D&D 5E New Spellcasting Blocks for Monsters --- Why?!

[Charlaquin]

Piecemeal is pretty.clever, really. Swap out modules as they are ready to go.

Oh, so this is 5e’s much-anticipated modular design! It’s just taken them a decade to release the “4e style monsters” module!

 

[Parmandur]

Yes but all NPCs follow the spell slot system.

But bot all Spellcasting Monsters in the MM do: that's the point, the design isn't new, it's just being utilized more.

 

[Parmandur]

It’s kind of a rule change. Some existing monsters are getting new abilities, having existing abilities changed, and/or having the resource system their spells use changed. I’d call those things rules.

But no rules are actually changed: they aren't even using new sorts of features, just expanding the use in individual Monater design. Technically, these aren’t changed Monster blocks, but new blocks that cover older concepts. The older blocks aren't hitting Errata.

 

[Parmandur]

Oh, so this is 5e’s much-anticipated modular design! It’s just taken them a decade to release the “4e style monsters” module!

Well, yes: Monsters, Races, Classes, Subclasses, Feats. Those are the Modules that plug in or out of the system. The system itself is entirely free in the SRD and Basic rules.

 

[Charlaquin]

But no rules are actually changed: they aren't even using new sorts of features, just expanding the use in individual Monater design. Technically, these aren’t changed Monster blocks, but new blocks that cover older concepts. The older blocks aren't hitting Errata.

Some rules are actually changed though. The False Appearance feature, for example, works differently now.

 

[Parmandur]

Some rules are actually changed though. The False Appearance feature, for example, works differently now.

Technically, it's a new feature. But I'm picking at nits.

 

[Bill Zebub]

Yes but all NPCs follow the spell slot system.

I just checked my hardcover MM. NPC statblocs are intact.

 

[Helldritch]

I just checked my hardcover MM. NPC statblocs are intact.

And how about the new ones in the new books. Noticed anything? I sure did.

 

[Parmandur]

And how about the new ones in the new books. Noticed anything? I sure did.

Newer star blocks are reflecting newer design trends as they refine their methodology.

I remember Mearls going on a bit in the Happy Fun Hour in 2019 about how they had made a breakthrough very recently at the time about how Monsters work I'm terms of their game function, that he thought had implications in how they might do Summoning in the future. What he spoke about led directly to the new Tasha's Suoming Spells, the new Beast master Companions, the Drakewarden Ranger and other new pet Subclasses, and I believe their overall shift in Monster design since 2019.

 

[Shardstone]

Newer star blocks are reflecting newer design trends as they refine their methodology.

I remember Mearls going on a bit in the Happy Fun Hour in 2019 about how they had made a breakthrough very recently at the time about how Monsters work I'm terms of their game function, that he thought had implications in how they might do Summoning in the future. What he spoke about led directly to the new Tasha's Suoming Spells, the new Beast master Companions, the Drakewarden Ranger and other new pet Subclasses, and I believe their overall shift in Monster design since 2019.

Isn't it pretty incredible how all that stuff on Happy Fun Hour ended up having rippling effects on stuff releasing today? Before he was canned, he really was trying to pull back the curtain on 5E for full transparency.