D&D (2024) Monster Manual 2025 Aberrations & Oozes Video

[Stormonu]

You can still have an orc, but now it is a two step process (I think). You take an NPC stat block and modify it to be an orc? I am still having a hard time understanding what they are going to do based on what they have said / written.

Basically, 3E templates are back.

I don't know how I feel about that. Saves space, but makes more work for the DM to prep the monsters.

 

[Chaltab]

Kind of agree there. One thing I like about how 4E and 5.14 do monster statblocks is that I can look up a species or faction and get multiple thematically appropriate statblocks for that group, and between official, 3PP, homebrew monsters I have plenty of pre-built options. And that's clearly still a thing with non-humanoid statblocks like Gith and Kuo-toa.

If it's really a two-step process in 5.24 where you have to find the appropriate NPC statblock and then customize it with species features that's gonna slow down prep. Customizing an NPC statblock with specific lineage traits was already an option but I'm iffy on it being mandatory as far as official rules.

Not a dealbreaker but definitely something that caused me to raise an eyebrow about the change.

 

[Parmandur]

Basically, 3E templates are back.

I don't know how I feel about that. Saves space, but makes more work for the DM to prep the monsters.

2014 already jd templates.

 

[Parmandur]

Kind of agree there. One thing I like about how 4E and 5.14 do monster statblocks is that I can look up a species or faction and get multiple thematically appropriate statblocks for that group, and between official, 3PP, homebrew monsters I have plenty of pre-built options. And that's clearly still a thing with non-humanoid statblocks like Gith and Kuo-toa.

If it's really a two-step process in 5.24 where you have to find the appropriate NPC statblock and then customize it with species features that's gonna slow down prep. Customizing an NPC statblock with specific lineage traits was already an option but I'm iffy on it being mandatory as far as official rules.

Not a dealbreaker but definitely something that caused me to raise an eyebrow about the change.

Not really clear of that is what they are doing: it might be entirely "just use this NPC stat block and you can say it is whatever Species you want". Or both presented as options. We don't know yet.

 

[the Jester]

Man, the 2024 ruleset has a really weird mix of leaning away from the lore that was already established (most creatures) and leaning in to new lore (e.g. aberrations are now all Far Realms-linked, goblinoids are now Fey, etc).

I miss 2e's "Habitat/Society" and "Ecology" entries.

 

[MechaTarrasque]

It was said there is a conversion guide.

Still I enjoyed the Orc and Drow monster sections, I hope it's replaced with something like a Gruumshian and Lolthite section.

In the DMG, they reference Minotaurs of Baphomet, so I think your odds are pretty good.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Basically, 3E templates are back.

I don't know how I feel about that. Saves space, but makes more work for the DM to prep the monsters.

Well, it depends on how involved the "orc" or "dwarf" templates are. If it's just "reroll any 1s on a damage die" for the orc and "give +1 hit point per hit dice" for the dwarf, that's pretty easy.

I certainly hope WotC doesn't go too crazy with these templates, because yeah, we don't need a ton of extra work added to our plates.

That said, I suspect someone will post stats for premade NPCs using these templates to DMs Guild 30 seconds after the new Monster Manual goes on sale.

 

[Parmandur]

In the DMG, they reference Minotaurs of Baphomet, so I think your odds are pretty good.

They said in one of these videos that aome of the NPCs would reference figures of D&D lore, so we might get a Llolth cultist who is not specifically Drow or female based on the 2014 Drow Priestess stat block.

Might explain why some figures were mentioned in the DMG Lore Glossary...

 

[MGibster]

Someone at WotC didn't like some of the Baldur's Gate 3 NPCs, I guess.

"Does my appearance prove disturbing?" -- Mind Flayer leaning back and seductively showing you his ripped abs.

 

[Weiley31]

I don't mind if there is a "default " NPC stat block. Just as long as they provide enough traits for each of the races to slap on when need be.

So if I want an Orc NPC with Aggressive(I said what I said), Relentless Endurance, and Primal Intuition, then have a at least the traits to slap on it to represent that.

If I want an Elf or Drow Pirate NPC, then provide the Fey Ancestry and Superior Dark Vision traits to slap on said default Pirate NPC stat block.

Etc, etc
.