D&D General The Monsters Know What They're Doing ... Are Unsure on 5e24

[mamba]

I know that I am tempted to ask you to throw up two statblocks and explain to me what difference is the trigger? but I also know that nothing useful will come from the exchange.

that is easy, because we already have that conversation in the green dragon stat block thread…

The 2014 dragon is a creature with claws, a bite, and actions that match a creature.

The 2024 could be sandstorm genie with a weird cough It has Rend as a generic ‘it attacked you somehow, don’t care how, but here is the default damage that does’ and a Miasma that has no explanation for how he does it, and no one on the design team cared about how he does it either. To me their design process looked like ‘Thematically it fits, so add it, as to how, let’s call it magic, hopefully enough people then stop asking.’

magic explains everything and nothing, it is my least favorite explanation because of that.

that is in the green dragon thread, and contains more of what I do not like about the new one, if you are interested..

As I said, it obviously is not every creature, but it is a trend, and one I am not liking… and as you said, an example probably won’t help though

 

[Parmandur]

The 1% gets endless discussion on this forum, but it's not representative of what is happening with most players, IMO. Most don't even know that D&D has had different editions.

I have struggled to explain to my own friends and family how 4E was different from 5E...and we played both editions together. And I'm talking intelligent, educated and thoughtful people, too.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

that is easy, because we already have that conversation in the green dragon stat block thread…

The 2014 dragon is a creature with claws, a bite, and actions that match a creature.

The 2024 could be sandstorm genie with a weird cough It has Rend as a generic ‘it attacked you somehow, don’t care how, but here is the default damage that does’ and a Miasma that has no explanation for how he does it, and no one on the design team cared about how he does it either. To me their design process looked like ‘Thematically it fits, so add it, as to how, let’s call it magic, hopefully enough people then stop asking.’


that is in the green dragon thread, and contains more of what I do not like about the new one, if you are interested..

As I said, it obviously is not every creature, but it is a trend, and one I am not liking… and as you said, an example probably won’t help though

You do know that Green Dragon didn’t even match the final version.

I can’t get a good image of a green dragon vs old right now but here is the Black Dragons vs each other. Along with the Blue Dragons

 

[Parmandur]

The 2014 dragon is a creature with claws, a bite, and actions that match a creature.

The 2024 could be sandstorm genie with a weird cough It has Rend as a generic ‘it attacked you somehow, don’t care how, but here is the default damage that does’ and a Miasma that has no explanation for how he does it, and no one on the design team cared about how he does it either. To me their design process looked like ‘Thematically it fits, so add it, as to how, let’s call it magic, hopefully enough people then stop asking.’

Not to be overly flippant, but both are highly abstract mathematical models to use in a wargame scenario, that some flavor can be hung upon. That the 2024 version is a little more explicitly abstract is actually helpful in my book, but both are actually abstract.

 

[GobHag]

You do know that Green Dragon didn’t even match the final version.

I can’t get a good image of a green dragon vs old right now but here is the Black Dragons vs each other. Along with the Blue Dragons

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Man these statsheets are uninspiring as all hell.

 

[Minigiant]

that is easy, because we already have that conversation in the green dragon stat block thread…

The 2014 dragon is a creature with claws, a bite, and actions that match a creature.

The 2024 could be sandstorm genie with a weird cough It has Rend as a generic ‘it attacked you somehow, don’t care how, but here is the default damage that does’ and a Miasma that has no explanation for how he does it, and no one on the design team cared about how he does it either. To me their design process looked like ‘Thematically it fits, so add it, as to how, let’s call it magic, hopefully enough people then stop asking

According to wizards, The 2024 green dragon and many of the monsters were made that way because apparently some DMS were getting confused about using the attack patterns for creatures that have multiple attacks so what they did was make sure that every line of attack was a simple stream of damage that hit the damage threshold for its CR.

Basically according to them people weren't doing claw claw bite or Breath Weapon.

So so they converted it to Rend rend rend or Breath weapon.

I think 5e suffered from a success because it brought in a lot of people who just don't read the rules and they messed stuff up then they complain because they messed up.

Popular streamers for D&D were writing videos for D&D having never read the dungeon master guide

 

[tetrasodium]

that is easy, because we already have that conversation in the green dragon stat block thread…

The 2014 dragon is a creature with claws, a bite, and actions that match a creature.

The 2024 could be sandstorm genie with a weird cough It has Rend as a generic ‘it attacked you somehow, don’t care how, but here is the default damage that does’ and a Miasma that has no explanation for how he does it, and no one on the design team cared about how he does it either. To me their design process looked like ‘Thematically it fits, so add it, as to how, let’s call it magic, hopefully enough people then stop asking.’


that is in the green dragon thread, and contains more of what I do not like about the new one, if you are interested..

As I said, it obviously is not every creature, but it is a trend, and one I am not liking… and as you said, an example probably won’t help though

That one feels like the common xianxia spiritual/soul/qi manifestation trope absent the xianxia tropes that counterbalance those kinds of things. Given some the 5.024 design choices already raised through this and other threads in service of MOAR PC POWAH it's not even surprising that the gm toolkit going along with those kinds of tropes would be absent a d&d version with the serial numbers filed off. Someone (high up?) seems to really like the cultivation style but can't swing a purpose built ttrpg fitting the themes and tropes so we keep getting fractured d&d jello mold shaped bits and pieces shoehorned in

Spoiler

AI Overview



+6
In xianxia fiction, a "damaging aura" is a powerful manifestation of a cultivator's internal energy (known as qi, chi, or spiritual energy) that automatically harms anything within its range. This concept is often tied to various specific abilities or cultivation stages.
Key aspects of damaging auras in xianxia:
Manifestation of Internal Energy: The aura is a visible or invisible field of energy projected by the practitioner. Its power is directly related to the strength of the user's cultivation base.
Types of Auras:
Killing Intent (煞气, shàqì): A common form of "damaging aura" that is not purely physical but a mental or spiritual attack. Experienced cultivators can emit a murderous aura that instills fear, pressure, and can even cause mental distress or physical paralysis in weaker opponents.
Sword Aura/Sword Qi: For swordsmen, their concentrated qi can form a sharp, destructive aura around their blade or body, capable of slicing through durable materials and overwhelming lesser forms of energy.
Elemental/Status Effects: Auras can also incorporate elemental properties (ice, fire, lightning) or induce specific status effects like poisoning, spiritual decay (qi drain), or the burning of life force.
Active vs. Passive: Some auras are passive effects that constantly damage those who get too close, while others require conscious activation and maintenance, often at the cost of the user's energy or life force.
Defensive and Offensive Use: A user can concentrate the aura for defense, creating an impenetrable field, or expand it for offensive, area-of-effect damage. It can also enhance physical capabilities like strength, speed, and flight.
In essence, a damaging aura serves as a powerful symbol of a character's immense power and threat level in the xianxia genre.[/spoiler

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Man these statsheets are uninspiring as all hell.

The 2014 ones that are near identical or the newer ones?

 

[BenjaminPey]

Basically according to them people weren't doing claw claw bite or Breath Weapon.

So so they converted it to Rend rend rend or Breath weapon.

I think 5e suffered from a success because it brought in a lot of people who just don't read the rules and they messed stuff up then they complain because they messed up.

I am this guy. Though I did read the DMG, multiple times.

In my book, streamlining this kind of things is 100 % beneficial to the game. I don't care for analyzing stat blocks and coming with supa dupa smart tactical moves, I'm not here for that. I'me here to help narrate a cool fight. Give me the numbers, I'll handle the words, thank you very much.

This rend is a bite. This rend is a claw. This rend is the dragon sitting its ass on your frail body.

 

[Swarmkeeper]

that is easy, because we already have that conversation in the green dragon stat block thread…

The 2014 dragon is a creature with claws, a bite, and actions that match a creature.

The 2024 could be sandstorm genie with a weird cough It has Rend as a generic ‘it attacked you somehow, don’t care how, but here is the default damage that does’ and a Miasma that has no explanation for how he does it, and no one on the design team cared about how he does it either. To me their design process looked like ‘Thematically it fits, so add it, as to how, let’s call it magic, hopefully enough people then stop asking.’


that is in the green dragon thread, and contains more of what I do not like about the new one, if you are interested..

As I said, it obviously is not every creature, but it is a trend, and one I am not liking… and as you said, an example probably won’t help though

In a game of imagination, the authors of the Green Dragon statblock are leaving it up to the DM to decide what a Rend attack looks like. Could easily enough be an attack with its teeth or its claws. DM's choice. Miasma is a noxious vapor emanating from the body of the dragon. It's not hard to imagine such a feature from a creature who has a history of using a breath weapon that does poison damage. The Ghast has something similar with Stench. How does the Ghast do stench? It's self-evident.

It's fine if you don't like 5e24. You don't need to manufacture reasons that make it seem like you lack imagination, though. I've read your posts before - and you play RPGs - you clearly don't lack imagination.