TPT #390: 2025 D&D 5e Monster Manual Review

With the full set of rulebooks in hand, I-Hsien and Shane drop a final assessment of the newest D&D system—and suggest other options for gaming groups that don’t want to make the switch. Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: Total Party Thrill Discord server: Come hang out with us and other fans of the show. https://discord.com/invite/GvFXnSv TPT Character Creation Forge Codex: It's finally here! A huge thanks to all our Patreon supporters who made it possible. Teepublic: Home of the TPT-shirt! Contact us: Bluesky: @totalpartythrill.bsky.social Twitter: @TPTcast Email: [email protected] Web: www.totalpartythrill.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/totalpartythrill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/totalpartythrill YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TotalPartyThrill

I-Hsien and Shane analyze the updated 2025 Monster Manual. This extra-long cover-to-cover review walks you through the changes to monster lore, math and design philosophy. We’ll let you know how it stacks up to previous Monster Manuals and whether it’s worth adding to your collection. Editing: Aram Vartian   Important Links: Support the show on Patreon and get access to the Character Creation Forge: https://www.patreon.com/totalpartythrill Total Party Thrill Discord server: Come hang out with us and other fans of the show. https://discord.com/invite/GvFXnSv TPT Character Creation Forge Codex: It's finally here! A huge thanks to all our Patreon supporters who made it possible. Teepublic: Home of the TPT-shirt!   Contact us: Bluesky: @totalpartythrill.bsky.social Twitter: @TPTcast Email: [email protected] Web: www.totalpartythrill.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/totalpartythrill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/totalpartythrill YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TotalPartyThrill

I-Hsien is joined by Daniel Kwan, game designer with credits including Candlekeep Mysteries and Pathfinder 2e’s Tian Xia books and host of the Asians Represent! podcast, to talk about the aesthetic and mechanical changes to the monk class and how to portray real-world cultures at the table in authentic and inclusive ways. Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: Asians Represent!: Check out the ENnie-winning podcast. Dockside Chef: See for yourself. Support the show on Patreon and get access to the Character Creation Forge: https://www.patreon.com/totalpartythrill Total Party Thrill Discord server: Come hang out with us and other fans of the show. https://discord.com/invite/GvFXnSv TPT Character Creation Forge Codex: It's finally here! A huge thanks to all our Patreon supporters who made it possible. Teepublic: Home of the TPT-shirt! Contact us: Bluesky: @totalpartythrill.bsky.social Twitter: @TPTcast Email: [email protected] Web: www.totalpartythrill.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/totalpartythrill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/totalpartythrill YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TotalPartyThrill

I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to play grumpy, ornery, recalcitrant characters—without pissing off the rest of the party. With the right approach, everyone gets to enjoy their bad temper. And in the Gates of Mourning campaign, the party scrubs in. Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: Support the show on Patreon and get access to the Character Creation Forge: https://www.patreon.com/totalpartythrill Total Party Thrill Discord server: Come hang out with us and other fans of the show. https://discord.com/invite/GvFXnSv TPT Character Creation Forge Codex: It's finally here! A huge thanks to all our Patreon supporters who made it possible. Teepublic: Home of the TPT-shirt! Contact us: Bluesky: @totalpartythrill.bsky.social Twitter: @TPTcast Email: [email protected] Web: www.totalpartythrill.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/totalpartythrill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/totalpartythrill YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TotalPartyThrill

I-Hsien and Shane discuss how to run and adjudicate powerful, open-ended magic, artifacts, and technology at your table. Here’s how to handle the new narrative and mechanical options that come with them, combine magical effects, and keep the game moving. And the party reconnects in the Gates of Mourning campaign. Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: Support the show on Patreon and get access to the Character Creation Forge: https://www.patreon.com/totalpartythrill Total Party Thrill Discord server: Come hang out with us and other fans of the show. https://discord.com/invite/GvFXnSv TPT Character Creation Forge Codex: It's finally here! A huge thanks to all our Patreon supporters who made it possible. Teepublic: Home of the TPT-shirt! Contact us: Bluesky: @totalpartythrill.bsky.social Twitter: @TPTcast Email: [email protected] Web: www.totalpartythrill.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/totalpartythrill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/totalpartythrill YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TotalPartyThrill

I-Hsien and Shane talk about what makes a robust and fun item crafting system. (Hint: Your game probably doesn’t have one.) But you can port over the best ideas to your campaign. And the party gets grim news in the Gates of Mourning campaign. Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: Support the show on Patreon and get access to the Character Creation Forge: https://www.patreon.com/totalpartythrill Total Party Thrill Discord server: Come hang out with us and other fans of the show. https://discord.com/invite/GvFXnSv TPT Character Creation Forge Codex: It's finally here! A huge thanks to all our Patreon supporters who made it possible. Teepublic: Home of the TPT-shirt! Contact us: Bluesky: @totalpartythrill.bsky.social Twitter: @TPTcast Email: [email protected] Web: www.totalpartythrill.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/totalpartythrill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/totalpartythrill YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TotalPartyThrill

I-Hsien and Shane talk about how to create effective table rules to help everyone have more fun—and fix issues with your game system. And the party reunites with their oldest friend in the Gates of Mourning campaign. Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: Support the show on Patreon and get access to the Character Creation Forge: https://www.patreon.com/totalpartythrill Total Party Thrill Discord server: Come hang out with us and other fans of the show. https://discord.com/invite/GvFXnSv TPT Character Creation Forge Codex: It's finally here! A huge thanks to all our Patreon supporters who made it possible. Teepublic: Home of the TPT-shirt! Contact us: Bluesky: @totalpartythrill.bsky.social Twitter: @TPTcast Email: [email protected] Web: www.totalpartythrill.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/totalpartythrill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/totalpartythrill YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TotalPartyThrill

I-Hsien and Shane dig through the updated 2024 DMG. This extra-long cover-to-cover review walks you through the new rules for running adventures and campaigns, DM tools, magic items, and bastions. We’ll let you know how it stacks up to previous DMGs and whether it’s worth adding to your collection. Important Links: Support the show on Patreon and get access to the Character Creation Forge: https://www.patreon.com/totalpartythrill Total Party Thrill Discord server: Come hang out with us and other fans of the show. https://discord.com/invite/GvFXnSv TPT Character Creation Forge Codex: It's finally here! A huge thanks to all our Patreon supporters who made it possible. Teepublic: Home of the TPT-shirt! Contact us: Twitter: @TPTcast Email: [email protected] Web: www.totalpartythrill.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/totalpartythrill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/totalpartythrill YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TotalPartyThrill

I-Hsien is joined by Imogen Gingell, a plasma physicist and game designer, adamantine bestseller on the DMs Guild, and co-author of Frontiers of Eberron with Keith Baker, to talk about how game design best practices have changed with the D&D 2024 rules update. Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: Support the show on Patreon and get access to the Character Creation Forge: https://www.patreon.com/totalpartythrill Total Party Thrill Discord server: Come hang out with us and other fans of the show. https://discord.com/invite/GvFXnSv TPT Character Creation Forge Codex: It's finally here! A huge thanks to all our Patreon supporters who made it possible. Teepublic: Home of the TPT-shirt! Contact us: Twitter: @TPTcast Email: [email protected] Web: www.totalpartythrill.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/totalpartythrill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/totalpartythrill YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TotalPartyThrill

I-Hsien and Shane talk about how to improve your roleplay by optimizing the mechanics of your character—even if you think that sounds totally boring. And the party grabs a shovel in the Gates of Mourning campaign. Editing: Aram Vartian Important Links: Support the show on Patreon and get access to the Character Creation Forge: https://www.patreon.com/totalpartythrill Total Party Thrill Discord server: Come hang out with us and other fans of the show. https://discord.com/invite/GvFXnSv TPT Character Creation Forge Codex: It's finally here! A huge thanks to all our Patreon supporters who made it possible. Teepublic: Home of the TPT-shirt! Contact us: Twitter: @TPTcast Email: [email protected] Web: www.totalpartythrill.com Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/totalpartythrill Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/totalpartythrill YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/TotalPartyThrill