D&D (2024) Monster Manual Organisation

[kayakingpoodle]

I think you're confusing the index with the monster lists, which group monsters by different categories yet it doesn't point to a page number which feels kinda lazy to me.

I think you are correct, but as I stated i have a very limited experience with the physical 24 MM.
Thanks for pointing this out!

 

[Nikosandros]

Yeah, taken concretely as flipping through the book, rather than trying to figure out the abstract scheme, it flows very well.

I dunno. Upon first reading, I'm not fond of it, but - TBH - I'm very used to the old organization. I'll have to see if the new one grows on me. Of course, it actual play, I'm likely to rely on DDB, making the page order moot.

 

[Parmandur]

I dunno. Upon first reading, I'm not fond of it, but - TBH - I'm very used to the old organization. I'll have to see if the new one grows on me. Of course, it actual play, I'm likely to rely on DDB, making the page order moot.

To be honest, I am fairly indifferent to neutral on it: it doesn't blow me away, nor does it annoy me. Putting Black Dragons under B and Red Dragons under R makes more sense to me than Vrock under D, at any rate.

 

[Li Shenron]

I can kind of see the logic of splitting up the demons and devils--after all, if a new DM sees a reference to a "vrock" in an adventure, how are they supposed to know it's a demon?

It's a very good point. Although Dragons probably would not be confusing if they were all together.

Maybe they never agreed on what is the purpose of the MM: to provide a reference during the game or to present options for adventure design and worldbuilding? Without a clearly defined purpose, everything is up.

 

[evilbob]

Maybe they never agreed on what is the purpose of the MM: to provide a reference during the game or to present options for adventure design and worldbuilding? Without a clearly defined purpose, everything is up.

And when you try to do both, you accomplish neither.

 

[Parmandur]

Maybe they never agreed on what is the purpose of the MM: to provide a reference during the game or to present options for adventure design and worldbuilding? Without a clearly defined purpose, everything is up.

It is really quite clearly organized as a game prep and running reference...?

I'm not saying anyone has to like the organization, or thst it is the best, but it is logically laid our for use at the table.

 

[Cadence]

It is really quite clearly organized as a game prep and running reference...?

I'm not saying anyone has to like the organization, or thst it is the best, but it is logically laid our for use at the table.

What is the logic of Gas Spore and Shrieker being under Fungus (that is "Gas Spore Fungus" and "Shrieker Fungus") and all the Mephits from Dust to Steam all being under Mephit, but the dragons and giants and naga separated by type?

And why are the age categories for Shadow and Faerie Dragon separated in the Dragon section of creature by type, and not given like the others? (Is it that they only have two age categories which is too small for all?).

 

[Parmandur]

What is the logic of Gas Spore and Shrieker being under Fungus (that is "Gas Spore Fungus" and "Shrieker Fungus") and all the Mephits from Dust to Steam all being under Mephit, but the dragons and giants and naga separated by type?

The fungus is the same reason that Pirates or Vampires are grouped together...so a DM can say "Inwant to use a fungus/pirate/vampire here, what is the CR appropriate version or thst again...?", same with the Mephits, while the different kinds of Drsgons are different kinds: the ahead categories are grouped together with each other for the same reason.

Not saying it is necessarily the only or the best way, but it is logical and laid out in a way designed around game prep and running.

And why are the age categories for Shadow and Faerie Dragon separated in the Dragon section of creature by type, and not given like the others? (Is it that they only have two age categories which is too small for all?).

Yes, they only have the two...?

 

[Voadam]

The fungusnis the same reason that Pirates or Mages are grouped together...so a DM can say "Inwant to use a fungus/pirate/vampire here, what is the CR appropriate version or thst again...?",

But not “I want to use a demon here, what are the CR appropriate demons again?”

 

[Parmandur]

But not “I want to use a demon here, what are the CR appropriate demons again?”

Demons are way different, being literally all over the place. A Vrock and a Balpr are just different.

The Index has those broader families covered.

Again, not saying it is the only way to do it...but the organizarion is internally coherent and usable in prep.