D&D (2024) Hobgoblin warriors

[Bae'zel]

I think that they made some errors. The CR 1/2 hobgoblin does more poison damage than the captain (CR 3).

 

[Ruin Explorer]

EDIT: LOL the Warlord (CR 6) has longsword 12 (2d8+3). HUH?

Exactly lol, it's just weird.

I wish 5E had like, real solid internal logic to how they handle the DPR, EHP, and so on, but... it doesn't. The stuff they had in 2014 for creating monsters is clearly not they method they used themselves either.

 

[Bae'zel]

Actually, they might be wearing plate armor? Do they have a gear section that includes armor?

Yeah: "Gear Half Plate Armor, Longbow, Longsword, Shield)"

 

[TwoSix]

Nope.

Hobgoblins are a PC race, so I would stat them up like baseline humanoids with 1-2 HD , and a roughly +4-5 bonus to attacks (14-16 Str, and 12-16 Dex). They should be using Help as a bonus action (Fey Gift) a lot, and a +2-3 bonus they use liberally with Fortune from the Many.

They're scary because they're crazy accurate (+7-8 with Fortune of the Many) in a group and they are all trained warriors, but they should be doing normal longsword or longbow damage. No 3d4 damage poison or handing out to half-plate to CR 1/2 monsters.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

Nope.

Hobgoblins are a PC race, so I would stat them up like baseline humanoids with 1-2 HD , and a roughly +4-5 bonus to attacks (14-16 Str, and 12-16 Dex). They should be using Help as a bonus action (Fey Gift) a lot, and a +2-3 bonus they use liberally with Fortune from the Many.

They're scary because they're crazy accurate (+7-8 with Fortune of the Many) in a group and they are all trained warriors, but they should be doing normal longsword or longbow damage. No 3d4 damage poison or handing out to half-plate to CR 1/2 monsters.

Exactly - lean in to how they've changed them, and the new mechanics, which would be genuinely more interesting, don't just give them excessive DPR and AC!

 

[dave2008]

Yeah: "Gear Half Plate Armor, Longbow, Longsword, Shield)"

FYI, here is the Brute trait from the 2014 Bugbear

And the Martial Advantage trait from the 2014 hobgoblin

I am guessing this is were the extra damage is coming from.

 

[TwoSix]

I'm not a simulationist myself but I definitely prefer when a disparity this wild has some kind of recognisable basis in the fiction rather than "it just does".

This. I'm definitely not a simulationist to where I'm giving random NPC mooks class levels, but bog-standard humanoids at low levels should all be using a pretty similar baseline of ability. 2d10 on a long sword attack doesn't work for me.

Bespoke mechanics work better on bespoke monsters.

 

[Bae'zel]

FYI, here is the Brute trait from the 2014 Bugbear
View attachment 395409

And the Martial Advantage trait from the 2014 hobgoblin
View attachment 395410

I am guessing this is were the extra damage is coming from.

That helps, yeah.

Although I don't understand why this isn't applying to the Captain too (wouldn't their Greatsword do 3d6 damage?)

 

[UngeheuerLich]

That helps, yeah.

Although I don't understand why this isn't applying to the Captain too (wouldn't their Greatsword do 3d6 damage?)

They instead multiattack. Maybe hitting fast does not allow doubling damage dice
And maybe they lose some posion whirling their blades...

 

[dave2008]

Exactly lol, it's just weird.

I wish 5E had like, real solid internal logic to how they handle the DPR, EHP, and so on, but... it doesn't. The stuff they had in 2014 for creating monsters is clearly not they method they used themselves either.

Interesting I feel like there is a logic to it, even if it has become more opaque now. It was more apparent in 2014 though.

FYI, I have been told directly by a person who works on monsters at WotC that they do indeed have a system for deriving CR and that the 2014 DMG guidelines were an attempt (though not 100% successful) to express the system for mass consumption.