Celestials are associated with the Upper Planes. Fiends with the Lower Planes. Aberrations are known in the Far Realms. Fey are all about the plane of the Feywild. When you think of the Feywild, think:

• Unbridled emotion
• Bright technicolor
• Everything extreme
• If the Material Plane were Kansas, the Feywild would be Oz
• But the Feywild has a dark side, too

As with many creatures found in the Dungeons & Dragons 2024 Monster Manual, there's been movement between creature types. Some creatures moved in or out of the Undead category. Some things are now a Monstrosity that were not before. Do you know what an Aberration is? Well, there was some deck shuffling there, too. This same reconfiguration of monster categories happened to the Fey.

A mainstay of the genre, goblins, are no longer Humanoid but Fey. Designers Jeremy Crawford and F. Wesley Schneider hint that this migration (at least for goblins) began in Mordenkainen Presents: Monsters of the Multiverse, though we see that they're still hardcoded as Humanoid there. They are amping up the "fey-ness" of goblins, too, because they want to make sure these creatures don't just feel like humans in goblinoid suits.

Here are a few examples in the video:

Sometimes you will have a "narrative phenomenon" where the Monster Manual version of a creature is considered a different category than the playable version of that same creature. Elves, for example. Elves in the Monster Manual are categorized as Fey, but the playable Elf in the Player's Handbook is categorized as Humanoid. That's because the type of elf a player is playing has had some of its fey-ness go away—to the point where they have become Humanoid.

This is the same narrative phenomenon that happens with the Gith (Githyanki and Githzerai). In the Monster Manual, Gith are Aberrations. But thanks to Monsters of the Multiverse, Gith are a playable species—and the playable version of Gith are Humanoid.

All that to say: The changes made to species in the Monster Manual have no effect on the playable species in the Player's Handbook.

New types of goblinoids have been added:

• Goblin Hexer – A tricksy magic user making something of a return from D&D 4th Edition
• Goblin Minion – An even weaker version of goblin; made to be destroyed in mobs with fireballs

How do these creature category migrations affect players? Spells, for one. Hold Person is still a 2nd level spell. Hold Monster is still a 5th level spell. But Hold Person works on Humanoids, and the largest migration in the 2024 Monster Manual is creatures moving out of the Humanoid category. There are still far more Humanoids than Fey in the new Monster Manual. But Crawford considers it a feature, not a bug, when you need to vary your tactics. 

Despite this being a Core Rulebook, Crawford reminds us that there's room to play around with these monsters' stat blocks. The fact that there are, for example, several types of goblinoids, communicates the idea that you have an infinite degree of latitude to mess around with those stat blocks. This leaves wiggle room for Dungeon Masters who may be hesitant to stray from official stat blocks (I'm one of them), and also grants those same DMs permission to explore items that appear in the DM's Guild—books, etc., that were not created by Wizards of the Coast, per se, but were made to work inside of D&D.

The Fey are, on one side of a coin, all brightly lit whimsy and rainbows and unicorns. But never forget, on the other side of that coin, that there are dark and dangerous fairytales to be told as well.

The 2024 Monster Manual launches February 18. The other two Core Rulebooks are out now. You can read our reviews of the 2024 Player's Handbook and the 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide to get you through the cold winter months.

Another day, another tease from 2K about WWE 2K25. Today we get Natalya hyping up the game before getting cut off after she says that "2K is bringing something to WWE 2K25. Und....". The emoji they attached to the video was a picture of a black hole.

I think there are two possibilities here and I absolutely think we are getting a new match type in the game. The first possibility would be the NXT Underground match. The rules of an Underground match are that there are no ropes, no turnbuckles and wrestlers hang around ringside like a Lumberjack match. There is No DQ, no Countouts and the match ends via KO or submission. 

The other possibility I think could be the Buried Alive match where you have to drag your opponent to a mound of dirt and bury them alive. "Und" could be short for Undertaker and it was one of his signature match types. The black hole emoji could be like the hole you have to bury your opponent in. Finally something I noticed was that Grayson Waller in the second part of the video says that he wants to Natalya to "keep some of the mystery alive".

We will find out soon enough. The full reveal for WWE 2K25 is coming early next week. 

Throughout the week 2K has been releasing teasers on their Youtube channel hinting at new features we could see in WWE 2K25. The first one hinted that Intergender matches would be making a return. The second practically confirmed that The Bloodline would be the subject of this years "Showcase mode". And the last couple of days we have gotten teasers for... the Island? Today's teaser had Tiffany Stratton welcoming us to "The Is...." before getting cut off. There was also an Island emoji in the description. 

I'm honestly drawing a blank on this one. The only thing about WWE that I can think of that references an Island would be Roman Reigns and "The Island of Relevancy", meaning those who worked with and were part of Roman Reign's group were the only ones of any relevance in the WWE. Could this be something for Showcase mode? There is another theory out there which fans have and that's that a brand new mode could be making it's way to the series and something that has been in the NBA 2K games for a while. The City. An open world where you can walk around, challenge other players to matches, go into stores, buy clothing, participate in seasonal events and more. 

If this is a mode like NBA2K's The City mode then oh boy I am a terrified because 2K better be adding brand new online servers to the game because an always online like mode like The City is going to be a nightmare with WWE 2K's current terrible servers that almost never work and crash all the time. I am also very concerned about how they will implement microtransactions with this. Again, nothing is confirmed and this is just speculation on what this mode might be. I am excited about the idea of finally getting a brand new mode in game but I am also cautiously optimistic about it. On the other hand this could be something completely different and not even close to what im thinking of. 

Either way we will know shortly as a full reveal for WWE 2K25 will be coming next week.

During Microsoft's developers direct event, ID Software gave us a deep dive into Doom: The Dark Ages. 

If there is one thing I can say about Doom and Doom Eternal is that they feel like completely different games and Doom: The Dark Ages looks like it will play completely different from the previous games as well. Instead of jumping around and platforming like you did in Eternal, Doom: The Dark Ages looks like it's a return to form for the series. In this game you are a tank that stands and fights and you will have to strafe and dodge projectiles just like you did in the original PC game. We also got to see the updated combat system with tons of new weapons along with the new shield that you carry with you that will allow you to parry, block or deflect attacks from enemies. There are also new melee weapons including a mace, a flail, and spiked gauntlets and an updated glory kill system which lets you attack from any angle to perform a variety of kills. 

Not to be outdone with all their weapons, they added a giant mech you can ride and fight in along with being able to fly a cybernetic fire breathing dragon with a Gatling gun attached to it. We also got a brief preview of the story and Doom: The Dark Ages will be a prequel to Doom 2016 and the events of this game will lead directly into 2016 and the Slayer's Testaments that were found throughout the game.  

Personally I cannot wait for this. Ill be that guy and say that while I did enjoy Eternal, I played it once and never had a desire to replay it. I was just not a fan of all of the dodging and flying around and platforming you had to do. Still fun but I preferred the combat of Doom 2016 and honestly Dark Ages is looking exactly what I want out of a Doom game. Slower combat but with tons of enemies on screen and having to strafe projectiles like the classic doom games. 

Doom: The Dark Ages releases on May 15th for PS5, Series X and PC. 

Before Dungeons & Dragons even talks about what monsters are considered Aberrations, D&D has to explain what it means to be an "aberration" in the first place. Fortunately, the D&D 2024 Monster Manual is up to the task. So, according to lead designer Jeremy Crawford:

• aberration (ab-uh-rey-shuhn) n.  1  Ick.

What D&D really means when it categorizes a creature as an Aberration (as opposed to a Dragon, or Undead, or Monstrosity) is either 1) it's a creature from the impossibly unknowable Far Realms, or 2) creatures that popped out of, or has been altered by, the Far Realm. Lots of mouths, eyeballs, and teeth. That's what I'm seeing.

Not all Aberrations are malevolent. Some are benevolent. Take for instance:

• Flumphs – But even they have an unknowable cheerfulness

But the majority are terrible, horrible, no good, very bad creatures, thank goodness. See:

• Aboleths
• Mind Flayers

Like other creatures that have shifted their categorization in the Monster Manual, some of these creatures are newly made Abberations. Such as:

• Githyanki – Militant theocracy, live in the Astral Sea; ride red dragons
  • New creature: Githyanki Dracomancer; leans into the relationship between Githyanki and Red Dragons (Challenge Rating 16, by the way)
• Githzerai – Fled to Limbo; entered a life of meditation
  • New types of Githzerai:
    • Monk
    • Xirth (spelling?)
    • Psion

They used to be Humanoid, but are now "way beyond Humanoid." They were transformed by the Mind Flayers to become a species with psionic powers, and that live in the Astral Sea (a place where time does not pass). They've been affected on such a fundamental level that there is something unnatural about them. 

Orcs are a species that have moved beyond their Humanoid origins and have become part of the NPC stat blocks. Orcs are no longer just a "monster" race. They've joined the ranks of species like Humans, Elves, and Dwarves. Just as you can find a variety of Humans, Elves, and Dwarves in the NPC stat blocks—from Acolytes to Veterans—that is also where you'll now find orc being represented.

Look around the 10-minute mark of the video. This is where Jeremy Crawford drops the bomb that the mysterious obelisks sprinkled throughout D&D 5e adventures (which have been given no official explanation up to this point) are revealed to be part of a master plan being executed by Mind Flayers. And by "master plan," Crawford explains that it's the equivalent of us looking up from Earth and seeing that Mars is about to crash into us.

Also, Mind Flayers don't think of themselves as people. They don't have personhood in the way humans understand it. If you've been going around saying, "Mind Flayers are people, too," you might want to check in with them on that. 

Designer F. Wesley Schneider reminds Dungeon Masters of a very important point. When it comes to figuring out the secrets owned by Mind Flayers and other Far Realm creatures, "Don't wait for us." Wizards of the Coast wants DMs to come up with these secrets on their own, make them their own, raise up or bury them on their own. Wizards has given us permission. We know what we have to do.

And Crawford would warn against turning every monster into just a human in a monster suit. That removes the specialness written into each and every one of these species. Besides, after 500 stat blocks to be found in the new Monster Manual, that trope would get boring. You're robbing your table of many different existential possibilities when you whitewash everything with a "humans are the real monsters" power washer. 

The D&D 2024 Monster Manual releases February 18, 2025. It will complete the trio of Core Rulebooks that include the 2024 Player's Handbook and 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide. 

Developer Sandfall Interactive and publisher Kepler Interactive finally put a date on their stunning RPG, Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, during today’s Xbox Developer Direct. The turn-based epic will launch on April 24^th for PC, PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X|S, as well as Xbox Game Pass. A new release date trailer shows off more of the game’s incredible art direction, story beats, new characters, combat, and overworld map.

The first new character is Monoco the Gestral, a playable character that can morph into enemies and utilize their abilities. The other is Esquie, who will join your party and allow you to explore the stunning overworld map as more traversal abilities are unlocked. The overworld map is also full of side quests, optional challenge areas, and, of course, secrets. You can also establish a camp to upgrade characters and weapons, or just for a bit of respite to converse with your party members.

Pre-orders are now open at various retailers, including physical collector's editions, if that tickles your fancy. And if you haven’t heard of Clair Obscur: Expedition 33, it’s time to become acquainted, because this is looking like a serious contender for Game of the Year.

Ok, so Super Ninja Boy, and a Japanese puzzle game called Sutte Hakkun have arrived for the Super Nintendo app for the Nintendo Switch. But the biggest add on here, is Fatal Fury 2. This is big, because I'm totally speculating.

Fatal Fury 2, instead of Fatal Fury 1, and the characters fighting are Mai Shirauni, and Terry Bogard. Terry was in Super Smash Bros. Ultimate, but that's not the correlation here. Those two fighters, with Mai winning, and character being released in February is a nod to SNK and Capcom. With the Capcom Fighting Collection 2 coming to Nintendo Switch, let me call this right now. I predict that Street Fighter 6 is coming to the Nintendo Switch 2.

That's probably not much of a prediction, but here. Just watch this. 

Call of Duty fans have just wrapped up a couple of holiday events with an extended Double XP event and a Squid Games crossover. This is all leading up to the official launch of season 2 for the newest game in the series, Black Ops 6.

Season 2 is currently prepping to launch on January 28, 2025 and will bring a bunch of new content to the game. For starters, players will get a total of 5 new maps, three of which will be available from the start of the season (Bounty, Dealership, and Lifeline), and two others launching later (Bullet and Grind). There are several new gameplay modes, perks, killstreaks, camos, and bonuses found as well. At least 4 new weapons are being added: PPSH-41 SMG, CYPHER 091 Assault Rifle, FENG 82 LMG, and the TR2 Marksman Rifle, as well as additional attachments and modifications.

Zombies players will also be getting a new map (The Tomb), as well as a new wondrous weapon, gobblegums, augments and rewards. All of the additions are highlighted in the trailer below:

Funselektor, the studio behind minimalist rally racing game, art of rally, has announced its next game – a cozy free-roaming offroad exploration game called over the hill. Over the hill still boasts the striking minimalist art style from art of rally, but trades the rally course for open meadows and snowy mountain ranges, which you can explore either solo or with a friend in co-op.

Over the hill also features a day-and-night cycle and dynamic weather system. If you are searching for more than just a leisurely offroad drive, the world also features challenges and secrets across the map for you to uncover as you explore its nooks and crannies.

Currently, there is no release date for over the hill, but Funselektor did say it is releasing this year on Steam. Check out the reveal trailer below:

One of The Unusual Suspects for Games N Moorer, DJ Coolbreeze, is a sponsor for the show. It was because of him, that we got early access to Conan The Barbarian for Mortal Kombat 1. He got us the Khaos Reigns expansion, and we have thoughts from our casual turned competitive session. 

As we admittingly don't know the reference material like we should, we do know who Conan is, and who is NOT voicing him. We do scoff at the internet referring to him as Temu Tusk (Killer Instinct), and we won't allow it, seeming that Conan The Barbarian predates Tusk by 14 years. Also, the resurrection move is kind of cool, as it is a cross between Mercy from previous games, and Jason from Mortal Kombat X. Conan does feel a little stiff, but the whole game does, so that complaint isn't new. 

The Fatalities are ok, as they are also references to the movie, but the Animality, as all of them are, is really really good. All this, topped with a conversation about The Ohio State Buckeyes conversation, all in one jam packed episode. Now all that remains is the T-1000 for this DLC, but with the looming MK1 tournament, and Ed Boon hinting toward more DLC, it seems as if Liu Kang has some more tricks up his timeline. Stay tuned.