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

[dave2008]

I mean D&D has been retconning its past since the 70s. Just look at the history of the Nine Hells. Zariel was supposed to be the first ruler of Avernus and now she's only been a devil for a couple centuries.

Tiamat was the first ruler of Avernus:

This is the way.

 

[Yaarel]

But it did. Elves could not be priests. That had implications. Did Correlon show up and grant elves access to divine magic? Was it like Dragonlance where the elf gods showed up and elves found divine power? Were elves atheist before that?

Not intentionally, but perhaps accommodating the old school ideas, I always make the spiritual leaders of the Fey (and Fey connected) Elves be Bards, functioning in a shamanic capacity as well as the artists for community events.

 

[dave2008]

I've never really bought into any lore post 3e. Inconsistencies have increased markedly since then. Descent Into Avernus means very little to me.

I never really bought into any lore post 1e MM. Inconsistencies have increased markedly since then, but I roll with the punches and take the good and leave the bad.

This is the way!

 

[Yaarel]

Here's what the 2024 MM's entry on Lizardfolk says: "Lizardfolk dwell in wildernesses suffused with primal magic. While many lizardfolk are Humanoids with varied skills, some forge powerful bonds with the Elemental Plane of Earth, granting them magical connections to the cycle of growth and rebirth."

Lizardfolk Geomancer: "Lizardfolk geomancers draw magic from the natural world, using it to protect their people and territories."

Lizardfolk Sovereign: "Lizardfolk sovereigns undergo magical rites that imbue them with fantastic strength and magic from the Elemental Plane of Earth. In some, though, it also unlocks a primal viciousness."

I like it.

The "wilderness" can be swamps, but can be any uncultivated wild landscape.

 

[Yaarel]

As I have a player that has recently been cursed with Lycanthropy, how does the curse of lycanthropy function in this new edition?

As DM, I created a feat to represent the character learning how to maintain ones humanity while in the animal form. Essentially, the actual Wolf statblock is the alternate form. There is a medial form that is more or less the original character stats with a bonus Claw attack. If I remember correctly, I made it require a full minute to transform from one shape to an other. The feat allows the player to replace the Humanoid type with the Beast type instead.

 

[Yaarel]

If the cursed target drops to 0 Hit Points, it instead becomes a were-creature under the DM’s control and has 10 Hit Points. No more "playable" were PC

Wow. That is old school.

But the feat I mentioned above, lets a balanced playable character return from that one-way ticket.

 

[pukunui]

From the "what's new" in the MM intro:

"Enhanced Stat Blocks. New stat block design and language prioritize details vital during play."

My emphasis.

Uh-huh. Yeah no. That's not true, especially not when it comes to spells in stat blocks, amirite?

 

[dave2008]

From the "what's new" in the MM intro:

"Enhanced Stat Blocks. New stat block design and language prioritize details vital during play."

My emphasis.

Uh-huh. Yeah no. That's not true, especially not when it comes to spells in stat blocks, amirite?

I do think it is generally true, but still absolutely false when it comes to spells.

 

[pukunui]

I do like the stat block overview diagram (which unfortunately isn't a picture on DDB so I can't show it to you as easily here). It's similar to the examples of play diagrams in the new PHB.

 

[Kobold Stew]

Agreed. Meanwhile, we get things like ACs with no explanation of how they were calculated and other things like "The lich casts Counterspell or Shield in response to the spell’s trigger, using the same spellcasting ability as Spellcasting." That last phrase is repeated elsewhere (including in the non-statblock text). Surely there was a less wordy way in which to say that!

I wonder if there are any instances when it isn't the highest of the three spellcasting stats. I'll bet a blanket rule could have been made that monster spells are cast with the highest of the three.