Ok, we are in the present, mostly! In part three (see part one or two) I look at the fifth edition statblock, and some examples from third parties I really like.
Fifth Edition Carrion Crawler
I’m going to assume if you are reading this, you’ve seen a 5e statblock! Or, not…So, first up, man, why go back to that art? Sigh. Give me legs all over the body, please. With that out of the way, I guess I can comment on the block.
Like 4e, everything you need for combat is in the statblock. There are clear delineations between sections, and the layout is easy to read and follow. We’ve moved the six core stats up to the top, and there is no world building here at all. I like how the Actions (and reactions and bonus actions on other monsters) are clearly differentiated. The font is nice and easy to read, and we’ve lost the little symbols from 4e (it sure looks cleaner this way). The CR and XP are on one line, but really should be up by the name (see later). The words under patient predators are almost word for word from 4e.
What I love: The block is very easy to read. The font is very clear. For me, I wish the font was bigger (not the six stats part, that’s fine, but much of the rest). I wonder how many DMs really use the six stats all that much, but at least they are easy to read. In the newest versions, some spellcasters and psionic monsters have actions that mimic spells. This is great. Listing other useful spells is also good. The best thing? It is just simple and easy to use. That’s 5e’s biggest selling point for some, and it is well reflected in the statblocks.
What I don’t love: The natural language is clunky for save ends things that you can save for in later rounds. MCDM simplifies it vastly in their playtest. And, here we are, no world building in the block. Maybe I’m wrong? For the new spellcasters, I wish there was a spellcasting action type, where those kinds of powers were listed, or something so that they could be counterspelled? I think I wish that, still not sure, but it isn’t something I love right now. Really, what I miss is covered when we look at third party companies and what I think they do really well. Oh, and I almost forgot, Initiative bonus should be in the block, IMO. I get that is Dex driven, but some monsters are faster or slower than their bonus (I think?) or should be. Also, it is just easy to look at that.
As time has moved, this block has evolved. You can see some of that in the next example. Saving throws, proficiency bonuses and more are in the block.
Level Up Statblock
I could have sworn there was a Level Up Carrion Crawler! Oh well, here is a different monster from this great resource (go HERE to learn more about Level Up).
So much to love here! While the statblock doesn’t have world building, we get it in 4 other sections in the writeup. Legends and Lore is great for giving the DM ideas for what PCs can learn. Encounters? Awesome sauce. 4e did this in their MM and it was great. Signs is a great resource for rangers and others, and really reinforces that Level Up is about more than just combat checks. Behavior is a fun little section, and Combat gives us some tactics. Really, the non-block parts here are awesome and I want to steal them all for my products.
The statblock itself is pretty standard 5e stuff, though they have moved the CR and XP to where they should be. Saves a line in the block, and is away from the combat stuff. Again, we have a ton of natural language, which can make a complex creature like this have a lengthy writeup. Really, though, I wanted to show this one for the non-block stuff which is awesome. Also, most of their monsters are just more interesting than WotC’s versions. A lot more.
Others
I had planned to put other statblocks here, but really, they statblocks for most of the 5e books are similar / same. There are companies that add more types of actions (like MCDM). There are books that give us symbols for where you can find a monster (like the Scarred Lands Creature Collection). Most of the fluff / words are like the official ones.
Ultimate Bestiary Series
The Ultimate Bestiary series from Nord Games does a great job with encounter groups, and specific examples of what a creature may be carrying, which is great.
Final thoughts on 5e Blocks
These are simple and well laid out. CR and XP should be up by the name. The natural language is both good and bad. Yes, almost anyone reading it knows what it says….but for complex things? Regally long. I would like initiative as an item. I wonder how many people use the full six stats, rather than the modifiers, but I get it. Most of what I want Level Up does perfectly. With the addition of some old school organization things, and the Ultimate Bestiary block showing items a creature is carrying, well, Level Up would be perfect.
As we move forward, I’d like the spellcaster actions that mimic spells to be labeled as spells, or under a “Spells” action type. I’d like WotC to look at how MCDM is simplifying some of the language.
I had planned to do one more post, basically laying out what I’d like to see. But, if you look at how Level Up has pulled the world building into standard blocks outside the statblock, I’d do that I’d add what Ultimate Bestiary does for what a creature is carrying. I’d probably add something about organization and numbers appearing and stuff to another block.
But, and I’ll be thoughtful here…this is all easy to do in a PDF. Once we start printing a book, this kind of stuff gets long. Also, 5e, for WotC at least, largely leaves the world building and treasure to the DM. On purpose. I would prefer moe help, and more world building, but again, this i appears to be a design choice.