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

[Remathilis]

I wager the effects will be added to specific attacks, such as:

Shortbow. Ranged weapon attack. +5 to hit, 120 ft. Hit: 1d6+3 damage and target's speed is reduced by 10 ft.

 

[UngainlyTitan]

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?

No but they should add some of the effects to selected NPC as part of the default combat action.

 

[orangefruitbat]

I wager the effects will be added to specific attacks, such as:

Shortbow. Ranged weapon attack. +5 to hit, 120 ft. Hit: 1d6+3 damage and target's speed is reduced by 10 ft.

That would be a good way to do it, and would help move 2024 monsters away from the "bag of hit points". I probably should have included that as an explicit option in the poll.

 

[Snarf Zagyg]

Meanwhile, at WoTC's HQ....

Jeremy Crawford: Love the weapon masteries!

Chris Perkins: Yeah!

JC: But I'm worried. With all the other changes, the players are going to be stronger.

CP: Yep. Pretty pretty pretty strong.

JC: We should do something. Hmmmm... maybe we should give the monsters some weapon mastery love!

CP: Woah! Mind. Blown. That would be awesome! But wait ... are you thinking what I'm thinking?

JC: That it would be fiddly for DMs?

CP: Um, actually I was thinking of ordering in some burritos, but yeah, that too. So what do we do?

JC: Great question! Players are stronger .... what can we do, Chris?

CP: Same thing we always do, Jeremy?

JC: You're right. Let's give the monsters more hit points!

CP: Brilliant!

 

[mellored]

Pretty sure they mentioned they would in one of the videos.

 

[orangefruitbat]

Meanwhile, at WoTC's HQ....

Jeremy Crawford: Love the weapon masteries!

Chris Perkins: Yeah!

JC: But I'm worried. With all the other changes, the players are going to be stronger.

CP: Yep. Pretty pretty pretty strong.

JC: We should do something. Hmmmm... maybe we should give the monsters some weapon mastery love!

CP: Woah! Mind. Blown. That would be awesome! But wait ... are you thinking what I'm thinking?

JC: That it would be fiddly for DMs?

CP: Um, actually I was thinking of ordering in some burritos, but yeah, that too. So what do we do?

JC: Great question! Players are stronger .... what can we do, Chris?

CP: Same thing we always do, Jeremy?

JC: You're right. Let's give the monsters more hit points!

CP: Brilliant!

Funny...but sad if true. The one real thing I want out of 2024E is more interesting monsters - and something that didn't show up at all in the play tests.

 

[mamba]

Haven't seen my actual answer, which is 'only built into the stat block as actions' so I went with 'only some NPCs'

 

[cbwjm]

I wouldn't expect them all to have them but could see some NPCs getting them such as the warlord or a gladiator (not sure if there is a gladiator NPC, but i could see them having weapon mastery if there is). DMs I expect would also add them if it fits the enemy.

 

[Sulicius]

I don't think much will change, since such secondary effects have always been part of monster attacks.

Maybe we will see it like the Multiverse's Blackguard, who adds secondary effects as a bonus action.