D&D 5E (2024) 2025 Monster Manual All You Need to Know video link is up.

[Mistwell]

Dungeon Dudes discussion of the Animal Lord was interesting. Similar to the Forest Spirit concept from Princess Mononoke.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

They mention the book has many lists that describe variations to monsters. These are in the particular monster entry.

If The Monster Overhaul can uplift all other bestiaries by its example, that would be amazing.

 

[Weiley31]

I'm glad legendary actions are still in. I know people thought with the Time Dragon from Planescaope, they were gonna get replaced with Reactions. But, the reactions thing made sense for the Time Dragon cuz, ya know, they deal with Time and all.

 

[Whizbang Dustyboots]

Mimics disguising themselves as things other than chests is a good thing to show. I think you should be worried about Mimic toilet seats...

Not as much as the mimics should be.

 

[Weiley31]

Also, that's pretty neat that the Anormal Lords' Stun feature gives the PCs the "suck or damage choice."

Ya know, just like how FLEE,MORTALS gives monsters a similar thing with their Legendary Saves.

 

[JEB]

They give an example of animated weapons. They didn't want to pigeon hole the DM into lore about what causes animated weapons. Instead the encounter could be a spellcaster behind the scenes manipulating them from afar, or a mischievous sprite animating them, or the weapons are possessed by a spirit. Each of those is a different type of encounter, and they didn't want "deep lore" to get in the way of a DM trying to use MM entries. Instead, the stat block can suggest all three and others, without fixed lore on "this is what this thing is."

Interesting, so they'll be including suggestions in the stat block for multiple options like that? Certainly would be useful.

 

[dave2008]

I'm glad legendary actions are still in. I know people thought with the Time Dragon from Planescaope, they were gonna get replaced with Reactions. But, the reactions thing made sense for the Time Dragon cuz, ya know, they deal with Time and all.

It wasn't just the time dragon. CR 26 Vecna and the giant Scions didn't have Legendary Actions, but they did have legendary resistance. Also the 2024 Ancient Green Dragon preview didn't have legendary actions either. So there was a lot to suggest they had gone away.

 

[dave2008]

Also, that's pretty neat that the Anormal Lords' Stun feature gives the PCs the "suck or damage choice."

Ya know, just like how FLEE,MORTALS gives monsters a similar thing with their Legendary Saves.

The empyrean does that too

 

[MonsterEnvy]

It wasn't just the time dragon. CR 26 Vecna and the giant Scions didn't have Legendary Actions, but they did have legendary resistance. Also the 2024 Ancient Green Dragon preview didn't have legendary actions either. So there was a lot to suggest they had gone away.

I'm glad legendary actions are still in. I know people thought with the Time Dragon from Planescaope, they were gonna get replaced with Reactions. But, the reactions thing made sense for the Time Dragon cuz, ya know, they deal with Time and all.

My guess is that lots of experimentation was going down before being settled.

 

[dave2008]

My guess is that lots of experimentation was going down before being settled.

It makes me wonder what else changed with the dragons since the preview. We might find out Thursday!