D&D General Reworking the MM Stat Block

[MatthewJHanson]

Certainly on could create an RPG where monsters don't have ability score, but to remove them from 5e would take a ton of work. Ability checks and saves are just too big a part of the system. Cast fire ball on them? That's a Dex save. Want to grapple them? That's a Str check. The list goes on and on. You'd have to either replace those with something else or alter how all those mechanics function.

 

[Blue Orange]

Certainly on could create an RPG where monsters don't have ability score, but to remove them from 5e would take a ton of work. Ability checks and saves are just too big a part of the system. Cast fire ball on them? That's a Dex save. Want to grapple them? That's a Str check. The list goes on and on. You'd have to either replace those with something else or alter how all those mechanics function.

Right. They didn't need them in 1e and 2e because saving throws were by attack type (paralyzation/poison/death magic, petrification/polymorph, wands/staves/rods, dragon breath, spells). 3e had the Fortitude, Reflex, Will system.