D&D 5E What's a Yugoloth?

[pukunui]

I feel like the Monster Manual needed its own version of the Lore Glossary.

Creature types are defined in the MM intro. There is an appendix of lists by creature "group" (another word for the parenthetical descriptor tags like "yugoloth" and "lycanthrope" ~ but not "wizard"). This would have been the perfect place to include a sentence or two explaining what each of these groups is.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Agreed there should have been something in the Glossary explaining what the group is. Splitting them up means no more group explanations.

 

[pukunui]

Agreed there should have been something in the Glossary explaining what the group is. Splitting them up means no more group explanations.

What's annoying is that some things still get a group entry (e.g. Lizardfolk, Modrons) that come with a general explanation of what that group is. But not all groups do.

 

[Yaarel]

Which still isn't a great definition, IMO.

They're fiends who aren't devils or demons -- neither of whom have a super-distinct identity (maybe they do in the 2025 MM, we'll see) beyond how much they like organization -- but sure look more or less like them and do awful things like them and live in horrific netherworlds like them ...

When 6E rolls round, it'd be great if we could get someone to be able to come up with a one-sentence description of each major monster type that isn't just recursively linking back to existing D&D lore or cosmology.

If we're going to have all of these different fiends, they should be be more than just big bags of hit points with pointy bits who are eeeevil.

As it is, the Blood War -- if that's necessary to carry forward -- would work just as well with a single category of monsters called Fiends, who war amongst themselves and have formed into two major camps.

For the NE Yugoloth, the flavor text would be:

Yugoloth. Fiends who seem like psychopaths, both manipulating group obligations and selfishly betraying groups, whichever happens to bring about the most personal gain.

(Lolth should be NE.)

 

[aco175]

The 2e monster binder is looking better as an option with this layout they have now.

 

[Parmandur]

The 2e monster binder is looking better as an option with this layout they have now.

View attachment 395364

I don't use Beyond, but it seems to me that Beyond allows thw designers to actually deliver what the binder did in concept.

 

[J-H]

For anyone who read the subject line and doesn't know, Yugoloths are the neutral evil fiend. Devil LE, Demon CE, Yugoloth NE.

In settings with the demon-devil Blood War, yugoloths are mercenaries, willing to fight for anyone who can meet their price.

I am using a few sometime soon. What you've said is about all I know. They also come in a really weird CR band of 5, 11-13. Nothing higher, nothing lower. There is no unifying biology. It's like someone said "I want to make a fox wizard and an evil Grey and an intelligent mosquito. Let's put them all on the same team!"

If there's more good info on them I'd like to know.

 

[Gorg]

Yugoloths are the NEW! MODERN!! name for the classic Daemons of AD&D. Neutral Evil Fiends, known for being mercinaries in the Blood War- and playing both sides. Whoever pays them the most NOW. I think they were originally from Gehenna or Pandemoniun, I forget which.

Either way, you don't want to run into one in a dark alley...

 

[Maxperson]

The 2e monster binder is looking better as an option with this layout they have now.

View attachment 395364

The 2e lore is fantastic as well.

 

[sevenbastard]

I want to make a fox wizard and an evil Grey and an intelligent mosquito. Let's put them all on the same team!"

Makes about as much sense as some of the party PC put together.