D&D (2024) Why No Monster Creation Rules in D&D 2024?

[Minigiant]

The systems in 4e worked well. I wasn't a fan of that edition as a whole, but that bit of it (and especially the encounter building systems) were highlights.

4e was designed around having a simple math progression and monster roles.

5e wasn't.

That's 75% of the problem.

5e math is based on feels of the game aspects then the math curve was plotted after. That's why so much of the MM didnt follow the rules.

 

[Minigiant]

Because they were trying to get people to buy their books again.

Exactly.

They have to sell the book first.

Monster creation rules do nothing if you don't sell copies.

 

[delericho]

4e was designed around having a simple math progression and monster roles.

5e wasn't.

That's 75% of the problem.

5e math is based on feels of the game aspects then the math curve was plotted after. That's why so much of the MM didnt follow the rules.

I don't disagree with anything you say here. I was just noting the one example I'm aware of of an edition doing it well.

(And, actually, I'll take the opportunity now to note that this is one of the biggest steps backwards that was taken with 5e, an edition that I generally do like.)

 

[Minigiant]

I don't disagree with anything you say here. I was just noting the one example I'm aware of of an edition doing it well.

(And, actually, I'll take the opportunity now to note that this is one of the biggest steps backwards that was taken with 5e, an edition that I generally do like.)

It's mostly proof that you can't design with both your heart and your mind.

You can't design on feels and expect smooth math.

 

[delericho]

It's mostly proof that you can't design with both your heart and your mind.

You can't design on feels and expect smooth math.

I disagree. In fact, I think that's the opposite of the truth - you must design with your heart and your mind.

If you start heart-first, you still need to marry it up with solid math or you get something gloriously attractive and completely unusable. If you start mind-first, you still need to tweak it for actual use, or you get something that works but is completely soulless.

 

[Minigiant]

I disagree. In fact, I think that's the opposite of the truth - you must design with your heart and your mind.

If you start heart-first, you still need to marry it up with solid math or you get something gloriously attractive and completely unusable. If you start mind-first, you still need to tweak it for actual use, or you get something that works but is completely soulless.

I disagree for D&D at least.

D&D is too much a hodge podge with too big a customer base.

Mind or Heart (or Stomach) has to take priority or you'll never finish.

 

[SkidAce]

New DMs likely shouldn't be building monsters from scratch in the first place. Meanwhile I doubt anyone new to DMing in 2025 will have an issue with looking for tools online.

My ideal solution would include something like a tutorial/step-by-step tool in DndBeyond but if wishes were horses beggars would ride.

Nah, let them build. They will learn.*



*(if you could see my lizard based bat winged nazghul themed clones that worked for my ultimate deity at the time well, ...)

 

[Micah Sweet]

Exactly.

They have to sell the book first.

Monster creation rules do nothing if you don't sell copies.

Maybe they should have made the new books actually new, so you had a reason to buy them.

 

[Minigiant]

Maybe they should have made the new books actually new, so you had a reason to buy them.

The fanbase doesn't want New.

 

[Micah Sweet]

The fanbase doesn't want New.

Then you're in a pickle, because no one's going to get excited about buying the same thing again, so your marketing really has to skirt the edge of honesty to manipulate folks into doing so.

IMO, of course.