D&D 5E More low CR creatures with Lair Actions

[Sacrosanct]

A few weeks ago we had a discussion around giving lair actions to low level creatures. So thoughts on this? Too tough for a CR1?

 

[Composer99]

Average damage if all attacks land will be 21-28 per round (assuming they call up the quipper swarm as soon as possible), plus the occasional use of Go For the Throat, figure that triggers once in a 3-round fight. By way of comparison, a copper dragon wyrmling (which is CR 1) will probably get to use its acid breath once and catch 2 creatures in the line for 36 damage one round, followed by two rounds of 7 damage per round - again, if all attacks land.

So it maybe does a bit too much damage for CR 1? Maybe make it CR 2 and bump up its hit points a tad?

Apropos of formatting, I assume Go For the Throat uses a reaction? I feel like the grindylow leader should be its own stat block.

 

[J.Quondam]

No opinion on the power level, but regarding the format:

The Leader is in a "variant" sidebar, suggesting it's optional. The Lair Actions are in the main text, but rely on the Leader in that variant sidebar-- which suggests that info is not actually optional! Also, the text for those Lair Actions is physically distanced from the text for the Leader that uses them.
So I agree with @Composer99: It feels like Leader ought to have its own stat block; or at least be presented more prominently and not as a variant. And either way, the Lair Actions should be shown right with the Leader that uses them.

 

[Sacrosanct]

At the beginning of the book, there is a section on variant leaders, that's why the variant listed above is just a call out. However, point taken. Also, some adjustments to the statblock to tone it down a bit.

 

[Yaarel]

Adding something like a "lair dweller" as a new category might help. It could be added to various official monsters, generally.

For example, most kobolds might include the "lair dweller" option.

 

[Yaarel]

Looking at the depiction of these goblinoids, I would want to know how these particular goblins got octopus-like tentacles.

It looks like a specific magical transformation. The torso with head and arms seem nonaquatic.

 

[J.Quondam]

I think that looks nice, and is a more intuitive layout for what you're doing with the entry format.

One other question:
Is there a reason Proficiency isn't in the statblock? It's a useful number, and appears next to CR in recent books (eg, Jabberwocky statblock). Also, for cases where a creature Leader ends up with a CR giving it proficiency higher than the base creature, that number will only need be updated in the statblock with no need to mess with surrounding text / headings.

(And sorry to keep harping on format; I know you asked about the numbers!)

 

[dave2008]

Looking at the depiction of these goblinoids, I would want to know how these particular goblins got octopus-like tentacles.

It looks like a specific magical transformation. The torso with head and arms seem nonaquatic.

They are from Harry Potter. Ask JKR.

 

[dave2008]

I think that looks nice, and is a more intuitive layout for what you're doing with the entry format.

One other question:
Is there a reason Proficiency isn't in the statblock? It's a useful number, and appears next to CR in recent books (eg, Jabberwocky statblock). Also, for cases where a creature Leader ends up with a CR giving it proficiency higher than the base creature, that number will only need be updated in the statblock with no need to mess with surrounding text / headings.

(And sorry to keep harping on format; I know you asked about the numbers!)

Yep I agree with this. I know @Sacrosanct did a test run of this format (with proficiency bonus up front), but I personally prefer it in the stat block like recent WotC monsters:

Otherwise good job with the 2nd draft. I think the lair actions are fine for this CR.

 

[Sacrosanct]

I think that looks nice, and is a more intuitive layout for what you're doing with the entry format.

One other question:
Is there a reason Proficiency isn't in the statblock? It's a useful number, and appears next to CR in recent books (eg, Jabberwocky statblock). Also, for cases where a creature Leader ends up with a CR giving it proficiency higher than the base creature, that number will only need be updated in the statblock with no need to mess with surrounding text / headings.

(And sorry to keep harping on format; I know you asked about the numbers!)

All solid points, but I was more concerned on the legendary actions for low CR creatures, and less so on formatting of this particular creature

They are from Harry Potter. Ask JKR.

They actually come from folklore in northern England, which I assume is where JKR got the idea from.