Mordenkainen's Tome: what monsters are in it?

[Unoriginal]

Really looks like they have decided it's time to flesh out the higher level game.

That is one of the announced goals of the book, so they better have.

[mephnick]

. It's really a shame that so many adventures end earlier than that.

I've never played a high level module 17+, but how would a writer even lay it out? Just a collection of scenes to litter in between teleports and plane shifts? I feel like high level play demands a flexibility modules inherently lack. Not being snarky, I'd love to see an example of a good one.

[Envyus]

There is a bunch of stuff over at Fantasy grounds that shows off a few little previews.

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/store...?id=WOTC5EMTOF

[Millstone85]

There is a bunch of stuff over at Fantasy grounds that shows off a few little previews.

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/store...?id=WOTC5EMTOF

It looks like 4e's archons have become 5e's elemental myrmidons. Well, an elemental in armor makes for an odd yet not entirely unpleasant look. But it mainly makes me hopeful for a return of celestial archons.

Then we have the modron's evil cousin, an Acheronian construct called the cadaver collector.

We are also getting more trolls. The art shows one who grew more heads and limbs, and one who looks pestiferous. There is also a mention of dire trolls.

New art for the eladrin and shadar-kai. I dig the latter, not sure about the former.

Also, new halfling art, which continues to be terrifying.

[Envyus]

Also we now know the Abishai are in the book and another Archdevil in the form of Bael.

[Millstone85]

Also we now know the Abishai are in the book and another Archdevil in the form of Bael.

Yes, and after even more reading:
* balhannoth
* berbalang
* black abishai
* blue abishai
* boneclaw
* bronze scout
* bulezau
* canoloth
* choker
* duergar azer
* duergar hammerer
* duergar screamer
* duergar soulblade
* duergar xarrorn
* dwarf acolyte
* elder tempest
* frost salamander
* merrenoloth
* ogre battering ram
* ogre bolt launcher
* skulk
* spirit troll
* the Lonely
* the Lost
* tortle
* tortle druid
* vampiric mist
* winter eladrin

[Beechgnome]

Yes, and after even more reading:
* balhannoth
* berbalang
* black abishai
* blue abishai
* boneclaw
* bronze scout
* bulezau
* canoloth
* choker
* duergar azer
* duergar hammerer
* duergar screamer
* duergar soulblade
* duergar xarrorn
* dwarf acolyte
* elder tempest
* frost salamander
* merrenoloth
* ogre battering ram
* ogre bolt launcher
* skulk
* spirit troll
* the Lonely
* the Lost
* tortle
* tortle druid
* vampiric mist
* winter eladrin

Ok, lots to update once I'm at a computer. I'm a bit disappointed so much of it is stuff that already has appeared in modules: choker and vampiric mist were in Yawning, many of the duergar and demons in Oota, elemental myrmidons were in PotA. And some those just like NPC stat blocks reskinned to races: bronze scout, tortle druid, dwarf acolyte.

But I am glad the abashai are there and am intrigued by the ogre variants.

Also, that screen shot pretty neatly lays out the chapters, confirming what we already got hints of: there is no player races section, just a subsection within each chapter.

It's just Blood War, Elves, Dwarves, Gith, Halfling/gnomes and then bestiary.

[Unoriginal]

Don't know about you, but I'm still hyped about those things.

[Beechgnome]

Yeah I shouldn't say disappointed. There is bound to be repetition from the adventures and few can afford to buy them all up.

I am still totally excited for the book (I wouldn't have started the thread otherwise) but I know some people were wondering what, if any, player options would be available. Based on those chapters and the Gith/Duergar preview pages it looks like the player races are embedded in each chapter.

It is curious to see the Tortle druid in the terrain lists though. Are they putting the Tortle player race in the book? And if so, where? maybe they will list Tortles (and Giffs, for example) as a monster and then have a 'Tortle as player race' box within the bestiary... Which opens up other potential surprises in the book. Or maybe there is simply a Chapter 6 we can't see.

[Unoriginal]

The Tortle Druid, Dwarf Acolyte, etc might just be part of the encounter tables.

In any case, I wonder if those "raid composition" parts will be in the book.

[Beechgnome]

Upon closer look it seems like Tortle could just be a monster.

The fields in the 4th screengrab has a window for player races with just Tiefling, Elf, Dwarf, Gith and Gnome... with a seperate window for Deep Gnome magic, so clearly Svirf's are being reprinted, along with Duergar, from SCAG).

[Unoriginal]

Upon closer look it seems like Tortle could just be a monster.

The fields in the 4th screengrab has a window for player races with just Tiefling, Elf, Dwarf, Gith and Gnome... with a seperate window for Deep Gnome magic, so clearly Svirf's are being reprinted, along with Duergar, from SCAG).

Who know, there might be a "miscellanious races" section that they didn't put in the stuff yet.

Also, I must say I love the artworks that got released. Most of them are gorgeous.

Seems we're getting some kind of door demon.

[Regitnui]

Seems we're getting some kind of door demon.

We have the mimic, the trapper, the doppelganger, and animated furniture... All we need now is a window and we can rebuild the "Everything Trying to Kill You" house.

[Daphne]

Who know, there might be a "miscellanious races" section that they didn't put in the stuff yet.

I really hope this is the case, I like to have all official on printed books, not in some random pdf on the internet.

[Beechgnome]

Assuming the Archdevils from the UA make the cut, the bestiary is starting to look like this...

Allip, Astral Dreadnaught
Balhannoth, Berbalang, Boneclaw
Cadaver Collector, Cambion (variants), Choker, Clockwork something somethings
Demon; Bulezau, Sibriex, Wretched, (door demon?)
Demon Lord; Baphomet, Demogorgon, Fraz-Urb’luu, Graz’zt, Juiblex, Orcus, Yeenoghu, Zuggtmoy
Devil; Abashai (Black, Blue, maybe Green, Red, White?)
Devil, Archdevil; definitely Bael, Geryon, Moloch and some of Baalzebul, Dispater, Fierna, Glasya, Levistus, Mammon, Mephistoles, Zariel
Duergar; Azer, Hammerer, Screamer, Soulblade, Xarrorn
Eladrin; Winter (+ likely Autumn, Spring, Summer)
Elder elemental; Leviathan, Tempest, +earth, fire
Elemental Myrmidon; Air, Earth, Fire, Water
Elf, Drow; Arachnomancer, Inquisitor, Matron Mother, Royal Consort
Elf, Shadar-kai; gloom weaver, Shadow dancer, soul monger
Giff, Gith; Githyanki Supreme commander +, Githzerai Anarch +
Grey Render
Frost salamander
Iron Cobra
The Lonely, The Lost
Marut (as it's own thing or an Inevitable?), Meazel
Nagpa, Nightwalker
Ogre; battering ram, bolt launcher
Retriever
Skulk, Skull lord, Star spawn
Tortle, Troll; Dire, Spirit
Vampiric Mist
Yugoloths; Canoloth, Merrenoloth

Not too shabby. More to come for sure but I definitely like all of these planar options.

[Millstone85]

We have the mimic, the trapper, the doppelganger, and animated furniture... All we need now is a window and we can rebuild the "Everything Trying to Kill You" house.

The mimic alone could already be a carpet, a chair, a chest, a door, a window or something else. And in 4e, it would eventually grow into an impersonator. There probably are a few "family homes".

I really hope this is the case, I like to have all official on printed books, not in some random pdf on the internet.

It that a jab against SCAG, or are you thinking of EE?

[Daphne]

It that a jab against SCAG, or are you thinking of EE?

EEPC and the Tortle Package to be precise.

[Envyus]

We are not getting all of the Lords of the Nine. But that may just be because of Levistus. (Hard to fight a guy trapped in a glacier.)

[Unoriginal]

We are not getting all of the Lords of the Nine. But that may just be because of Levistus. (Hard to fight a guy trapped in a glacier.)

I think it would make an ice fight.

[Falren]

Assuming the Archdevils from the UA make the cut, the bestiary is starting to look like this...

Allip, Astral Dreadnaught
Balhannoth, Berbalang, Boneclaw
Cadaver Collector, Cambion (variants), Choker, Clockwork something somethings
Demon; Bulezau, Sibriex, Wretched, (door demon?)
Demon Lord; Baphomet, Demogorgon, Fraz-Urb’luu, Graz’zt, Juiblex, Orcus, Yeenoghu, Zuggtmoy
Devil; Abashai (Black, Blue, Green, Red, White)
Devil, Archdevil; Asmodeus, Baalzebul, Bael, Dispater, Fierna, Geryon, Glasya, Levistus, Mammon, Mephistoles, Moloch, Zariel
Duergar; Azer, Hammerer, Screamer, Soulblade, Xarrorn
Eladrin; Winter (+ likely Autumn, Spring, Summer)
Elder elemental; Leviathan, Tempest, +earth, fire
Elemental Myrmidon; Air, Earth, Fire, Water
Elf, Drow; Arachnomancer, Inquisitor, Matron Mother, Royal Consort
Elf, Shadar-kai, ++
Giff, Gith; Githyanki Supreme commander +, Githzerai Anarch +
Grey Render
Frost salamander
The Lonely, The Lost
Marut (as it's own thing or an Inevitable?)
Nagpa, Nightwalker
Ogre; battering ram, bolt launcher
Retriever
Skulk, Skull lord
Tortle, Troll; Dire, Spirit
Vampiric Mist
Yugoloths; Canoloth, Merrenoloth

Not too shabby. More to come for sure but I definitely like all of these planar options.

I also spotted meazels and iron cobras in the description for the bestiary section.

[Beechgnome]

I also spotted meazels and iron cobras in the description for the bestiary section.

Thanks, I see where that is now. I'll add it to my last post.

[Beechgnome]

Something I really hope they put in the book is the different creatures that serves as boatmen on the River Styx.

Don't have to be a complete new statblock, or even a statblock at all. A few paragraph of lore with some suggested changes would be enough, but I really hope they address it.

Dunno why, but the idea of the River Styx as the one mean of travel in-between planes for most Fiends sounds pretty damn awesome to me.

In case you didn't spot it, your wish has been granted: that's the Merrenoloth listed in the Coastal monster list. That's what they were called in 2nd edition. (Spelling bit different, but you get the idea).

[RedMage125]

I think it would make an ice fight.

He's a pretty cool character.

[Unoriginal]

He's a pretty cool character.

Please, he's a special snowflake.

[RedMage125]

Please, he's a special snowflake.

That's cold, bro.

[Unoriginal]

In case you didn't spot it, your wish has been granted: that's the Merrenoloth listed in the Coastal monster list. That's what they were called in 2nd edition. (Spelling bit different, but you get the idea).

Thanks for pointing that out.

Also, I don't know if people have noticed, but the Duergars chapter will have clockwork enhancements (prone to malfunction).

[EvilAnagram]

That's cold, bro.

He really needs to chill out.

[Millstone85]

He really needs to chill out.

That's enough. Let. It. Go.

[EvilAnagram]

That's enough. Let. It. Go.

What's with the icy demeanor? There's no reason to lose your cool over a joke. Try to chillax.

[Beechgnome]

I just saw the Lore you Should Know episode where Chris Perkins and Matt Sernett talk about Giff and Star Spawn (a reworked 4e foul spawn) being in Mordenkainen's ToF. I'll add Star Spawn to my last list.