D&D (2024) What's New In The 2024 Monster Manual (D&D Beyond Post)

[KYRON45]

I know it's crazy, but I would respect corporations a lot more if they were more transparent about stuff like that. The marketing-speak doesn't do them any favors in my eyes.

True or false, everything Wotc does bothers you?

 

[MonsterEnvy]

I know it's crazy, but I would respect corporations a lot more if they were more transparent about stuff like that. The marketing-speak doesn't do them any favors in my eyes.

They outright said that they didn’t have enough printers for it. They could either sit on the finished books until they were all done, or release them one by one.

 

[Micah Sweet]

True or false, everything Wotc does bothers you?

A lot, particularly since Tasha's, but not everything. I liked the Book of Many Things, and Planescape seemed alright when I was able to briefly borrow a copy.

 

[Micah Sweet]

They outright said that they didn’t have enough printers for it. They could either sit on the finished books until they were all done, or release them one by one.

Someone suggested they might have had other reasons as well. If so, I'd rather they revealed those rather than keep quiet. If it was just the printer thing, then fine.

 

[pukunui]

Someone suggested they might have had other reasons as well. If so, I'd rather they revealed those rather than keep quiet. If it was just the printer thing, then fine.

It might very well just be the printer thing. I was just speculating that there may have been other undisclosed reasons.

 

[Micah Sweet]

It might very well just be the printer thing. I was just speculating that there may have been other undisclosed reasons.

Fair enough. Not personally a fan of undisclosed reasons.

 

[dave2008]

Fair enough. Not personally a fan of undisclosed reasons.

But there is no reason to believe there are undisclosed reasons

 

[dave2008]

I heard they weren't doing templates anymore (more's the pity)?

What was revealed is that the NPC statblocks have been modified to be for any species. I don't know what this means exactly, as the 2014 NPCS specifically said "any race," see below. However, the 2014 DMG had a table for modifying those stat blocks to give them a specific species mechanical flavor. So the NPCs and table acted a bit like templates.

It sounds like in the 2024 book the NPC stat block is rolling this all into one? I really have no idea how that would work.

 

[pukunui]

But there is no reason to believe there are undisclosed reasons

I think that was just the cynic in me talking. I'm willing to take WotC's statement about the printing at face value.

What was revealed is that the NPC statblocks have been modified to be for any species. I don't know what this means exactly, as the 2014 NPCS specifically said "any race," see below. However, the 2014 DMG had a table for modifying those stat blocks to give them a specific species mechanical flavor. So the NPCs and table acted a bit like templates.

It sounds like in the 2024 book the NPC stat block is rolling this all into one? I really have no idea how that would work.

Yeah, I was a bit confused by that bit too. I was like, "Wasn't that the case already?" I'm wondering if what they were talking about was taking some of the species-specific NPCs and making them generic NPC statblocks? So like maybe the Drow Priestess is now a Priest of Lolth that can be of any humanoid species and gender? Jeremy did mention there were more cultist stat blocks in the book, for example.

 

[dave2008]

Yeah, I was a bit confused by that bit too. I was like, "Wasn't that the case already?" I'm wondering if what they were talking about was taking some of the species-specific NPCs and making them generic NPC statblocks? So like maybe the Drow Priestess is now a Priest of Lolth that can be of any humanoid species and gender? Jeremy did mention there were more cultist stat blocks in the book, for example.

Possibly, I couldn't figure it out. We will know if about a month!