D&D 2025 Monster Manual Deep Dive – Lazy RPG Talk Show
D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com
Contents
00:00:00 Show Start
00:00:58 Hexploration Decks
00:02:59 Mike on EN World and Kobold Press Podcasts
00:04:09 All Three D&D 2024 Core Books are Released
00:06:33 2024 Monster Manual is the Most Important DM-Focused D&D 2024 Book
00:07:46 Is the 2025 Monster Manual Better than the 2014 MM?
00:08:40 Is the D&D 2025 MM the Best 5e Monster Book?
00:12:30 Could It Have Been Better? Of Course.
00:14:36 Monsters Hit at Their Challenge Rating
00:19:59 Other Designers on the Monster Math
00:22:05 D&D 2025 Monster Manual Compared to Forge of Foes
00:25:56 2025 Monster Manual Effects Don't Negatively Impact Damage Anymore
00:28:04 Vampire
00:30:15 Requires Looking Up Spells
00:35:50 Cultist Fanatic
00:37:59 The Language of the 2025 Monster Manual
00:39:47 No Orcs, Drow, or Duergar
00:50:56 Static Initiative Scores
00:54:16 Crappy Treasure "Tables"
00:56:29 Crappy Ability Score Tables
01:00:05 Awesome Contextual Random Tables
01:03:01 Alphabetically Sorted Most of the Time
01:05:31 What Else Is Missing?
01:06:38 Day 1 Errata
01:07:55 Final Thoughts
Links
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BackerKit: Hexploration Decks by Inkwell Ideas
Mike on Morrus's Unofficial Tabletop Podcast (YouTube – MM starts at 1:18:00)
Mike on Morrus's Unofficial Tabletop Podcast (Podcast Recording)
Mike on Kobold Chat Talking About Doom Points
Paul Hughes on 2025 Monster Manual on a Business Card
Alphastream YouTube Monster Manual Analysis
Bob World Builder on the Monster Manual
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1:10:55
Ziggurat of Thoth-Hermes – Dragon Empire Prep Session 11
Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.
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Midgard Worldbook
Tales of the Valiant
Obsidian for TTRPGs
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42:02
D&D 2025 Monster Manual First Look – Lazy RPG Talk Show
D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com
Contents
00:00 Show Start
00:02:11 Product Spotlight: Horizon Magazine
00:07:31 D&D & RPG News: Alphastream on 2025 D&D Monster Manual Math
00:09:31 Commentary: D&D at Madison Square Garden
00:13:28 D&D & RPG News: Mike Mearls and Ray Winninger on the Past and Future of D&D 5e
00:15:42 Product Spotlight: 2025 Monster Manual Initial Thoughts
00:27:56 Product Spotlight: D&D 2025 Monster Manual Lich
00:32:28 DM Tip: Avoid Getting Caught in the Zeitgeist
00:44:13 Patreon Spotlight: Talk Show and Patreon Q&A Databases
00:47:13 Patreon Question: What D&D Classes and Features Do I Ban?
00:52:19 Patreon Question: Making Flat Paper Character Minis
00:54:34 Patreon Question: Dealing with Agency-Stealing Effects like Stun
01:00:32 Patreon Question: Basic Rules or 5.1 SRD for New Players
Links
Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter
Support Sly Flourish on Patreon
Buy Sly Flourish Books:
Horizon Magazine
Alphastream on 2025 D&D Monster Manual Math
Ray Winninger and Mike Mearls on Past and Future of D&D 5e
Printable Heroes
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1:04:18
Blood Magic – Dragon Empire Prep Session 10
Mike prepares the next session of his Tales of the Valiant Dragon Empire campaign.
Visit the Sly Flourish Blog
Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter
Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Podcast
Support Sly Flourish on Patreon
Buy Sly Flourish Books
Midgard Worldbook
Tales of the Valiant
Obsidian for TTRPGs
--------
40:13
Independent Spaces for RPG Discourse – Lazy RPG Talk Show
D&D and RPG news and commentary by Mike Shea of https://slyflourish.com
Contents
00:00:00 Show Start
00:01:15 Kickstarter Spotlight: Weapons of Lore by Jeff Stevens
00:03:46 Kickstarter Spotlight: Gate Pass Gazette by EN World Publishing
00:07:32 D&D & RPG News: Mike on Kobold Press Talking Doom Points
00:09:50 D&D & RPG News: Ray Winninger Interview with Stan! on YouTube
00:23:06 D&D & RPG News: No Roll20 Tales of the Valiant Character Builder
00:34:36 Commentary: Thoughts from the Philidelphia Area Gaming Expo
00:48:20 Commentary: RPG Communities on Independent Spaces
01:05:54 Patreon Question: Can I Submit Your Book to Adobe's AI Tool?
Links
Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter
Support Sly Flourish on Patreon
Buy Sly Flourish Books:
Weapons of Lore Kickstarter
Gate Pass Gazette Annual 2024
Terror from the Underdeep
Mike on KP talking Doom Points and Monster Vault 2
Ray Winninger EN World Discussion
Ray Winninger on Stan!'s Show
Stan!'s 50 Years YouTube Playlist
Bring On the Discourse – Yochai Gal
EN World
forums.rpg.net
Mastodon — dice.camp
Mastodon — chirp.enworld.org
Mastodon — mastodon.social
Bluesky
My Bluesky Starter Pack
TTRPG Blogs
RPG Blogroll
ttrpg.network
Top Rated RPG Podcasts
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