D&D (2024) PHB 2024 Creature Reveal: Sphinx of Wonder

[mellored]

Why has initiative got a value in brackets? Can you take 10 on it??!

DMs can, yes. When you want to speed things up.

Just like they can also use average damage.

Or they can roll.

 

[John R Davis]

Hmm. Ok.
I use average damage a lot. May have a play with average initiative as the PCs rolls add variables

 

[Minigiant]

Well WOTC is saying monsters re being adjusted to match CR so people will be shocked with how much damage the MM will deal.

 

[Stalker0]

Well WOTC is saying monsters re being adjusted to match CR so people will be shocked with how much damage the MM will deal.

Yeah but no one’s really had a problem with crs below 5. At that point characters are still plenty squishy. It was always at the 5+ CR where damage started to get a bit weak, and then especially at like crs 12+ monsters just don’t feel up to their CR.

 

[Minigiant]

Yeah but no one’s really had a problem with crs below 5. At that point characters are still plenty squishy. It was always at the 5+ CR where damage started to get a bit weak, and then especially at like crs 12+ monsters just don’t feel up to their CR.

Actually because of the tighter ranges of the lower CRs, some monsters were out of whack with expectations in order to make them feel different. Especially with the lack of fantasy at lower levels.

HP sponges come online very early.

 

[Sulicius]

Actually because of the tighter ranges of the lower CRs, some monsters were out of whack with expectations in order to make them feel different. Especially with the lack of fantasy at lower levels.

HP sponges come online very early.

HP sponge? What are you talking about? I have never experienced a monster having enough health to drag out a fight.

 

[Maxperson]

The formatting bones seem easier to parse so far, but this monster isn't particularly complicated to begin with. I would really have to see something complex to get a better grasp on everything.

Though it is worth noting that apparently the PHB monsters don't have much if any lore next to them. Shouldn't be an issue for beasts, but it's kind of weird to omit that kind of thing for an entirely new monster.

Its a CR 1 creature with 3 resistances, 3 skills, 2 languages, darkvision, magic resistance, an attack that does up to 19 damage with an energy type added to it, and a special reaction. That's pretty complex for CR 1.

 

[Maxperson]

The DPR of a CR 1 monster in the 2014 DMG is 9-14, so this shouldn't be that much of a shock.

A roughly a 40% increase in max damage is a pretty significant change.

 

[Maxperson]

Forget housecat vs. commoner ....

Nonono! It was housecat vs. level 1 wizard.

 

[Chaosmancer]

Was just coming to drop the statblock off, hadn't seen the video before now.

I love having the saves in the ability scores, and the Prof Bonus listed in the block. I have also never considered passive initiative before, which is an excellent concept.