D&D 5E Radically shrinking stat blocks

[Quickleaf]

For reference: D&D 2024 Basic Rules Creature Stat Blocks

So has anyone taken a look at the new stat block format for D&D '24? At a first glance, I really like the two column format.

EDIT: The Basic Rules have a selection of familiar and summoned monster stat blocks.

I just saw them today. My quick thoughts are – leaving aside more radical changes (e.g. the "just save bonus" replacing stats/mods that Tales of the Valiant Uses), there's clear easy ways to improve on what's there.

Maybe needing these to adhere to a consistent database format & to be HMTL compatible (so that when you resize window it shifts between 1 and 2 columns) limits some of the changes I think would improve it.

Edit: The more condensed simple stat blocks like this get, the more bland they seem to me – I think your Traits for advantage/disadvantage idea would really help to inject at least a little interest / inspiration for the GM running a black bear, for example.

 

[Zaukrie]

For reference: D&D 2024 Basic Rules Creature Stat Blocks



I just saw them today. My quick thoughts are – leaving aside more radical changes (e.g. the "just save bonus" replacing stats/mods that Tales of the Valiant Uses), there's clear easy ways to improve on what's there.

Maybe needing these to adhere to a consistent database format & to be HMTL compatible (so that when you resize window it shifts between 1 and 2 columns) limits some of the changes I think would improve it.

View attachment 379064

Edit: The more condensed simple stat blocks like this get, the more bland they seem to me – I think your Traits for advantage/disadvantage idea would really help to inject at least a little interest / inspiration for the GM running a black bear, for example.

Stat blocks are bland. Imo. Give me the other stuff in words. Make the blocks easy to use, not as inspiration.

 

[Quickleaf]

One thing I've been thinking about is information priority. For instance, the 5e stats put AC, initiative, HP, and Speed at the front. After the monster's name/size/type, those are the priorities expressed by 5e's stats in current form.

For me at least the first set of questions I'm asking when a monster appears is:

• Can it perceive the PCs?
• Can the PCs perceive it?
• Can the PCs talk to it?

And then, if combat is happening, my immediate question is "Who goes first?" Most of the time, until we've rolled initiative, the AC, HP, and Speed don't matter yet.

If I rearranged the stat block around those priorities, I might get the following chunk at the very beginning of the stat block:

Senses/Perception
Stealth, False Appearance, and similar traits
Languages
Initiative

 

[Quickleaf]

Stat blocks are bland. Imo. Give me the other stuff in words. Make the blocks easy to use, not as inspiration.

I think these sorts of flavor tags/traits are kinda already in the stat blocks.

We just call them Arcana, Intimidation, Persuasion, and all the other skills that – at least IME – GMs virtually never roll for monsters. I know there are some folks who do... but generally speaking the rules don't prioritize monsters rolling those things. For example, Intimidation is just saying "portray the monster in an intimidating way", not "roll an Intimidation check vs. the PC and if the monster succeeds then the player is obliged to portray their PC as intimidated."

 

[mearls]

Edit: The more condensed simple stat blocks like this get, the more bland they seem to me – I think your Traits for advantage/disadvantage idea would really help to inject at least a little interest / inspiration for the GM running a black bear, for example.

Thanks! FWIW, used them in my game yesterday and was happy with how they worked.

I had a gang of troglodytes with the Lazy trait guarding an area. One PC used Stealth to scout out the room, and I described the trogs as lounging about and sluggish. The party used a combo of Calm Emotions and a Deception check ("Don't trouble yourself with standing up. We're just passing through to see the boss.") to walk right by them. I gave advantage on the check, and disadvantage on the trog's insight, to account for both the spell and their laziness.

I'm happiest with how it helped me run the encounter in the moment, and that my description then prompted the players to get creative.