D&D 5E Variant monsters – sidebars or full statblocks?

[Quickleaf]

Variant monsters – sidebars or full statblocks?

Should variations on standard Monster Manual monsters that appear in publication, for example a desert troll or pyrohydra in an adventure, be presented as a sidebar with just the new differentiating details OR as a new full stat block? Which do you think is better?

For example, this method...

[SECTION]Variant Monster: Pyrohydra
The hydra in area # descends from a line of pyrohydras once bred by the Brotherhood. While most were slain in the Brotherhood’s operations across the land, one remains. It has maximum hit points (255), seven heads, immunity to fire damage, its regrowth of Multiple Heads is prevented by cold damage (instead of fire), and it can employ the following Fire Breath action. Its CR increases to 11 (7,200 XP).

Fire Breath (recharge 5-6). Each of the hydra’s heads exhales a 15-foot cone of fire. Each creature in that area must make a DC 17 Dexterity saving throw, taking 10 (3d6) fire damage on a failed save, or half as much damage on a successful one. Multiple heads can join together to breath on one creature; instead of requiring multiple Dexterity saving throws from a single creature, the damage increases by 3d6 per additional head breathing on a target.[/SECTION]

Or this method...

 

[DEFCON 1]

How's your page count currently?

Realistically, whether you include a full block or not will come down to whether you have the space in the book for it. If you have the space, a full statblock for a variant creature will probably make it easier for DMs to use (whether you put it in the back of the book, or on the page it appears)... but if that means having to cut out a piece of art or edit some descriptions or information... that might cause too much hassle.

For the amount of changes your pyrohydra seems to have, a full statblock in the rear of the book would probably be better... but I wouldn't cut down important other info if you were running tight on space.

 

[Bupp]

XP for the stat block.

 

[Quickleaf]

How's your page count currently?

Can I plead the fifth? 70 pages. It's going to be PDF distribution (unless DMs Guild gets print-on-demand set up for creators), so while page count won't be as much of a limiting factor, I do want to get it under control somewhat - under 100 pages - to keep the adventure manageable for a DM.

Realistically, whether you include a full block or not will come down to whether you have the space in the book for it. If you have the space, a full statblock for a variant creature will probably make it easier for DMs to use (whether you put it in the back of the book, or on the page it appears)... but if that means having to cut out a piece of art or edit some descriptions or information... that might cause too much hassle.

There are lots of new monsters in the adventure. I asked myself whether each was was necessary and served a unique role in the adventure, and time and again my answer was "yes".

Do I need the asuras? Yes, the loss of its divine flame is one of the main conceits of the adventure. OK.

Do I need the shadow variant wyvern? Why not use a regular wyvern? Yes, because by 15th-16th level the PCs have probably faced wyverns before and because a fly-over of several shadow wyverns mounted by flame mages scouting the land/air space is meant to be scary as hell. OK.

Do I need a guardian tasked genie and slayer tasked genie? Yes, because they're from the source material, one acting as a guardian of the palatial gardens, the other as a bodyguard & executioner for the BBEG. OK.

Do I really need maelephant gate guardians? Couldn't I use the tasked guardian genie or what about a nycaloth from the MM? One of the conceits of the setting is that only a select few remember the way there, and moreover that that visiting mages seeking tutelage from the Brotherhood may leave with the memories wiped. Maelephants are a perfect fit.

And so on.

When possible, I used monsters straight out of the MM like remorhazes, and just added a flavorful name notation of "salt worm" to fit them into the desert setting.

For the amount of changes your pyrohydra seems to have, a full statblock in the rear of the book would probably be better... but I wouldn't cut down important other info if you were running tight on space.

That's helpful, thanks!

 

[Croesus]

My two cents:

If you're just tacking on one or two abilities, a sidebar is fine. For example, for a goblin rogue, you could just add a section about sneak attack damage and taking bonus actions to Hide, Dash, or Disengage.

However, pyrohydra has a lot more changes. "It has maximum hit points (255), seven heads, immunity to fire damage, its regrowth of Multiple Heads is prevented by cold damage (instead of fire), and it can employ the following Fire Breath action. Its CR increases to 11 (7,200 XP)." That's seven items changed. It needs its own stat block.