D&D (2024) A slightly different take on the new Monster Manual

[Stalker0]

To be honest there is a lot of great descriptions and lore in the 2024 MM. The tables and charts in most entries are great. A lot of the lore is similar or more in 2024 compared to 2014. The big difference is with monster groups (dragons, demons, devils, hags, etc.) which don't get any group lore. I miss that. However, individual monster lore is very similar. Heck the tarrasuw has about 2x the lore in 2024 compared to 2014.

The thing that continues to impress is how much change is accomplished in 2024 MM with sometimes so little. From the flavor text you posted, there is one simple sentence that dramatically changes the concept of the tarrasque, and I'll spoiler the rest of the post:

Spoiler

"Whenever the tarrasque is defeated, another tarrasque awakes somewhere else on the Material Plane."

Suddenly the tarrasque comes from this singular calamity to this notion of an endless line of tarrasques around the multiverse. Not a single calamity, and endless storm that is constantly engaging somewhere out there. And the notion that they are linked in this way, does that mean they follow a centralized control?


It invokes a hundred thoughts and new plot ideas....from one sentence.

 

[dave2008]

The thing that continues to impress is how much change is accomplished in 2024 MM with sometimes so little. From the flavor text you posted, there is one simple sentence that dramatically changes the concept of the tarrasque, and I'll spoiler the rest of the post:

Spoiler

"Whenever the tarrasque is defeated, another tarrasque awakes somewhere else on the Material Plane."

Suddenly the tarrasque comes from this singular calamity to this notion of an endless line of tarrasques around the multiverse. Not a single calamity, and endless storm that is constantly engaging somewhere out there. And the notion that they are linked in this way, does that mean they follow a centralized control?


It invokes a hundred thoughts and new plot ideas....from one sentence.

Yes, In general I think that the 2024 MM has mostly threaded the needle on "concise lore" that @Reynard often talks about. It packs a good deal of punch in as little lines as possible. It is, generally, not self indulgent, but inspirational instead.

 

[the Jester]

I have my complaints about the 2024 books, but I love the organization and art. I have to say, despite my misgivings about some of the rule changes in them, I haven't regretted spending the money on any of them. Heck, the art alone is worth the price.

 

[Reynard]

Yes, In general I think that the 2024 MM has mostly threaded the needle on "concise lore" that @Reynard often talks about. It packs a good deal of punch in as little lines as possible. It is, generally, not self indulgent, but inspiration instead.

I make a completely arbitrary distinction between "lore" and "description" that amounts to the difference between "dark elves are servants of the demon queen Lolth" and "dark elves are evil reflections of their sunlit world kin." The latter doesn't prohibit the former, the former makes too many assumptions for a core book.

But, yes, concise in either case is best.

 

[Parmandur]

I have my complaints about the 2024 books, but I love the organization and art. I have to say, despite my misgivings about some of the rule changes in them, I haven't regretted spending the money on any of them. Heck, the art alone is worth the price.

I mean, at worst they are beautiful artifacts with some potentially usable ideas.