D&D 5E Is looking in the books O.K

[77IM]

It's OK for the players to read the Monster Manual if it's OK for the DM to portray the NPCs as omniscient and omnipresent.

 

[Lucas Blackstone]

I think it's fine for players to know the stats on monsters if the characters make appropriate knowledge checks, and then of course share that information in character if other characters want to act upon it.

Having the characters act on the knowledge without knowing it is pretty much the definition of metagaming. If that is allowed at your table then enjoy, nothing wrong with it.

 

[Lidgar]

No.

And if you are playing with other DM's/experienced players?

Then describe the creature(s) they are fighting from the PC's point of view. Fine if the player puzzles it out, but no need to say "you see three goblins" unless there is a reasonable explanation the PC had encountered goblins before (or at least had a really good description of them).

 

[jgsugden]

The easiest approaches for the DM to modify the monster said that they're slightly different and that the PCS knowledge if they look in the books is not going to spoil what they face.

 

[pemerton]

Moldvay Basic advised players (not just referees) that they should read the monster chapter. But I think it assumed (maybe it even said? it's been a while) that players wouldn't do this during the course of actual play.

Sometimes the players knowing the stats of a monster is bad for the game - it gives an unfair (or unearned) advantage.

Sometimes its good for the game - eg if knowing how tough something is makes the players sweat a bit mroe than they otherwise would!

But personally I prefer to handle this through GM discretion, knowledge checks and/or actual play experience. I've never had players just try and help themselves, but I don't think I'd like it if it happened.

EDIT: I was reminded of this bit of commentary from Dragon ("History of a Game that Failed", number 99, 1985):

It would be a wonderful world if players were so conscientious and so willing to risk their characters for the sake of a good time that they never looked at the Dungeon Masters Guide, the modules, or even "Dungeon Master advice" articles (such as this one) in magazines. It would even be nicer if they did not look up monsters in the Monster Manual, FIEND FOLIO Tome, and Monster Manual II whenever they confronted them. Maybe you can forbid this sort of activity during the playing of an adventure, but you can't control what players do on their own time. And never underestimate the ingenuity of players. I once had a player justify looking in the Monster Manual during play by saying that his character carried around a bestiary in his backpack!​

 

[knast]

During a session, I'd say it is a no go.

But during a player's own time, sure. But it is up to her/him to meta-game correctly, if she/he can remember anything from the book. Be reasonable. Is it common knowledge in your world that trolls hate fire, that dragons breath fire, etc.? The PC's would know it. However the lair actions of an aboleth should, reasonably, be played as if the player didn't know them. (PC's with a Ph.d in aboleths not included.)

And, as many have said, the DM could always adjust and/or modify the monster.

 

[Shiroiken]

Our Table Rule disallows access to DM books during a session (DMG, MM, adventures, etc.), with a handful of exceptions. Druids and casters capable of summoning monsters are allowed access to the MM. If a player has a known magic item and has forgotten how it works, they may access the DMG to look it up (this saves the DM time, who can continue running the game while the player does the work). Of course, we now play on Roll20, so technically, none of this is enforceable. Thankfully, I play with a bunch of players who are trustworthy and don't want to ruin their own fun.

Away from the game, it's nearly impossible to keep people from looking at DM books, especially since my current group has 4 DMs in it! The only real "rule" we have is that is one of the DMs is either running or planning to run an adventure, everyone keeps out of it (except the monster and magic item sections, which is often scavenged for other games).

 

[UngeheuerLich]

I support the hell no opinion. But when I play I can't unremember stats. And my memory for such things is nearly perfect. My solution is playing the character as I imagine it dpending on background and knowledge and I assume my experience players do so too. For new players it is the same as for me when I was young. Absolute forbidden to look into DM books during sessions or out of it. Because you just spoil your own fun if you try to cheat. And a DM can always increase the danger if he knows you are cheating or just focus on the enemy that somehow knows what hurts it the most...

 

[Horwath]

1st and last rule. NO!

I would only tell them monster AC to simple the work load for me so they dont aske me every roll is 17 ok? Is 15 OK? Is 14 enought? Did I hit with 13 maybe?

AAARRGH!!! AC is FRAKKING 12!! OK?!?!


but no special attacks, ability scores, etc... they need to fing out that with trial and error or before hand research.

 

[Bitbrain]

When anyone in my group brings their MM to the session, the main DM of my group pulls out his Tome of Beasts from a 3rd party publisher (I think it's called Kobold press or something like that), or else just uses homebrew monsters of his own creation.