D&D (2024) Is Monster Manual 2025 compatible with 2014 Characters?

[jayoungr]

I wouldn't say the DM has fewer choices, though. They're just more difficult choices.

Can you give an example of a more difficult choice from the 2024 manual? (I'm having trouble picturing how this looks.)

 

[AlViking]

I've had no issue using monsters from multiple sources. It looks like the new monsters may hit a bit harder at higher level but it seems like they are going more for consistency than anything. For example a CR 3 hell hound has a few more HP and make 2 bite attacks doing 10 damage in the new book versus 14 damage with 1 bite. The breath weapon in the new version does 17, where the old did 21. So over the course of a handful of rounds the average difference in damage is going to balance out.

In other cases like the werewolf they've gotten rid of the immunity but bumped up the AC and HP.

 

[the Jester]

Did they roll back completely on Legendary Reactions?

Largely. Legendary actions are in. I haven't read very far into the book yet, so not sure about legendary creatures relying on multiple reactions.

What about the "it's a spell but it's not a spell" abilities, are those present?

By the bucketful.

 

[Alby87]

Try using one of them and see what happens. Playtesting the game is the best way to determine whether something can work for you.

There's no reason to trust the opinions of any of us here, because we all run our combats differently and have differing opinions on what we consider "compatible" and "usable"... so what any of us might say could be completely opposite for you. So do your own research.

I don't have many occasions to try, we play like one hour online every week, and I don't have the ability to experiment, we go for the simplest sessions possible.

Mine was more of a curiosity, asking people more versed than me in the fine art of Dungeon Mastering. My question was about this idea that the new MM could bring more challenge to the older version (still knowing of the wonderful 3rd party monster books).

 

[DEFCON 1]

I don't have many occasions to try, we play like one hour online every week, and I don't have the ability to experiment, we go for the simplest sessions possible.

Mine was more of a curiosity, asking people more versed than me in the fine art of Dungeon Mastering. My question was about this idea that the new MM could bring more challenge to the older version (still knowing of the wonderful 3rd party monster books).

Yeah, the 5E24 monsters could be a bit more challenge... but then again maybe not enough of a change where it ends up being worthwhile? Really impossible to say with any certainty. At the end of the day you might end up just having to take the plunge and see what happens.

I will say though that if you are curious about it but don't want to actually spend the cash on the full book as of yet... there's a thread here on the boards that has been listing all the 5E24 monster statblocks that have been released to the general public online thus far. You could always take a look at some of those and if you find a monster that you perhaps can throw into your next session... print it out and use it so you can get a sense of how one of these new ones actually plays. Could save you some cash if it doesn't end up doing much for you.

 

[GMMichael]

Can you give an example of a more difficult choice from the 2024 manual? (I'm having trouble picturing how this looks.)

To the extent that I interpreted

the new keep those CR expection giving the DM less choices.

correctly, trying to use a monster with an inaccurate CR isn't a non-choice. It's just more difficult to apply it correctly, since the average party CR has changed, and apparently some old CRs weren't accurate to begin with.

Correct application, in this context, is choosing a monster that matches your intended threat level. If the CR doesn't represent the threat level well, then the DM will have to make some on-the-fly adjustments to the monster. (Noting that the DM always has to make on-the-fly decisions on some things, but fixing a monster's character sheet shouldn't be one of them.)

 

[Weiley31]

What about the "it's a spell but it's not a spell" abilities, are those present

They are but they SPECIFICALLY avoid labeling them as "Magic Ranged/Melee attack" to probably keep anybody from thinking they are funny and Counter-Spelling them for the lulz.

 

[sevenbastard]

I think 14 Charachters and 24 Monsters is a great recipe. I think the 24 MM is the only 24 book I will end up using.

I've been calling it "14C/24M"

Same charachters harder monsters better presented.

 

[dave2008]

Hi! We all know one that the old MM had underperforming monsters based on their CR (if used badly), and the new keep those CR expection giving the DM less choices. Questions: is this MM usable with the old rules, old encounter building rules and old characters? There will be interesting fights (going to the hard side) or new monsters will obliterate older characters?

(I know I will go for full 2024 in the future, but this is a question going in my head)

Thanks!

New monsters are only mildly different. You can use 2024 monsters with 2014 monsters and characters just fine. I don't think your players would even notice.

 

[Knaves Quill]

It will take me some time using the '25 MM to gauge overall how these monsters perform against my generally combat-competent and savvy players. I think it will be very easy/ a non-issue to use the new stats with "older" characters.