2025 Monster Manual to Introduce Male Versions of Hags, Medusas, and Dryads

The upcoming Monster Manual will feature artwork depicting some creatures like hags and medusas in both genders, a first for Dungeons & Dragons. In the "Everything You Need to Know" video for the upcoming Monster Manual, designers Jeremy Crawford and Wesley Schneider revealed that the new book would feature artwork portraying both male and female versions of creatures like hags, dryads, satyrs, and medusas. While there was a male medusa named Marlos Urnrayle in Princes of the Apocalypse (who had a portrait in the book) and players could make satyr PCs of either gender, this marks the first time that D&D has explicitly shown off several of these creatures as being of both male and female within a rulebook. There is no mechanical difference between male creatures and female creatures, so this is solely a change in how some monsters are presented.

In other news that actually does impact D&D mechanics, goblins are now classified as fey creatures (similar to how hobgoblins were portrayed as fey creatures in Monsters of the Multiverse) and gnolls are now classified as fiends.

Additionally, monster statblocks include potential treasure and gear options, so that DMs can reward loot when a player character inevitably searches the dead body of a creature.

The new Monster Manual will be released on February 18th, 2025.

 

[dave2008]

It’s almost like there’s demand for them that WotC is spurning for no real reason or something.

Not that I wouldn't want them, but you seem to be the only person demanding them in all of these pages.

 

[Charlaquin]

I’m a little taken aback by all the gnoll love. I don’t know if I’ve ever used them in a campaign.

Any anthropomorphic animal species is going to have at least a small group of very passionate fans. Some people get very attached to certain animals, and some people just love anthros of any variety.

 

[Charlaquin]

I have never seen anyone want to play an Orc. The only times anyone has chosen half-orc was due to mechanics. They wanted the bonuses. This included the WoW fans that were in my games at the height of WoW.

I just do not get the Orc love. I think it will be interesting to see the stats on Orcs from DDB to see if they are at all popular.

I have an orc character for my forum avatar. Love playing orcs, either mixed or full-blooded.

 

[Weiley31]

Gnoll options we have, as mentioned before, Exploring Eberron, Grim Hollow, and Kobold Press.

Of the playable Gnoll options, I prefer the Exploring Eberron option as the base with the Necropolis Gnoll as the sub-race choice. (I like the idea that the Demonic Taint that afflicts Gnolls gives them an advantage to resisting curses/cursed items. Making lemonade outta lemons basically).

Grim Hollow Gnolls may work better for the playable evil Gnoll route.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Not that I wouldn't want them, but you seem to be the only person demanding them in all of these pages.

I, for one, think D&D was better with playable gnolls.

 

[Charlaquin]

Not that I wouldn't want them, but you seem to be the only person demanding them in all of these pages.

I’m the most vocal about it, but if the buzz around the topic and the likes my comments are getting are any indication, I’m not the only one interested. And as we know, ENWorld regulars are a very small and unrepresentative niche. Not to say there’s some huge cohort of people kicking down WotC’s door for PC gnolls, but they’ve got a surprisingly large fan base. Enough that the question of PC gnolls came up at the height of the great orc debates.

EDIT: Also in general I tend to be very vocal about things I feel strongly about, because that’s the only way to bring attention to the issue(s).

 

[Crimson Longinus]

I have never seen anyone want to play an Orc. The only times anyone has chosen half-orc was due to mechanics. They wanted the bonuses. This included the WoW fans that were in my games at the height of WoW.

I just do not get the Orc love. I think it will be interesting to see the stats on Orcs from DDB to see if they are at all popular.

Half of the party in my current game are orcs.

 

[dave2008]

I’m the most vocal about it, but if the buzz around the topic and the likes my comments are getting are any indication, I’m not the only one interested. And as we know, ENWorld regulars are a very small and unrepresentative niche. Not to say there’s some huge cohort of people kicking down WotC’s door for PC gnolls, but they’ve got a surprisingly large fan base. Enough that the question of PC gnolls came up at the height of the great orc debates.

EDIT: Also in general I tend to be very vocal about things I feel strongly about, because that’s the only way to bring attention to the issue(s).

I mean I am a huge fan of gnolls, I just like them as murderous unrelenting fiends mostly. With some exceptions of course.

 

[Jfdlsjfd]

What would be the price of a MM without art? Imagination would let everyone think of what a satyr should look like, and since these artworks must cost a lot of money, an affordable Listing of Statted Things might interest me more (well, not if the cost of art in the book is 1 dollar, but if it's half the price...)

 

[dave2008]

What would be the price of a MM without art? Imagination would let everyone think of what a satyr should look like, and since these artworks must cost a lot of money, an affordable Listing of Statted Things might interest me more (well, not if the cost of art in the book is 1 dollar, but if it's half the price...)

I would sooner but a monster book with only art and no statblocks!