D&D (2024) Humanoids in the MM...

[Charlaquin]

You mean rare races, like Tieflings, Drow, Gnomes, Half-Elves & Half-Orcs, and Dragonborn?

Those were “uncommon” in 2014, whereas I think non-humanoid PCs would be “rare.” But also, the 2024 PHB didn’t really retain the concept of “uncommon” species.

 

[Parmandur]

Interesting thing I just realized, in light of all tbis: one of the Monster stat blocks we have seen that is Humanoid is the Vampire Familiar, filling that Renley role from Dracula.

So of they do have a table of Speckes traits you can overlay NPCs, that would include the ability to quickly throw together a Goliath or Orc Vampire Familiar.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

I imagine the diffrence between various species Familiars would be low.

 

[Parmandur]

I imagine the diffrence between various species Familiars would be low.

Fairly, but not entirely: a Goliath going Large all of a sudden, or an Elf casting a Spell would be a difference in an Encounter.

 

[JEB]

I imagine the diffrence between various species Familiars would be low.

I'm pretty sure they're going to leave detailed species-specific NPC customizations as a DM matter, yeah. The 2014 MM just talked generally about ways to customize, including species, and I anticipate the 2024 version will do the same.

In practice, I suspect, they assume you won't need to worry about species-specific traits during a typical encounter, and that the NPC mechanics are more important.

 

[Parmandur]

I'm pretty sure they're going to leave detailed species-specific NPC customizations as a DM matter, yeah. The 2014 MM just talked generally about ways to customize, including species, and I anticipate the 2024 version will do the same.

In practice, I suspect, they assume you won't need to worry about species-specific traits during a typical encounter, and that the NPC mechanics are more important.

Actually, that ia not true of 2014...though it was buried in the DMG, as @dave2008 posted uptrend there was a specific table to quickly modify an NPC to be, say, a Teogoldyte Archmage or a Gnoll Cultist. It would not surprise in the least if we see something like the below in the MM, given the renewed emphasis on NPCs:

 

[JEB]

Actually, that ia not true of 2014...though it was buried in the DMG, as @dave2008 posted uptrend there was a specific table to quickly modify an NPC to be, say, a Teogoldyte Archmage or a Gnoll Cultist. It would not surprise in the least if we see something like the below in the MM, given the renewed emphasis on NPCs:

View attachment 393779

I'm well aware of the 2014 DMG table (spent some time trying to reverse engineer the principles early on, in fact), but I was speaking about the 2014 MM. And there's no such table in the 2024 DMG.

 

[Parmandur]

I'm well aware of the 2014 DMG table (spent some time trying to reverse engineer the principles early on, in fact), but I was speaking about the 2014 MM. And there's no such table in the 2024 DMG.

Right, which is why it being part of the "Conversion Guide" in the MM seems highly likely:

Your printed Adventure calls for an Orog? That means you take the Orc template from this table and apply it to the Elite Marauder NPC (or whatever they call the deracialized Orc/Orog NPC).

Your printed Adventure calls for a Drow Priestess? Take this Drow template and apply it to the Cultist of Llolth NPC.

 

[dave2008]

I'm well aware of the 2014 DMG table (spent some time trying to reverse engineer the principles early on, in fact), but I was speaking about the 2014 MM. And there's no such table in the 2024 DMG.

Are you sure? There is nothing to reverse engineer in that table, are you thinking about the Monster Features table instead?

To be clear they made comments in one of the videos that NPCs in the MM have been redesigned in the 2024 MM to be any species of Humanoid. @Parmandur and I have speculated that the statement may relate to the table in the 2014 DMG, but personally am not sure how yet.

EDIT: correction that statement was on Beyond:

"The stat blocks of monsters with the Humanoid creature type have been redesigned to represent any Humanoid species. Now, these stat blocks include distinct mechanics aligned with a certain role or profession. So, whether you're introducing your player characters to a charismatic drow performer or a questing goliath knight, you can find inspiration for your NPCs."

 

[JEB]

Right, which is why it being part of the "Conversion Guide" in the MM seems highly likely:

Your printed Adventure calls for an Orog? That means you take the Orc template from this table and apply it to the Elite Marauder NPC (or whatever they call the deracialized Orc/Orog NPC).

Your printed Adventure calls for a Drow Priestess? Take this Drow template and apply it to the Cultist of Llolth NPC.

It's possible, I suppose, but I still suspect that level of prescribed, species-specific reworking is out in 2024. More just an A = B situation, with a sidebar about how you are welcome to customize further (but carefully not implying it's the default). Again, more like the smaller section in the 2014 MM. But we'll see soon, I suppose!