Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 Vowtz Sep 22, 2014 10:37:58	Are there rules for using Monsters as player characters in the Monster Manual?   I know some people who has been waiting with great antecipation to play as monster races, but I was told that it is not an option in D&D Next, is that true?
#2 Saelorn Sep 22, 2014 14:06:53	More likely, those rules will be in the DMG.   Off the top of my head, I would say that it should be fine to play as a monster, but you have a Level Adjustment equal to the Challenge Rating of the monster. After all, can't a powerful enough wizard turn anyone permanently into a creature of CR equal to its level (e.g. a level 19 fighter could become a CR 19 dragon)?
#3 Novacat Sep 22, 2014 12:33:05	Saelorn wrote:
#4 Saelorn Sep 22, 2014 12:45:21	Novacat wrote:
#5 obsid Sep 22, 2014 13:39:29	I dont know if a full CR=Level adjustment would be correct.  Think about it, that CR5 monster is meant to be balanced against fighting the group of 5 level 5 adventurers.  My guess is it would be more like CR+2 = level adjustment. so if you wanted to be a centaur a CR2 creature, that would be as if you had 4 levels of classes (I mean it has 45 starting hp, how many 2nd lvl characteres do you know that have that, and can do a multiattack with a +6 to hit 1d10+3d6+4 damage and a +6 to hit 2d6+4 damage second attack, that might even compare well against a lvl5 character although the PC would have more other abilities then straight damage and hit points).
#6 Vowtz Sep 22, 2014 14:01:44	Saelorn wrote:
#7 Grazel Sep 22, 2014 19:03:52	I'd say an easier way to do it is to ignore the monster HD which assumes the monster equivalent of class levels (look at the human mage NPC, it uses d8 as HD not d6 like a human wizard PC). Instead look at how their stats vary from 10 to determine the +2 and +1 to stats the race would get, also it could likely get a couple of the monster traits but not all of them (especially ones dealing with attacks, but could gain resistances, immunities, and vulnerabilities). This would avoid level adjustments with the exceptions of some very powerful abilities but even those could be scaled down or relegated to a racial feat choice instead of stat increase.
#8 Gruff_Ironfist Sep 22, 2014 19:39:18	obsid wrote:
#9 Yunru Sep 22, 2014 23:55:02	The druid also gets all their class features and other abilities. And the ability to use the beast form as a meat shield. Thus your comparison isn't accurate.
#10 Timborama Sep 23, 2014 6:09:29	A Dev mentioned that a variant could be taking the "monster" class as your first level, effectively playing that monster at level 1, and any other levels give you class levels. Essentially, you have a +1 Level Adjustment, with that level being the a monster level, of sorts. I'm assuming this is for Monsters of CR 1 (maybe 2?) or less.   Even then, though, there are plenty of monster RIPE for the potential of PC classes. Goblin, Hobgoblin, Bugbear, Kobold, Githyanki/zerai, Orc, Gnoll, heck I'd love to play a Modron. Many of these are VERY sub-par if you do the Monster Level thing, instead of trying to reverse engineer stats (like Goblins have an ability, darkvision, and good DEX).   Not sure about Centaurs and Minotaurs, as apparently they are the weird new "monstrosity" classification, which is basically a combination of "Magical Beasts" from previous editions and "No, you can't play as these races" monsters.   But! We'll see what the DMG officially says. Apparently, there will be Warforged in there, which would be nice. My hope is that there are two alternate rules, one as described above, and one that describes how to make/adapt new races for PCs!   (also, I agree CR isn't entirely accurate, because some Spellcaster NPCs and Monsters are CR 3, but can cast 5th level spells!)
#11 Direach Sep 23, 2014 14:15:37	A number of humanoid races could be made into PC races without too much difficulty: goblins, orcs, hobgoblins, bugbears, kobolds, lizardmen, minotaurs, and gnolls come to mind as potentially playable. Right now, it's an option if your DM allows it, and wants to do the work to develop these monsters as playable races. Unless someone is really champing at the bit, it's probably worth waiting until the DMG comes out, though.
#12 MatThePhat Dec 31, 2014 17:51:43	Interested in how this turned out. I know the Dungeon Master's Guide came out, did anyone see a provision for playing monsters in there?
#13 CulveDaddy Dec 31, 2014 21:52:49	One way to handle it is every player starts as a creature of the same CR. Another way is to use LA. LA used to be ECL = 2/3 of CR. So CR 7 = ECL 10 (LA +3), CR 13 = ECL 20 (LA +7) or CR 20 = ECL 30 (LA +10).
#14 DM_HEEGZ Dec 31, 2014 22:59:30	MatThePhat wrote: