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

[dave2008]

The math was off.
Monsters had too little HP, dealt too little damage, had too few range attacks, too low AC, and had too limited control and support options.
The monsters too often just had "numbers" that didn't fit.

But the numbers did fit the monster making guidelines. The math worked, the result just didn't fit your vibe is my guess.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Other 5e games aren't made by WOTC.

Well it isn't.

Damage and HP growth on a curve.
Effects have DPR equivalents
AC is linked to HP
ETC

Not sure what being made by WotC has to do with it.

 

[dave2008]

Any speculation as to why they decided not to let the fans know how to build monsters?

Ok, here is some speculation I remember hearing before: In one interview or presentation a member of the design team or someone from WotC may have mentioned that an online monster building tool could be forthcoming. Such a tool would obviously be on D&D Beyond. So by not having it in the books, they could be forcing you to get a Beyond account to design with the new math.

EDIT: Just want to clarify this is utter speculation with little basis in actual facts. Just rumors I remember (or misremember) reading on the internet.

 

[Micah Sweet]

The issue is 5e
It's math wasn't designed to be simple.

5e was designed on vibes.
Trying to reverse engineer "vibes" into a simple system with low criticism when you failed the first vibecheck is nearly impossible for the main IP holder unless you are willing to dedicate the pages to it.

Perhaps being overly concerned with criticism is why they didn't publish their "secret sauce".

 

[Minigiant]

But the numbers did fit the monster making guidelines. The math worked, the result just didn't fit your vibe is my guess.

On the technicality that you'd have understand the chart with guidelines not in the book.

Guidance and advice that was included that was included in other 3PP A5e or Mike Sheas book.

And more charts.

Which would increase the page count of the monster creation rules.

 

[Scribe]

They didnt even include updated monster building rules?

lol

 

[dave2008]

On the technicality that you'd have understand the chart with guidelines not in the book.

What do you mean. The guidelines where in the book (2014 DMG)? The full LevelUp guidelines are around 2 pages. I am really not sure what you are saying.

 

[dave2008]

They didnt even include updated monster building rules?

lol

They did not, to be fair they are not typically in the MM!

 

[Minigiant]

What do you mean. The guidelines where in the book (2014 DMG)? The full LevelUp guidelines are around 2 pages. I am really not sure what you are saying.

The A5e guidelines are ~4 with little art.
So in 2024 standards even if you take out the redundant chart, that's 6 extra pages.

 

[Micah Sweet]

They did not, to be fair they are not typically in the MM!

They are typically in the DMG, where they also weren't.