D&D 5E The Minsc and Book product

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

So Baalzebul is CR 26, Bhaal has two forms (the Slayer and Ravager) which are CR 20 and 24, Cryonax is CR 22, Mephistopheles is CR 27, Pazuzu is CR 25, and Ssendam is CR 23. All have lairs, lair actions, and a full-page statblock.

For comparison, Orcus, Zariel, and Demogorgon are all CR 26. So these are some really, really dangerous enemies.

EDIT: Plus, they each get a full page art piece.

Wait, is that the first CR 27 monster in D&D 5e? If so, the only CR that hasn't gotten an official monster for it yet is CR 29 (the Demon Overlords from Eberron: Rising from the Last War are CR 28, while Tiamat and the Tarrasque are CR 30).

Another statted-out deity is nice. It's also nice that Bhaal is higher CR than Auril from Frostmaiden is. Gods should actually be powerful. (Also, lorewise, isn't Bhaal not even a true god anymore? @Henadic Theologian, do you know? You're the FR expert here. I remember reading somewhere that the Dead Three lost their Divinity recently.)

It's also interesting that Cryonax is one CR lower than Maegera the Dawn Titan (from Storm King's Thunder). I sure hope that these monster stats are reprinted in Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse. (I don't have the money for this right now, unfortunately.

 

[Professor Murder]

So Baalzebul is CR 26, Bhaal has two forms (the Slayer and Ravager) which are CR 20 and 24, Cryonax is CR 22, Mephistopheles is CR 27, Pazuzu is CR 25, and Ssendam is CR 23. All have lairs, lair actions, and a full-page statblock.

For comparison, Orcus, Zariel, and Demogorgon are all CR 26. So these are some really, really dangerous enemies.

EDIT: Plus, they each get a full page art piece.

Oh, I dont much care about the archfiends and the like. Don't really have any practical use for them, stat wise. I mean the dozen or so monsters. Soft spot in my heart for the Skeleton Warrior ever since one appeared in the DnD cartoon back in the day.

 

[Urriak Uruk]

Oh, I dont much care about the archfiends and the like. Don't really have any practical use for them, stat wise. I mean the dozen or so monsters. Soft spot in my heart for the Skeleton Warrior ever since one appeared in the DnD cartoon back in the day.

There are for sure some interesting additions here, including the hamadryad, demodands, and phaerimm. Though the wolfwere took my by surprise, especially it's art.

 

[Demetrios1453]

Wait, is that the first CR 27 monster in D&D 5e? If so, the only CR that hasn't gotten an official monster for it yet is CR 29 (the Demon Overlords from Eberron: Rising from the Last War are CR 28, while Tiamat and the Tarrasque are CR 30).

Another statted-out deity is nice. It's also nice that Bhaal is higher CR than Auril from Frostmaiden is. Gods should actually be powerful. (Also, lorewise, isn't Bhaal not even a true god anymore? @Henadic Theologian, do you know? You're the FR expert here. I remember reading somewhere that the Dead Three lost their Divinity recently.)

It's also interesting that Cryonax is one CR lower than Maegera the Dawn Titan (from Storm King's Thunder). I sure hope that these monster stats are reprinted in Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse. (I don't have the money for this right now, unfortunately.

Auril's relative weakness is tied to what she is doing in RotFM - by temporarily weakening herself to use her powers to plunge Icewind Dale into eternal winter, she expects even more power in return as more people worship and/or sacrifice to her. Once she has what she wants, she'll return to her normal state, but even more empowred.

I assume most deities, at full power, will be CR 30 (maybe slightly lower), like Tiamat and Bahamut. So Bhaal being significantly lower would indicate his weakened status.

 

[darjr]

Huh? What if the "new" format is PDF, print on demand, and special cover for WPN stores only?

What if?

 

[Urriak Uruk]

Wait, is that the first CR 27 monster in D&D 5e? If so, the only CR that hasn't gotten an official monster for it yet is CR 29 (the Demon Overlords from Eberron: Rising from the Last War are CR 28, while Tiamat and the Tarrasque are CR 30).

Another statted-out deity is nice. It's also nice that Bhaal is higher CR than Auril from Frostmaiden is. Gods should actually be powerful. (Also, lorewise, isn't Bhaal not even a true god anymore? @Henadic Theologian, do you know? You're the FR expert here. I remember reading somewhere that the Dead Three lost their Divinity recently.)

It's also interesting that Cryonax is one CR lower than Maegera the Dawn Titan (from Storm King's Thunder). I sure hope that these monster stats are reprinted in Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse. (I don't have the money for this right now, unfortunately.

I think it is the first CR 27, yes.

I would add, calculating Auril's and Bhaal's true strength is tricky due to their multiple forms. If you fight Bhaal's two forms one after the other, he's more comparable to a CR 26 creature. Auril with her three forms is like a CR 17 creature.

 

[Professor Murder]

There are for sure some interesting additions here, including the hamadryad, demodands, and phaerimm. Though the wolfwere took my by surprise, especially it's art.

oh? Now Im intrigued. What about the art?

 

[Urriak Uruk]

What if?

I'll add, the writer of this book, Ohlen, is actually the head of WotC's company Archetype Entertainment. No news on what they're working on, though their site says their goal is;

CREATE THE GREATEST science fiction roleplaying games in the world.​

At Archetype, we believe there will always be a place for story-driven roleplaying games that put the player at the center of an epic personal narrative with impactful choices. We are building games that represent the diversity of our audience. We also believe that game studios should empower top developers and challenge them with ambitious projects that are shaped by a strong, clearly communicated creative vision.

Could be related to D&D's future product plans, or completely separate things.

 

[Levistus's_Leviathan]

There are for sure some interesting additions here, including the hamadryad, demodands, and phaerimm. Though the wolfwere took my by surprise, especially it's art.

Phaerimm? But those are extinct, right?

 

[Urriak Uruk]

oh? Now Im intrigued. What about the art?

Well, they made them look really creepy... they're very spindly and creepy looking.

I don't want to show the full piece because I want folks to buy the book (it is for charity after all), but here's a taste;