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D&D 5E Volos Guide Seems Good But......
- Thread starter Zardnaar
- Start date
MechaTarrasque
Hero
I am not done with Volo yet, but if your goal involves a lot of fey, dragons, or beasts, then ToB is the clear winner. I do have to warn you that it is pretty solidly built with the Midgard campaign setting in mind, so if you think you will get less "the gods created X" fluff, you will be disappointed.
Have both. Preferred Volo's better. Social Structures on some of the monster is something important to understand to make a plausable campaign.
With the ways Volo's is described, making a 1~4 lvl campaign involving Goblins and Hobgoblins now does sound more epic. Orcs, the same. These monsters shouldn't be treated as cannon fooder, specially in lower levels. Awesome campaigns in lower levels feel better with how theses monsters think.
With the ways Volo's is described, making a 1~4 lvl campaign involving Goblins and Hobgoblins now does sound more epic. Orcs, the same. These monsters shouldn't be treated as cannon fooder, specially in lower levels. Awesome campaigns in lower levels feel better with how theses monsters think.
TerraDave
5ever, or until 2024
D&D was born out of a "see monster, kill monster" mentality. It doesn't have to rooted in dressed up-racism. Its very non-discriminating.
Onussen
First Post
Well, half the time it was; "See monster, run the heck away from the monster. And maybe drop something that it might want to stop and pick up in order to slow it down." OD&D characters were very, very flimsy. Combat was very risky, and not all that rewarding. (monster xpts were meager compared to treasure xpts.) So really, not so much as a see monster kill monster as it was find a way to get its treasure without getting killed. My experiences anyway+.
I like Volo's better. ToB is a catalogue of monsters, but meh. I can make monsters up on my own. Figuring out monster motives OTOH, Volo's does a good job of providing ideas.
Perhaps re-read that section? I think you will find that every Beholder is its own god, at least in its own mind. And a truly paranoid god at that.
I like Volo's better. ToB is a catalogue of monsters, but meh. I can make monsters up on my own. Figuring out monster motives OTOH, Volo's does a good job of providing ideas.
Olaf the Stout
Hero
I think this is the key. More than previous editions, 5E's stat blocks are largely mathematical. Anyone can make stat blocks.
I disagree a bit; although you're right, "we're pawns of our gods" is overdone in Volo's, I actually think the book does a decent job of making goblins, orcs and mind flayers far more three-dimenisonal than they've been presented in the past. Their evil is a somewhat reaction to their circumstances and their fears.
Yeah, it is only mathematical! Not at all similar to the other mathematical stat blocks you may have experienced previously.
Zardnaar
Legend
Well I kind of do, one of the players bought both+Dungeonology but I will have access to them if I need them.
ToB does have a MM3 vibe about it but there is a bit of fluf in their I might add into my games as PCs have never really paid much attention to demon lords or Fae. Maybe my fault as I do not make cosmic powers (gods, fiendlords etc) a major front and centre theme of my games.
The Elves and ancient past are used more I might mix it up a bit.
Uncalled for sarcasm.
I don't know as much about < 4E, but in 5E the stat blocks at completely driven by the ability scores, hp is a function of size and level. It's not like 4E where you could level creatures up or down or had level-based DPR formulae determined by whether the attack was single- or multi-target and limited use or not.
Monster design in 4E was way more convoluted a process. The only thing challenging about monster design in 5E is slapping a CR on things and deciding their appropriate number of hit dice (both of which are fairly arbitrary).
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