D&D 5E The Monsters Know What They're Doing (5e)

[Nebulous]

Book adapted from Keith Ammann's blog, it is a breakdown of the monsters from the 5e monster manual and how they would react strategically in combat.

The Monsters Know What They're Doing: Combat Tactics for Dungeon Masters (The Monsters Know What They’re Doing Book 1) - Kindle edition by Ammann, Keith. Humor & Entertainment Kindle eBooks @ Amazon.com.

The Monsters Know What They're Doing: Combat Tactics for Dungeon Masters (The Monsters Know What They’re Doing Book 1) - Kindle edition by Ammann, Keith. Download it once and read it on your Kindle device, PC, phones or tablets. Use features like bookmarks, note taking and highlighting while...

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A lot of this information, such as how a creature should react to situations depending on its ability score range, would be excellent as a core part of the D&D Monster Manual.

 

[robus]

Yeah, really looking forward to this book!

 

[Nebulous]

I'm enjoying it so far. He brings up lots of excellent points most people probably don't dwell on too much. It reminds me that despite the relative simplicity of 5e, it is still very open to modification and enhancement in easy ways.

There is an understated morale system that I would love to have seen actually outlined in all monster blocks, but he does a good job of explaining how monsters would likely react.

 

[Ruin Explorer]

It's a good blog, though I think some of his assumptions are a bit faulty, as exemplified with Ogres here:

Ogre Tactics - The Monsters Know What They’re Doing

There’s a reason why I haven’t touched on ogres before now, and that’s that ogres basically have no tactics. They’re dumb, simple brutes.

themonstersknow.com

I suspect that the advantages of seeing stuff more than 60' away (including terrain) frequently outweigh the advantages of sometimes getting the drop on people because you can see in the dark and they can't (and it really is only sometimes). I also suspect ogres don't like getting hit any more than anyone else, and will certainly stay back and throw javelins or other projectiles even with it's not absolutely optimal DPS if it seems safer.

It's good advice for playing them optimally mechanically, but that often conflicts somewhat with good RP for the monsters, or big-picture RP of them.

Still, the amount of stuff in stat-blocks you can easily miss certainly means he's always worth a read!

 

[Sacrosanct]

I’ve always been a huge proponent that monsters are more than their lower stat block, and things like intelligence and instinct are hugely important. So I approve of anything that helps push that.

 

[Nebulous]

He also brings into play something I do miss from older editions, and that is how many monsters attack at once in a group given their nature. Newer players to D&D aren't aware of that, but old D&D outlined how many you typically encountered and optional setups.

 

[LordEntrails]

Does the book differ much from the blog? Is their more creatures? More details onteh ones that are their? Alternative tactics?
I really like the blog, but wonder if the book does more than monetarily support him.

 

[Salthorae]

It's a good blog, though I think some of his assumptions are a bit faulty, as exemplified with Ogres here:

Ogre Tactics - The Monsters Know What They’re Doing

There’s a reason why I haven’t touched on ogres before now, and that’s that ogres basically have no tactics. They’re dumb, simple brutes.

themonstersknow.com

I suspect that the advantages of seeing stuff more than 60' away (including terrain) frequently outweigh the advantages of sometimes getting the drop on people because you can see in the dark and they can't (and it really is only sometimes). I also suspect ogres don't like getting hit any more than anyone else, and will certainly stay back and throw javelins or other projectiles even with it's not absolutely optimal DPS if it seems safer.

It's good advice for playing them optimally mechanically, but that often conflicts somewhat with good RP for the monsters, or big-picture RP of them.

I agree that sometimes his tactics aren't good RP, but always worth a read. I mean the ogre's only losing 2 points of damage with their Javelin vs. Greatclub. That's not too shabby a differential.

 

[Nebulous]

Does the book differ much from the blog? Is their more creatures? More details onteh ones that are their? Alternative tactics?
I really like the blog, but wonder if the book does more than monetarily support him.

No. But if you've never read the blog, its a fantastic resource.

 

[jasper]

15 bucks you got to be kidding me. This is present from Hip Grandma pricing.