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

[DEFCON 1]

If you have the old book, then sure, of course you can. But will they be keeping the book in print? I doubt it. And that, for me, is where the problem lies: the basic monster information is missing from the core books.

But who are you worried for?

I would assume not yourself as I imagine you already have the 5E14 MM. Future players? Well, if completely new players come to 5E24 D&D and are taught that Orcs use NPC statblocks... then they learn and become comfortable with using NPC statblocks for Orcs and they don't need specific Orc statblocks. They won't have the concern about not having something they never had. So if they won't care that there's no Orc statblock in the 5E24 MM and you can use your 5E14 MM Orc statblock as you might need... then where's the problem? Who's missing out?

 

[Micah Sweet]

But who are you worried for?

I would assume not yourself as I imagine you already have the 5E14 MM. Future players? Well, if completely new players come to 5E24 D&D and are taught that Orcs use NPC statblocks... then they learn and become comfortable with using NPC statblocks for Orcs and they don't need specific Orc statblocks. They won't have the concern about not having something they never had. So if they won't care that there's no Orc statblock in the 5E24 MM and you can use your 5E14 MM Orc statblock as you might need... then where's the problem? Who's missing out?

If what we're getting now is missing what was there before, you are missing out by only using the new stuff whether you realize it or not. And in any case the internet will make sure you do realize it.

 

[DEFCON 1]

If what we're getting now is missing what was there before, you are missing out by only using the new stuff whether you realize it or not. And in any case the internet will make sure you do realize it.

So what? What's the problem? Are you therefore suggesting the game should have set roles for each class again then, since they had them in 4E? Or that the game needs to go back to Base Attack Bonus since that was in 3E? Or THAC0 from 2E?

There's a lot of stuff that we had before that is now missing. How are you determining which stuff should have stayed and which was all right to let go of? And why is your list better than anyone else's?

 

[FrogReaver]

Do you like it better than the 2014 MM?

 

[Micah Sweet]

So what? What's the problem? Are you therefore suggesting the game should have set roles for each class again then, since they had them in 4E? Or that the game needs to go back to Base Attack Bonus since that was in 3E? Or THAC0 from 2E?

There's a lot of stuff that we had before that is now missing. How are you determining which stuff should have stayed and which was all right to let go of? And why is your list better than anyone else's?

Because this is supposedly still 5e.

 

[Kobold Stew]

But who are you worried for?

I would assume not yourself as I imagine you already have the 5E14 MM. Future players? Well, if completely new players come to 5E24 D&D and are taught that Orcs use NPC statblocks... then they learn and become comfortable with using NPC statblocks for Orcs and they don't need specific Orc statblocks. They won't have the concern about not having something they never had. So if they won't care that there's no Orc statblock in the 5E24 MM and you can use your 5E14 MM Orc statblock as you might need... then where's the problem? Who's missing out?

I have an answer, but I think it makes sense to save it until I have a book in hand, rather than speculate. If you don't see a need for "core rulebooks" to provide all the basic information most people will use to play, i suspect we just won't see eye-to-eye in any case.

 

[DEFCON 1]

Because this is supposedly still 5e.

So you are saying WotC screwed up by removing the Totem Barbarian, four of the Wizard subclasses, the old Stealth rules, and the Trident having the same stats as the Spear?

Okay... well, the heart wants what it wants I guess. Best of luck setting up a Transmutation wizard subclass for your players! Hope it works out for you!

 

[DEFCON 1]

I have an answer, but I think it makes sense to save it until I have a book in hand, rather than speculate. If you don't see a need for "core rulebooks" to provide all the basic information most people will use to play, i suspect we just won't see eye-to-eye in any case.

I suspect we don't see eye-to-eye on what needs to be considered "basic information". And for me... a statblock that has a random assortment of AC, hit points, a speed, six ability scores, a melee weapon, a ranged weapon, and a trait that essentially says they can Dash with a Bonus action doesn't become "basic" just because someone put 'Orc' in the header. But that's just me.

 

[Micah Sweet]

So you are saying WotC screwed up by removing the Totem Barbarian, four of the Wizard subclasses, the old Stealth rules, and the Trident having the same stats as the Spear?

Okay... well, the heart wants what it wants I guess. Best of luck setting up a Transmutation wizard subclass for your players! Hope it works out for you!

I'm saying if you want to produce new materials for an existing edition, publish a new book. Don't try to sell your consumers the same book again and manipulate them into believing its somehow worth it or they have no choice.

 

[FitzTheRuke]

Does it say NPC stat blocks are for any/just humanoids? If you want a gnoll scout among the standard gnolls you throw at your party are you houseruling the scout's fiendish type to humanoid or the scout's type to non-fiendish?

It doesn't say anything specific that I can see about that, but I'm pretty sure that's covered in the DMG when they talk about reskinning or minor modding monsters. At any rate, it's a pretty standard thing to do. Seems reasonable to me.

So they could keep them as monsters.

Sort of. It seems that all humanoids are represented in the MM as NPCs. It's not that Lizardfolk are elementals, it's that Lizardfolk who are NOT elementals are humanoids, and therefore use NPC statblocks. You can still murder them - it's just that they have the wide variety that "people" have, and aren't represented by a narrow block. OTOH, special rarer versions (such as Lizardfolk that are changed by elemental magic) might be of a different type, and have a special block.

It's not how I would do it, but it makes sense.

Are sidekicks included?

Nope.