D&D (2024) I have a Monster Manual. AMA!

[Reynard]

If people really need a standard Orc or Lizardman statblock for their games... you can always just use your 5E14 Monster Manual statblock. No one is going to care that you used a product outside of the 5E24 books.

Or if you don't want your Lizardman Geomancer to be classified under the 'elemental' umbrella so that your player can cast Hold Person on it... then you can just take the category off. No one is going to care that you do that.

I think there is a middle ground there where the Lizardfolk entry includes statblocks for Lizardfolk Hunter, lizardfolk Champion, Lizardfolk Lurker (a elemental water variant) and lizardfolk geomancer (a elemental earth variant).

In other words, adding depth to the group not only makes them more useful overall (having different roles and CRs) but also shows GMs what is possible.

 

[dave2008]

@FitzTheRuke, I am having a discussion in another thread about monster loot. What does the 2024 MM say about monster equipment & gear. For reference, here is what the 2014 MM says:

Equipment​

A stat block rarely refers to equipment, other than armor or weapons used by a monster. A creature that customarily wears clothes, such as a humanoid, is assumed to be dressed appropriately.

You can equip monsters with additional gear and trinkets however you like, using the equipment chapter of the Player’s Handbook for inspiration, and you decide how much of a monster’s equipment is recoverable after the creature is slain and whether any of that equipment is still usable. A battered suit of armor made for a monster is rarely usable by someone else, for instance.

If a spellcasting monster needs material components to cast its spells, assume that it has the material components it needs to cast the spells in its stat block.

 

[Echohawk]

The 2025 Monster Manual is now live on D&D Beyond for those with early, early access.

 

[DEFCON 1]

I think there is a middle ground there where the Lizardfolk entry includes statblocks for Lizardfolk Hunter, lizardfolk Champion, Lizardfolk Lurker (a elemental water variant) and lizardfolk geomancer (a elemental earth variant).

In other words, adding depth to the group not only makes them more useful overall (having different roles and CRs) but also shows GMs what is possible.

Well, thankfully there are dozens of other monster books out there that you can pick up and use as needed that probably will serve your needs. After all... with some people always saying they think WotC monsters are bland and underpowered, you might be better off using non-WotC monster books anyway.

 

[dave2008]

The 2025 Monster Manual is now live on D&D Beyond for those with early, early access.

Unfortunately I don't have early access.

 

[Reynard]

Well, thankfully there are dozens of other monster books out there that you can pick up and use as needed that probably will serve your needs. After all... with some people always saying they think WotC monsters are bland and underpowered, you might be better off using non-WotC monster books anyway.

What is the point of this response?

 

[DEFCON 1]

What is the point of this response?

I dunno. What was the point of your post where you said "That is the dumbest thing I have heard with regards to D&D 2024."?

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Doubling down on one of the worst things in 5e combat isn't the solution to bags of HP = boring fights.

Can you please rephrase that. I fail to make sense of this sentence.

 

[Micah Sweet]

Because it reinforces their diegetic expression as geomancers?

It's expressing the narrative reality as a mechanic.

A narrative reality they invented...why? So they can have former humanoids for all four elements?

 

[Micah Sweet]

I think there is a middle ground there where the Lizardfolk entry includes statblocks for Lizardfolk Hunter, lizardfolk Champion, Lizardfolk Lurker (a elemental water variant) and lizardfolk geomancer (a elemental earth variant).

In other words, adding depth to the group not only makes them more useful overall (having different roles and CRs) but also shows GMs what is possible.

I don't really see any of this adding depth.