D&D General Drow & Orcs Removed from the Monster Manual

[Reynard]

Again, I'm first in line to defend WotC, but I have to admit that this is a bit weird. How is a "Drow" equivalent a "Priest acolyte" or whatever? It doesn't match at all.

I think the intent is just: Are you in the middle of running an adventure and BAM! drow are needed. Use this statblock with the same CR!

It isn't meant to say anything about actual drow.

 

[Remathilis]

Fair enough! I just reviewed the 2014 MM and yeah, everyone you need is there.

Again, I'm first in line to defend WotC, but I have to admit that this is a bit weird. How is a "Drow" equivalent a "Priest acolyte" or whatever? It doesn't match at all.

I mean, YES there were a few Lolth sworn clerics in the Drizzt books, but they were elite, not regular chumps like the classic "Drow" stat block was meant to represent.

I do admit some confusion now that I have the actual book in my hands. Luckily, I can fix this stuff for my own use, no problem. But still...

Having looked at all the alternatives to classic humanoids, the Drow is the only swing and a miss. All the others I can squint and see, but turning rank and file Drow into cleric's loses the feel.

 

[Bae'zel]

I think the intent is just: Are you in the middle of running an adventure and BAM! drow are needed. Use this statblock with the same CR!

It isn't meant to say anything about actual drow.

Precisely... and for that general sentiment, I think it's fine.

But... that wouldn't have been good enough my kids. They want globes of darkness and sleep darts and faerie fire. Just like in the books!

As an aside, how come Drow don't have levitate anymore? In the Salvatore books, Drow are constantly floating up and down as part of their tactics. Drizzt lost that ability as he distanced himself from the Underdark and Lolth, but still. Was this a thing in earlier editions?

They do, I'm just dumb

 

[Remathilis]

Precisely... and for that general sentiment, I think it's fine.

But... that wouldn't have been good enough my kids. They want globes of darkness and sleep darts and faerie fire. Just like in the books!

As an aside, how come Drow don't have levitate anymore? In the Salvatore books, Drow are constantly floating up and down as part of their tactics. Drizzt lost that ability as he distanced himself from the Underdark and Lolth, but still. Was this a thing in earlier editions?

Noble Drow had that ability. I think you can still get it as a racial feat in Xanathar.

 

[ezo]

Then let's by all means go back to the 1e MM where humans, dwarves, elves, etc. had entries and were there to also be enemies. I'd rather include separate entries for all of those than remove iconic enemies the way that they did.

Yep, all this.

 

[Warpiglet-7]

Is there a genuine gameplay benefit to leaving some humanoid monsters out of the MM? I know it can be fixed and put together but genuinely want to know what I am missing.

 

[Phaezen]

Precisely... and for that general sentiment, I think it's fine.

But... that wouldn't have been good enough my kids. They want globes of darkness and sleep darts and faerie fire. Just like in the books!

As an aside, how come Drow don't have levitate anymore? In the Salvatore books, Drow are constantly floating up and down as part of their tactics. Drizzt lost that ability as he distanced himself from the Underdark and Lolth, but still. Was this a thing in earlier editions?

Drow of 4th level or higher had levitate as a 1/day spell in Second Ed, nothing mentioned in the 3e MM

 

[Bae'zel]

Noble Drow had that ability. I think you can still get it as a racial feat in Xanathar.

You're right, my bad. A lot of the stronger Drow have that in their statblocks. Oops

 

[AnotherGuy]

I'm not sure what all the fuss is about, if you have the monster manuals of the earlier editions this Monster Manual is the bomb. You just cannot go wrong.

 

[Bae'zel]

I'm not sure what all the fuss is about, if you have the monster manuals of the earlier editions this Monster Manual is the bomb. You just cannot go wrong.

Part of the appeal of the new book is the layout, monster buffs etc. I vastly prefer it to the last one, but you're right. Any gaps can be filled with the 2014 book.

The Glass is Half Full.