I Have A Copy of Monster Manual 5.

[sckeener]

A list of creatures in the book that can be summoned...by characters. The corresponding monster entry has a section that details specifics.

The mind-flayer on the cover comes about because, I assume, fully 22 pages of the book are devoted to talking about the "Mind Flayers of Thoon." Thoon being some sort of far-realms associated entity that's caused changes to your standard mind-flayer that makes them search for something called "quintessence."

Each creature entry generally starts with the stat block, has a section on strategies and tactics, a sample encounter, a section on lore related to the creature with knowledge DC's, it's ecology, treasure and how to fit the monster into....Faerun.

ok...looks like I am buying this book as soon as it comes out....

 

[Kid Charlemagne]

I have a secret and compelling desire to one day create one of these threads without having a copy of the book in question... and seeing how long I can have everyone thinking I actually own the book.

No offense intended, helium3 - it's obvious you're genuine.

RangerWickett did tha way back in the day with Sword and Fist, IIRC. Had people really going.

 

[Rackhir]

How are the summonable monsters in here? Anything actually worth summoning at higher levels? IE. is it going to be better than say a gargantuan centipeed or just funky stuff? Anything particularly flavorful for an alienist?

 

[helium3]

"Dragon-only" template? Could you elaborate, please?

Well, three doesn't sound so bad. Especially those three.

So, what are these new feats? And a new spell?

The template can only be applied to young adult or older true dragon. It basically trade away spellcasting abilities for other abilities. The flavor is that the dragon with this template is involved in something called Xorvintaal, or "The Great Game", which appears to be some sort of complicated contest between dragons for power and prestige. Dragons with this template can grant a related template to humanoid agents, which are called Exarchs.

The new spell is called Earthbind, and it's a spell like ability cast by the Gadacro, one of the new demons. Now that I looked at it more closely, I think it may be in the Spell Compendium.

The new feats are Battle Magic Tactics, Brutal Throw, Daunting Presence, Kuo-toan Monasticism, Mage Slayer, Mind-Shattering Strike and Sense Quintessence.

 

[helium3]

A phantom ghast ninja is a ghast with levels of ninja and the phantom template. The phantom template can be applied to any corporeal creatures and allows said creature to become incorporeal at certain times if it chooses to do so.

 

[helium3]

Do these monsters touch children in places their bathing-suits cover?

Heh. No, they wake up once a year and eat everything in sight, mate and then go back to sleep. Very yucky looking. CR 16 Magical Beast. Evocative of the Tarrasque, but without all the unique creature stuff.

 

[Aeolius]

No new aquatic beasties? No hags? No flumphs? Who are they writing these things for, anyway?!?

 

[helium3]

Thanks for the monster list Helium.

Could you list the demons and give a quick description of them? Are they tannar'ri? What are their CRs?

Adaru (Tanar'ri) CR 10, a demonic millipede.
Carnage Demon (Just a Demon) CR 4, a demon that likes to kill more than most demons and gains a bonus from being near others of its kind in combat.
Draudnu (Obyrith) CR 10, a demon with trilateral symmetry that hunts other demons. The glossary at the back describes the Obyrith sub-type.
Gadacro (Tanar'ri) CR 3, a demon that can do sneak attack and temporarily blind creatures that it could sneak attack.
Solamith (Tanar'ri) CR 8, a demon that can rip out hunks of its own flesh (ie inflict damage on itself) and throw it as an underpowered fire ball.

 

[helium3]

How are the summonable monsters in here? Anything actually worth summoning at higher levels? IE. is it going to be better than say a gargantuan centipeed or just funky stuff? Anything particularly flavorful for an alienist?

Most of the demons and one of the devils are included in this list, as is the Arcadian Avenger and the Fetid Fungus. Not sure how they rate to a Gargantuan Centipeed. More interesting for the player to run I suppose. Nothing that screams alienist though.

 

[Shade]

Draudnu (Obyrith) CR 10, a demon with trilateral symmetry that hunts other demons. The glossary at the back describes the Obyrith sub-type.

I'm sold on it.