Hi everyone!  Brett here with your monthly update on Fiendish Forge!

Here is where we are at:

Writing: 90%
Design: 80%
Art: 90%
Total: 86%

REVIEWED: 6%

We've made enough progress to be in the Review stage! We're reviewing each monster entry, ensuring everything is documented correctly and free of grammar/spelling errors.  We're also redesigning our stat blocks with our new 2024 Stat Block Design - and adjusting some numbers to align with 2024 5e.

I've been working hard to get a new stat block to align with 2024 5e's design. For the most part, I've enjoyed the latest design in the 2024 version of 5e, so I went ahead and redesigned our stat block to be more in line. In addition, I've taken inspiration from earlier versions of stat blocks, like 4e, to help present information necessary for GMs while condensing space on the stat block itself.  This has led to a ton of page space, allowing me to add more stat blocks and even lore entries onto the page.

I've been frustrated at the lack of monster-making mechanics in the newest version of 5e - and while you can still utilize 2014's rulesets, some changes have been made in 2024 where you'll see particular creatures don't have the same calculations as their 2014 counterparts.  I've been using Blog of Holding's findings to make these creatures with solid success. I have expanded the system to allow for more precise adjustments, including traits presented in 2014. As I continue to work on this and fine-tune it with Fiendish Forge, I'm confident that the monsters in our book will be compatible with 2024 5e's creatures.

More to the point, initially, we would have mechanics in place to make your own Elite and Boss CR creatures. In addition, we're including a new type of CR - Superboss - for those penultimate battles in your campaigns. I also hope to have standard monster-making mechanics in Fiendish Forge to compensate for what was not included in 2024! Right now, I'm working on a system that will make it easy for you, the GM, to create monsters quickly.  Even with 2014's rulesets, it was very complicated and easy to make mistakes when making monsters. Blog of Holding has a quick and easy ruleset if you're just looking for something fast. The system I'm designing will enable you to make something even more detailed with Monster Points (MP). You start with a set number of MP to increase a creature's stats above their standard limit, or even acquire specific traits such as Pack Tactics, or our new Legendary Resistance system. However, you can gain more MP by lowering a creature's stats below their standard limits, allowing you to do something, for example, have a creature with low AC but more HP. This system will enable you to fine-tune your monster the way you want it with an easy step-by-step process, and also ensure everything is correct by keeping track of the MP you're spending. I've been using it internally and it's been working great - allowing me to save a bunch of time on making new monsters and quickly adjust monsters we've already made for 2014 into 2024. I hope you're looking forward to it!

 

As I flesh out these creatures, there will be more playtests, although I am approaching the point where I've received all the necessary data. Rest assured, there will also be more previews shown, which is happening over at our IO Publishing Discord!  Be sure to join.  https://discord.gg/e9RCf8bFke 

 

Thank you for your continued support as we develop Fiendish Forge! Until next month!

Brett