Thema: Monster Manual V

[Zechi]

Auf EN-World gibt es erste Infos zum MM V.

Monster
Here's the list of monsters:

Name [pg number the entry starts on]

Arcadian Avenger [8]
Banshrae [10]
Blackwing [12]
Burrow Root [14]
Dalmosh [16]
Deadborn Vulture [18]
Deadborn Vulture Zombie [18]
Demons [20]
Demonthorn Mandrake [30]
Devil [32]
Dragons of the Great Game [38]
Elemental Mage [48]
Ember Guard [52]
Ethereal Defiler [54]
Fetid Fungus [56]
Frostwind Virago [58]
Garngrath [60]
Gem Scarab [62]
God-Blooded Template [64]
Golem [68]
Graveyard Sludge [72]
Greenspawn Zealot [74]
Guulvorg [76]
Haunt [78]
Hobgoblin [84]
Illurien [90]
Jaebrin [92]
Kuo-toa [94]
Malastor [100]
Merchurion [102]
Mind Flayers of Thoon [104]
Mockery Bug [126]
Phantom [130]
Ruin Chanter [132]
Ruin Elemental [134]
Rylkar [136]
Sanguineous Drinker [142]
Scouring Construct [144]
Shaedling [148]
Shardsoul Slayer [150]
Siege Beetle [152]
Skull Lord [154]
Spawn of Juiblex [162]
Spirrax [166]
Steelwing [168]
Thrym Hound [170]
Tirbana [172]
Troll, Bladerager [180]
Tusk Terror [182]
Ushemoi [184]
Vampire [190]
Verdant Reaver [196]
Vinespawn [198]
Vivisector [200]
Wild Hunt [202]

und einige EInzelheiten

Five demons (Adaru, Carnage Demon, Draudnu, Gadacro, Solamith)

Three devils (Gulthir, Remmanon, Stitched Devil)

No new dragons, though two dragons are statted out with the new dragon-only template.

Two new golems, the force golem and the magmacore golem.

Several creatures get the "let's add class levels" treatment; Hobgoblins, Kuo-toa and Vampires.

The mind-flayer on the cover comes about because, I assume, fully 22 pages of the book are devoted to talking about the "Mind Flayers of Thoon." Thoon being some sort of far-realms associated entity that's caused changes to your standard mind-flayer that makes them search for something called "quintessence."

There is one epic level creature. It's called the Master of the Hunt, is CR 22 and is a kind of fey.

Has a grand total of 222 pages.

The table of contents is kind of cool, as it also doubles as a sort of index.

Monsters are tabulated according to Challenge Rating, ECL, Type and Subtype.

Seven new feats.

One new spell.

Eleven templates, most of which appear to be different versions of the "god-blooded" template, ie Vecna-Blooded, Orcus-Blooded, etc.

A list of creatures in the book that can be summoned, created or crafted by characters. The corresponding monster entry has a section that details specifics.

A list of creatures that can function as mounts. The corresponding monster entry has a section that details how said mount can be obtained.

Gruß Zechi

[Thalas]

Wenn ich nicht schon geung Monster hätte die ich nie in mein Spiel einbaue, würde ich es mir gerne aus Sammelleidenschaft kaufen. Auch wenn ich denke, dass ein MMV nicht nötig gewesen wäre.

[Zechi]

Wenn ich nicht schon geung Monster hätte die ich nie in mein Spiel einbaue, würde ich es mir gerne aus Sammelleidenschaft kaufen. Auch wenn ich denke, dass ein MMV nicht nötig gewesen wäre.

Sehe ich ähnlich, vor allem weil mir das MM IV überhaupt nicht gefallen hat, aber mal sehen. Irgendwie habe ich bisher noch jedes Monsterbuch gekauft und auch aus jedem Monster verwendet.

Gruß Zechi

[Thalas]

Mir hat das MMIV sehr gut gefallen. Besonders zu den Zeiten, in denen ich mit der 3E gerade erst angefangen und große Probleme hatte schnell einen NSC-Gegner - der nicht nur 0 8 15 aus dem MMI stammt - aus dem Ärmel zu schütteln. Da haben mir die fertigen Monster mit Klassenstufen einen sehr guten Dienst erwiesen.

[DU#1229]

Sehr schön ist ja der "Shaedling"  
Mal sehen, wie "shaedlich" der dann ist...

[Berandor]

MMV klingt gut.

Habe II und III ja nicht und wollte sie mir wegen 3.5 nicht kaufen, und IV ist leicht an meinen Bedürfnissen vorbei. V ist eher was für mich... nur, dass ich es wohl nie verwenden würde, weil nach meiner Kampagne ja erst mal spielen angesagt ist.

[Thalas]

MMV klingt gut.

Habe II und III ja nicht und wollte sie mir wegen 3.5 nicht kaufen, und IV ist leicht an meinen Bedürfnissen vorbei. V ist eher was für mich... nur, dass ich es wohl nie verwenden würde, weil nach meiner Kampagne ja erst mal spielen angesagt ist.

MM III gibt es in auf Deutsh in 3.5; mMn ist es das beste MM neben dem Core-Buch.

[Zechi]

Nochmal ein paar weitere Infos:

Other notes:

It looks like there are around 14 templated creatures or monsters with class levels. No maps. No yuan-ti anything.

I'm not a huge fan of the art in this one. Any weapons wielded are just ridiculously large. I would also rate III as the best as well. After a quick flip-through I'd say this is around the same as IV. The mind-flayer stuff is pretty cool though.

They use the same stat block as found in MM IV.

Each creature entry generally starts with the stat block, has a section on strategies and tactics, a sample encounter, a section on lore related to the creature with knowledge DC's, it's ecology, treasure and how to fit the monster into Ebberon and Faerun.

The god-blooded template is an uber-template in that it's a template of templates. You pick the god and use the uber-template to create a template to apply to a creature.

The [dragon-only] template can only be applied to young adult or older true dragon. It basically trade away spellcasting abilities for other abilities. The flavor is that the dragon with this template is involved in something called Xorvintaal, or "The Great Game", which appears to be some sort of complicated contest between dragons for power and prestige. Dragons with this template can grant a related template to humanoid agents, which are called Exarchs.

The new spell is called Earthbind, and it's a spell like ability cast by the Gadacro, one of the new demons. Now that I looked at it more closely, I think it may be in the Spell Compendium.

The new feats are Battle Magic Tactics, Brutal Throw, Daunting Presence, Kuo-toan Monasticism, Mage Slayer, Mind-Shattering Strike and Sense Quintessence.

A phantom ghast ninja is a ghast with levels of ninja and the phantom template. The phantom template can be applied to any corporeal creatures and allows said creature to become incorporeal at certain times if it chooses to do so.

List of demons:

Adaru (Tanar'ri) CR 10, a demonic millipede.
Carnage Demon (Just a Demon) CR 4, a demon that likes to kill more than most demons and gains a bonus from being near others of its kind in combat.
Draudnu (Obyrith) CR 10, a demon with trilateral symmetry that hunts other demons. The glossary at the back describes the Obyrith sub-type.
Gadacro (Tanar'ri) CR 3, a demon that can do sneak attack and temporarily blind creatures that it could sneak attack.
Solamith (Tanar'ri) CR 8, a demon that can rip out hunks of its own flesh (ie inflict damage on itself) and throw it as an underpowered fire ball.

Most of the demons and one of the devils are included in [the summonable monsters] list, as is the Arcadian Avenger and the Fetid Fungus. Not sure how they rate to a Gargantuan Centipeed. More interesting for the player to run I suppose. Nothing that screams alienist though.

Other notes [contd.]:

The Thoon stuff is basically a totally different take on mind-flayers. New goals, new behavior, new minions. It's not meant to replace the basic mindflayer, but to create a new group of the creatures that is at odds with the old flavor.

Chorranathau and Morlincantha are templated dragons of the great game. They give up their spell casting abilities for other things.

The spawn of Juiblex are considered elementals because of the flavor text, basically. An unholy combination of Juiblex's essence and elemental water.

Elemental mages are giants descended from ogres, so sort of distantly related to ogre-mages. Each kind of giant has an elemental theme (earth, fire and water) and special abilities to match.

Rylkars are a type of nasty, intelligent ratlike creatures from the underdark.

Tirbanas are insects that require humanoid hosts to complete their life-cycle. They form a sort of hive in cities and towns and begin using captured people to make more spawn.

Ushemoi are creatures that gain special powers when exposed to different kinds of stimuli, like pain.

Dalmosh is a unique (I think) gargantuan outsider from the abyss that eats everything in sight.

A Verdent Reaver is what happens to a person when they are charmed by Dryads and spend all their time with them. They look sort of like wooden gorillas.

A vinespawn is a plant creature made up of vines that can spawn more of its kind by using the bodies of victims as incubators.


Classed creatures:

Hobgoblin Duskblade-3
Hobgoblin Spellscourge (extra hit dice and the mage-slayer feat)
Hobgoblin Warcaster (extra hit dice and some arcane spells)
Hobgoblin Warsoul (extra hit dice and more arcane spells)
Crazed Kuo-toa (extra hit dice and new abilities)
Kuo-toa Exalted Whip (extra hit dice and divine casting)
Kuo-toa Harpooner (Fighter-2)
Kuo-toa Monitor (Monk-4)
The Black Duke - Vampire Knight-7 / Ronin-10
The Red Widow - Vampire Ninja-5 / Fighter-2 / Ghost-faced killer-8
Phantom Ghast Ninja-4
Gruumsh-blooded orc barbarian-5/fighter-2
Thoon Thrall Human Commoner-1

Ten highest CR monsters:

10. Merchurion (CR 17)
9. Vampire, Red Widow (CR 17)
8. Dragons of the great game, Chorranathau (CR 18)
7. Scouring construct, scouring slinger (CR 18)
6. Scouring construct, scouring stanchion (CR 18)
5. Spirrax
4. Wild Hunt, hound of the hunt (CR 18)
3. Vampire, Black Duke (CR 19)
2. Garngrath (CR 20)
1. Wild Hunt, master of the hunt (CR 22)

More on illithid variations:

Thoon Disciple - Mind Flayer cleric-4
Shadow Flayer - Mind Flayer with the ability to use poison and become invisibile.
Thoon Infiltrator - A parasite that can turn people into Thoon Thralls.
Thoon Thrall - A creature turned into a thrall by a Thoon Infiltrator.
Thoon Soldier - A construct that has a number of special abilities.
Madcrafter of Thoon - A living factory for Stormclouds and Scythers of Thoon
Scyther of Thoon - A construct with funky powers, including the ability to heal naturally.
Stormcloud of Thoon - A weird floating construct shaped like a grell that shoots lightening bolts.
Thoon Hulk - A large construct useful for bashing stuff.
Thoon Elder Brain - A CR 15 elder brain as opposed to the normal Epic CR 25 elder brain.

DIscuss!

[Darigaaz]

Die god-blodded template hörts ich sehr interessant an. Hoffentlich trügt mein Eindruck, daß sie nicht verwendbar erscheint. Wenn man schon liest 'Uber Template' .

Die Phantom Template klingt ziemlich gut finde ich. Den angesprochenen Ghast-Ninja könnte man sich wohl in etwa so wie die Zwillingsbrüder in Matrix-Reloaded vorstellen. Bin mal gespannt .

[Mervin Silberschlag]

Das Elder Brain mir CR 15 hört sich interessant an. Endlich ist eine stimmige Illithidenstadt im Subepic-Bereich realisierbar.

Gruß Mervin

[Zanan]

Na das klingt ja wieder nach einem Buch mit vielen Rassen-Klassen-Statblocks. Wo die doch so viel Platz fressen.

[Mervin Silberschlag]

Seit heute bei den Wizards auf der HP:

http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/iw/20070705a

Gruß Mervin

[Darigaaz]

Bladerager Troll ist wieder mal ein Viech der Kategorie: Wie f**** ich meine Gruppe heute?
Finde ich ziemlich misslungen. Es gibt schon den Wartroll und jeden normalen CR 4 Troll mit Klassenstufen kann ich dieses Biest emulieren lassen, auch mit Pounce. Solche Low Level Mosh-Monster gibt es nun wahrhaftig zu genüge in jedem MM.

[Mervin Silberschlag]

Ja, da hast du irgendwie recht. Was mir persönlich schon im MM IV gefehlt hat waren wirklich neue, innovative Monster, die man ohne Weiteres in bestehende Kampagnenwelten einfügen kann. Mal sehen wie der Rest des Buches aussieht. Bei mir wird es auf jeden Fall nächste Woche im Briefkasten liegen :grin:

Gruß Mervin

[Zanan]

Humanoid: Hobgoblin duskblade, Nozg'g (god-blooded orc), Singh the Immense.

... schön.

Monstrous Humanoid: Greenspawn zealot, hobgoblin spellscourge, hobgoblin warcaster, hobgoblin warsoul, kuo-toas (all), Thoon infiltrator, Thoon thrall, ushemoi (all).

Hm ... wo werden denn die Hogoblins plötzlich unterwegs monstrous?

Banshrae ... hätten sie mal die Banshee (MM II) auf 3RE gebracht ... also in einem Buch und nicht in einem gut versteckten, halbgaren WE. Aber das hätte ja Platz gekostet, den man für Hobgoblin Warcaster gebraucht hat.  :|  Ob bei den kuo-toas auch der Whip und Monitor aus DotUD dabei sind?