D&D General Things I like in the new MM

[Azzy]

Not having a FLGS, I ordered the book from someone else's FLGS via eBay.

 

[Demetrios1453]

Against my better judgement, I just bought a hard copy.....

I'm going to post the things I like... Some of these were likely in 2014 as well....

I like the little tables in some entries about how the monster could be used.

My favorite so far was the one concerning how ettin heads interact with each other, and there's an option for "performatively ignoring each other", which is downright hilarious, and not something I had thought of before. Cooperating, bickering with each other, sure! But an ettin that has its heads pointedly ignoring each other ("You can tell George that he will only swing his club when I tell him to!") just tickled me a bunch.

 

[Kobold Stew]

I think there's a lot to like about the new MM. I won't pretend it's perfect, but here are ten understated highlights (so far).

• Dragon Art. Each dragon has three pieces of art, and the layout is the same for all of them: Wyrmling and Adult as part of a two-page spread, then you turn the page and there’s a full-page image of an ancient dragon on the right-hand page. Each one is satisfying. They’ve thought about this, and the consistency crosses the whole book (a result of not grouping them altogether in the D section, but under their colour/metal).
• Beast Appendix. Having all the beasts together will make it very convenient for Druids. This dodges the hunt-and-search that’s been characteristic for the past decade, but keeps creature choice for the player.
• Copper Dragons. Canonically the funniest dragons now.
• Pirates. With all the talk of generic humanoids, it's worth pointing out that there's a lot of good ideas. Pirates are, as a group, charming. Whether it's a Pirate or a Pirate Captain, they have a charm ability that isn't magical, but simply exists. It's a wonderful opportunity for roleplay, and it screams fantasy heroics. (Pirate admirals are no longer naturally charming, but can do things with their blade that will make you fall in love with them.
• Succubus. Again, lots of talk about male and female succubi, but that's misleading: sure there are male and female pictured, but nothing in the text, and absolutely nothing that needs to impact the game. The real headline is that, whatever their sex, they can each shapeshift into an Incubus, and back again. Maybe they change sex when they do, maybe they don't. It's all the DM's call, but it's a great invitation for gender-flipping fun, if you want it.
• Sphinxes. Conversely, sphynxes are no longer gendered (androsphinx, gynosphinx), but are themed: sphinx of lore, of secrets, of valor, or (as a warlock's familiar) of wonder. Really cool.
• Pseudodragons. Comes with a d10 table of bribes the pseudodragon might want in order to buy its love. No more offering default snacks. Now you might need to travel with its favorite chef, or sing it a bedtime lullaby. Hilarious.
• Ogrillon. No longer a blending of orc and ogre (all interspecies blends seem to have been removed) the monster is now the result of some evil magic that can affect anyone. Even players.
• Mummy Lord. There are a lot of BBEGs in the book, and many of them could be the anchor villain in a campaign. Many creatures here could be the centre of a campaign, not just an encounter, and there's a list of possible plots.It's more streamlined than in the 2014 book, simpler, sure, but there are hooks and a clarity of presentation that I think will appeal to a wider range of DMs. I can instantly see having a Mummy Lord in the background of at least ten levels of a campaign -- possibly more. It's a monster I've never given a second thought to before.
• Endpapers. I’ve not seen anyone say this, but the endpapers on all the alt-cover versions are simply gorgeous. Classy and understated, but with a beautiful design that shows how much someone in the design chain really cared.