D&D 5E Playing around with stat blocks

[Sanglorian]

I was marvelling at the fact that in some earlier D&D editions monster stats could be written on a single line. I wanted to experiment with some D&D 5E stats and see what I could do with them, and thought people might be interested to see them. Do let me know what you think.

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These don't preserve all information about the monsters. I've even done things like drop weapon ranges that would not take up a lot of room. I was more interested in creating 5E-compatible stats than exact translations. You could play with these stat blocks, but they may require changes in play style. They assume people aren't playing with miniatures, so if weapon ranges were important the GM would have to make a judgement call. And instead of SQs being clearly defined (e.g. how small a space an amorphous creature can squeeze through), the GM would make rulings. In general, SQs would either simply allow a creature to do something or give advantage on a roll.

I think the formatting itself is pretty intuitive. #AT means that it's a basic attack, # that it's an action, % that it's a reaction and & that it's a bonus action. The text in brackets describes what happens on a failed save/successful attack.

NOTHIC (CR 2) medium aberration, chaotic evil
AC 15, hp 45, spd 30 ft
STR +2 DEX +3 CON +3 INT +1 WIS +0 CHA -1
SQ Truesight; One big eye

#AT claws +4 (1d6+3 damage)
# Rotting gaze: DC 12 Con (3d6 damage)
# Weird insight: Cha vs Wis (nothic learns one fact about target)

OGRE (CR 2) large giant, chaotic evil
AC 11, hp 59, spd 40 ft
STR +4 DEX -1 CON +3 INT -3 WIS -2 CHA -2

#AT greatclub +6 (2d8+4 damage)
#AT javelin +6 (2d6+4 damage)

OCHRE JELLY (CR 2) large ooze, unaligned
AC 8, hp 45, spd 10 ft, climb 10 ft
STR +2 DEX -2 CON +2 INT -4 WIS -2 CHA -5
SQ Spider climb; Acid resistance; Lightning immunity; Slashing immunity; Blindsight; Blind; Amorphous

#AT pseudopod +4 (3d6+2 damage)
% Split: When subject to lightning or slashing damage, split into two oozes of one size smaller, each with half current HP.

NOBLE HUMAN FIGHTER 1 lawful neutral
AC 17, hp 12, HD 1d10, spd 30 ft
STR +3 DEX -1 CON +2 INT +0 WIS +1 CHA +2
Proficiencies (+2) Str and Con saves; armour, shields, simple weapons, martial weapons; playing cards; Athletics, History, Perception, Persuasion
SQ Position of privilege

#AT greataxe +5 (1d12+3)
#AT javelin +5 (1d6+3)
& Second Wind: regain 1d10+level HP; recharge short or long rest

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

You're using black-on-black text, so people have to highlight the text to read it.

In any event, the part about "only one line" isn't always true. Back in 2e, elves had a "shot on the run" ability that was written in the text and not in a stat block, as an example.

NOTHIC (CR 2)medium aberration, chaotic evil

AC 15, hp 45, spd 6

STR +2 DEX +3 CON +3 INT +1 WIS +0 CHA -1

SQ Truesight; One big eye


#AT claws +4 (1d6+3 damage)

# Rotting gaze: DC 12 Con (3d6 damage)

# Weird insight: Cha vs Wis (nothic learns one fact about target)

Needs a bit more info. What does "one big eye" mean? What is the range of "rotting gaze"? What action is "weird insight"? If a nothic picks up a javelin and throws it, how do you calculate the accuracy? How about the damage? (The nothic has Strength +2, but claws deal +3 damage.)

You could certainly use smaller stat blocks, but I wouldn't try to "force" a one-line stat block. At the very least, I'd expect to see things like "SA" Rotting Gaze (standard action, range 30, DC 12 Con [3d6 damage]) in the stat block.

Edit: Please list proficiency bonuses. They apparently start at +2 and go to +6. So when that fighter has proficiency with Con saves, I don't know if that means +2, more, advantage?

 

[Sanglorian]

You're using black-on-black text, so people have to highlight the text to read it.

In any event, the part about "only one line" isn't always true. Back in 2e, elves had a "shot on the run" ability that was written in the text and not in a stat block, as an example.

Woops, sorry about that! I've fixed the code now.

Needs a bit more info. What does "one big eye" mean? What is the range of "rotting gaze"? What action is "weird insight"? If a nothic picks up a javelin and throws it, how do you calculate the accuracy? How about the damage? (The nothic has Strength +2, but claws deal +3 damage.)

You could certainly use smaller stat blocks, but I wouldn't try to "force" a one-line stat block. At the very least, I'd expect to see things like "SA" Rotting Gaze (standard action, range 30, DC 12 Con [3d6 damage]) in the stat block.

The # indicates that weird insight is a regular action.

I deliberately left off ranges and left SQs undefined because I wanted to play around with how much needs to be spelled out in a stat block. I think GMs playing without miniatures could make judgement calls about weapon ranges when they needed to (but as you say, this would be very easy to add back in).

With SQs, the general rule would be: if one applies, say yes or roll with advantage. So one big eye would give advantage on Perception rolls where sight plays a part. With amorphous, it would generally just allow the ooze to squeeze through things, no roll required - but might also give advantage on slippping out of a grapple, for example.

As for what bonus a nothic would apply when throwing a javelin, that's sadly not information that's given in the full WOTC stat block either! I am curious to find out if there's a proficiency bonus-like system in the back end for monsters, or if the bonuses are based on Challenge Rating, or what.

 

[Kobold Stew]

I am not finding this helpful -- in fact, they seem to require foreknowledge of the larger stat blocks in order to make sense. Still, if you pursue this, here are some thoughts:

They assume people aren't playing with miniatures, so if weapon ranges were important the GM would have to make a judgement call.

I'm confused by this -- by giving speeds as "6" (rather than "30") you *are* assuming a grid and miniatures -- "6" is only meaningful in terms of the number of 5' squares one moves through.

OCHRE JELLY (CR 2) large ooze, unaligned
AC 8, hp 45, spd 2, climb 2
STR +2 DEX -2 CON +2 INT -4 WIS -2 CHA -5
SQ Spider climb; Acid resistance; Lightning immunity; Slashing immunity; Blindsight; Blind; Amorphous

#AT pseudopod +4 (3d6+2 damage)
% Split: When subject to lightning or slashing damage, split into two oozes of one size smaller, each with half current HP.

It's crucial that the splitting ability be marked as stopping at small. Large oozes can split into two mediums, and mediums into two smalls, but then it stops.

NOBLE HUMAN FIGHTER 1 (Prof +2) lawful neutral
AC 17, hp 12, HD 1d10, spd 6
STR +3 DEX -1 CON +2 INT +0 WIS +1 CHA +2
Proficiencies Str and Con saves; armour, shields, simple weapons, martial weapons; playing cards; Athletics, History, Perception, Persuasion
SQ Position of privilege

#AT greataxe +5 (1d12+3)
#AT javelin +5 (1d6+3)
& Second Wind: regain 1d10+level HP; recharge short or long rest

This is the hardest to make sense of, since it is trying to preserve information that isn't needed at a quick glance.

* delete refs to armour, shields, simple weapons, martial weapons (since it's all built into AC and attacks)
* move proficiency bonus to the proficiency line, so it's clear to what it applies.
* Position of Privilege is meaningless by itself -- it needs expanding or removal; I'd also question the need for mentioning playing cards in a short block like this, but fair enough.

Hope this helps.

 

[ren1999]

You're getting negative comments but you deserve a positive one. I think stats at a glance is a great idea. I experimented with that too and gave up on it in exchange for readability.

Here is a screenshot of the Nothic. I am missing some information such as what is the Nothic's proficiency bonus? What is the DC12 breaking down to? We need to do that so that if the Nothic is affected by spells that reduce its ability scores, the rolls will automatically be adjusted.

http://kira3696.tripod.com/

 

[Sanglorian]

You're getting negative comments but you deserve a positive one. I think stats at a glance is a great idea. I experimented with that too and gave up on it in exchange for readability.

Thanks for the kind words! Although I should say I've found the feedback from Kobold Stew and (Psi)Severed Head to be useful and constructive - not negative.

(1) I'm confused by this -- by giving speeds as "6" (rather than "30") you *are* assuming a grid and miniatures -- "6" is only meaningful in terms of the number of 5' squares one moves through.

(2) It's crucial that the splitting ability be marked as stopping at small. Large oozes can split into two mediums, and mediums into two smalls, but then it stops.

(3) This is the hardest to make sense of, since it is trying to preserve information that isn't needed at a quick glance.

* delete refs to armour, shields, simple weapons, martial weapons (since it's all built into AC and attacks)
* move proficiency bonus to the proficiency line, so it's clear to what it applies.
* Position of Privilege is meaningless by itself -- it needs expanding or removal; I'd also question the need for mentioning playing cards in a short block like this, but fair enough.

(1) Haha, yes - good point! It didn't make any sense to give the speed in squares.

(2) My feeling was this was the sort of thing the DM could make a judgement call on - based on how much HP the ooze has left, whether the party getting mobbed by tiny oozes would be a fun last-stage for the encounter, etc.

(3) Yeah, I should have said with the fighter stat block that I was imagining it would substitute for a character sheet. If it were an NPC, you could definitely cut it further. Putting the proficiency bonus with the proficiencies is a great suggestion. Position of privilege would be interpretted like other SQs - "say yes or roll with advantage" whenever it would logically apply.

 

[Kobold Stew]

Glad to help!