold claims based on limited or inaccurate information. Not sure why.

 

[Micah Sweet]

So, here is a list of good from a person who was given a review PDF. Note the got #9 wrong, some monsters do still have resistance to B,P,S damage (the Empyrean for example).

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And the negative. There was actually a 3rd, but he didn't add it to the graphic. #3 is: No monster building rules!
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No monster building rules huh? A lot of folks seemed to be looking forward to those.