D&D (2024) Will monsters and NPCs get weapon masteries?

[orangefruitbat]

One thing I haven't seen addressed anywhere is whether WOTC will extend weapon masteries to weapon-using monsters and NPCs. Will they? Should they?

 

[Gorck]

Are you asking for facts or our opinions?

 

[Zaukrie]

I think we should see them built into actions, yes. Tactics are interesting on both sides of the table.

I don't think we'll see much of it, however, as WotC monsters are, frankly, bags of hps with little interesting abilities (IMO, and I get others disagree, I'm not trying to convince anyone).

 

[orangefruitbat]

Are you asking for facts or our opinions?

Both really. If there are facts out there, I would love to hear them (or educated guesses). But I'm also interested in people's opinions. I would guess that WOTC won't include them for most monsters/NPCs (though some monsters will get unique special abilities that somewhat mimic weapon masteries). However, I probably would add weapon masteries to most opponents.

 

[the Jester]

Probably not. I'll use them for special npcs or monsters once in a while, but generally won't bother.

 

[Shardstone]

They need to be, desperately.

 

[Undrave]

They'll be there, but not called out by name and just be incorporated into the action. We don't need more NPCs that force you to check other books it's a dumb design.

 

[UngeheuerLich]

Would be stupid to add them to every monster. That would bog down the game a lot. But special NPCs and weapon users, sure.

 

[MonsterEnvy]

Certain monsters I would not mind getting it, but for sure should not be universal.

 

[Stormonu]

Just as some monsters use spells, it would make sense that some monsters will use masteries. They should be incorporated into the blocks so you don't have to hunt up rules elsewhere where possible and I don't expect they'll be on every monster - only ones where it'd be significant (Champion, for example).