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* Subscribe to the Sly Flourish Newsletter * Support Sly Flourish on Patreon * Buy Sly Flourish Books: * 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