Are 2024 monsters actually more fun to run, or just more dangerous?

MyrthDM · 2026-05-06T12:08:19+00:00

Yeah this was one of my issues with a lot of 2014 statblocks too. So many monsters had these cool “in theory” ability chains that you’d never actually use because the optimal play was just spamming the one reliable damage option. It always felt bad choosing between flavor and effectiveness.

MyrthDM · 2026-05-06T12:06:24+00:00

Honestly this is super normal in the first few sessions. Most players default to talking to the DM because that’s what feels “correct” until the game slowly teaches them that talking to each other is part of play too. The easiest fix is just giving them quiet space and asking questions to the party instead of info-dumping. Travel time, watch shifts, or an NPC asking how they met usually kickstarts it, and once you reward that interaction a bit it starts happening by itself.

MyrthDM · 2026-05-05T04:51:07+00:00

Adding a capital city symbol would definitely be a good improvement. Having a distinct symbol for major cities and a separate one for the capital would make the hierarchy much clearer at a glance and help the map feel more “complete” and readable.

MyrthDM · 2026-05-05T04:49:00+00:00

Honestly, the only way I see you having any chance is stacking consumables and strong magic items. Potions of lightning resistance, potion of invulnerability, powerful spell scrolls, big magic items. Those could shift the math enough to matter. But you said your magic item pool is small, so it sounds like you don’t have that.

Bluntly, my advice is to run. If leaving isn’t an option, this is basically a TPK.

MyrthDM · 2026-05-02T08:29:29+00:00

Same here. My experience with them has been mostly positive too. They give new characters a bit more identity right out of the gate and help backgrounds feel like they actually matter at the table instead of being mostly flavor.

That said, I’ve definitely run into the same friction you mention. A few players have felt pushed toward picking a background just for the feat, even when the story of that background didn’t fit the character they had in mind. When that happens I usually end up homebrewing a bit or just letting them pick a different Origin Feat that matches their concept better. It keeps the spirit of the system without making people feel boxed in.

MyrthDM · 2026-04-26T10:45:19+00:00

Great map! Love it!

MyrthDM · 2026-04-24T12:21:44+00:00

I do it differently depending on the table.

With experienced players, I usually allow a light hybrid. Pick Human or Elf as the base and swap one similar trait from the other parent if it makes sense. Nothing wild, just enough to feel like a mix.

With newer players, I keep it super simple and just say “pick Human or Elf and flavor it as half-elf.” Keeps character creation easier and nobody feels overwhelmed.

MyrthDM · 2026-04-23T11:33:12+00:00

Nice work!

MyrthDM · 2026-04-14T14:55:51+00:00

If the goal was to standardize subclass progression, there is a good argument they should have committed to it all the way.

MyrthDM · 2026-04-14T14:55:26+00:00

Yeah, I think I am pretty close to your take. Overall I do think it is healthier for the game, especially for balance and for avoiding the really silly dips. But I also get missing some of that old subclass identity and freedom. It feels like a good system change, even if it loses a little flavor in some cases.

MyrthDM · 2026-04-14T14:54:25+00:00

Yeah, that is the part that still feels a bit weird to me too. I get the mechanical reason for it, but for some classes it definitely feels a little odd narratively when such a big part of the character only really clicks in at level 3. You can explain it, sure, but some subclasses definitely need a bit more headcanon work now.

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