D&D 5E Better Beasts?

[Weiley31]

There's an issue with beasts

Real beasts are boring on purpose

Real animals have what I call "palette swap" issues. Real animals are not interesting in combat. They are mostlyeither tough brutes, fast brutes, strong brutes, flying brutes, swimming brutes, or brutes with extra attacks. They are much like the same 4e-style stat block leveled up or down and given a level and given an movement quirk or extra senses. 3 versions of the same bears, canines, raptors, and felines.

That being said, there are somethings you can still do. There are lesser used animal families like weasels, hippos, skunks, mongoose, and large lizards that are not heavily used.

Make dat Wolf a Rune Knight!!!

 

[Minigiant]

I disagree. I think we can find ways to mimic some of the unique ways creatures fight (or flight). The crocodilian death roll for example, or the feline neck bite, or a gorilla's bluffing charge, or better represent their quickness. Jungle ambushers attack differently than open plains stalkers. There are lots of ways to had some variety. Plus, some should have skills and save bonus at least.

But that's my point. A lot of the additions are just extra attacks, skill bonuses, or save bonuses.

Animals from the real world fight boring. And this is on purpose because it's a survival mechanism. They hit you fast and hard, choke you out, poison you, or run away. There is only some much you can do to a beast using real world elements before it starts looking magical.

That's why going for more unique beasts or going though new evolution paths are easier ways to make beasts more interesting.

 

[dave2008]

Ape study series by Yuanyo

Gorilla	Challenge 2
Medium beast, unaligned	450 XP

Armor Class 12
Hit Points 45 (6d8 + 18; bloodied 22)
Speed 40 ft., climb 30 ft.

STR	DEX	CON	INT	WIS	CHA
20 (+5)	14 (+2)	16 (+3)	6 (-2)	12 (+1)	7 (-2)

Saving Throws Str +7, Con +5
Skills Athletics +7, Intimidation +7, Perception +3
Senses Passive Perception 13
Languages --
Proficiency Bonus +2 Maneuver DC 15

Brute. A melee weapon deals one extra die of its damage when the gorilla hits with it (included in the attack).

Charge. The gorilla moves at least 20 ft. straight toward a target and hits it with a fist attack. The target must make a DC 15 Strength saving throw or be pushed 15 feet and knocked prone.

Sprinter. The gorilla can take the Dash action as a bonus action.

ACTIONS
Multiattack. The gorilla makes two fist attacks and bite attack if it can

Bite. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target grappled by the gorilla or incapacitated. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) piercing damage.

Fist. Melee Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 12 (2d6 + 5) bludgeoning damage. If the target is Medium or smaller it is also grappled, if the gorilla wishes.

Rock. Ranged Weapon Attack: +5 to hit, range 25/50 ft., one target. Hit: 8 (1d6 + 5) bludgeoning damage.

Throw. One Medium or smaller object held or creature grappled by the gorilla is thrown up to 15 feet in a random direction and knocked prone. If a thrown target strikes a solid surface, the target takes 3 (1d6) bludgeoning damage for every 5 feet it was thrown. If the target is thrown at another creature, that creature must succeed on a DC 15 Dexterity saving throw or take the same damage and be knocked prone.

Charging Bluff. The gorilla moves at least 15 ft. toward a target and then roars and beats its chest. The target must make a DC 15 Wisdom saving throw or be frightened.

Pummel (recharge 5-6). The gorilla makes four fist attacks against a prone target.

 

[dave2008]

But that's my point. A lot of the additions are just extra attacks, skill bonuses, or save bonuses.

Animals from the real world fight boring. And this is on purpose because it's a survival mechanism. They hit you fast and hard, choke you out, poison you, or run away. There is only some much you can do to a beast using real world elements before it starts looking magical.

That's why going for more unique beasts or going though new evolution paths are easier ways to make beasts more interesting.

I guess I still disagree. Have you checked out the revised beasts in this thread? I think they all have traits that respect their natural abilities and are more interesting than the boring stat block in the MM. I've provide a list here: Better Beasts.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

But that's my point. A lot of the additions are just extra attacks, skill bonuses, or save bonuses.

Animals from the real world fight boring. And this is on purpose because it's a survival mechanism. They hit you fast and hard, choke you out, poison you, or run away. There is only some much you can do to a beast using real world elements before it starts looking magical.

That's why going for more unique beasts or going though new evolution paths are easier ways to make beasts more interesting.

Just looking at what has been posted in the thread thus far, rather succinctly proves you wrong. It is entirely possible to make supposedly boring creatures interesting using fifth edition’s rules.

 

[Minigiant]

I guess I still disagree. Have you checked out the revised beasts in this thread? I think they all have traits that respect their natural abilities and are more interesting than the boring stat block in the MM. I've provide a list here: Better Beasts.

Just looking at what has been posted in the thread thus far, rather succinctly proves you wrong. It is entirely possible to make supposedly boring creatures interesting using fifth edition’s rules.

Well maybe I was expecting more than adding more damaging attacks.
Things like adding rage to a chimp or a bluff to a gorilla are cool.
More attacks, however, don't pull beasts out of blandness to me.

 

[doctorbadwolf]

Well maybe I was expecting more than adding more damaging attacks.
Things like adding rage to a chimp or a bluff to a gorilla are cool.
More attacks, however, don't pull beasts out of blandness to me.

I mean...most of the beasts in this thread have more going on than just added damage, so...


I’m just confused by your posts ITT, is all. Dave and Paul are doing literally what you’re bemoaning the lack of.

 

[Uni-the-Unicorn!]

Well maybe I was expecting more than adding more damaging attacks.
Things like adding rage to a chimp or a bluff to a gorilla are cool.
More attacks, however, don't pull beasts out of blandness to me.

It seems like you didn’t even look at the traits and extra effects (reactions, grapples, pushes, etc.)

 

[doctorbadwolf]

I’ll try to add some of my own later. Not gonna try to do the proper formatting on my phone.

Definitely gonna give some critters Darkvision. IMO a cat’s vision is close enough that if an elf gets Darkvision, so does a cat.

 

[Minigiant]

I mean...most of the beasts in this thread have more going on than just added damage, so...


I’m just confused by your posts ITT, is all. Dave and Paul are doing literally what you’re bemoaning the lack of.

I just had different expectations. Many of the beasts posted here are cool and interesting.

I'm just saying that some animals are boring. A lion claws and bites. You can give it all the extra attacks, grapples, dashes, and pushes you want but to me it doesn't make a lion more interesting. A big cat who claws and bites is gonna seem bland to me.

That's why I like the use of some of the more unique animals in this topic.