Template talk:5e Creature

Here's an example of the template, with comments detailing correct formatting. Edit this page and copy/paste it as needed. It's like the one at the 5e Creature Design Guide, but without game design notes. I might merge it into the guide sometime.

Formatting example:

Creature Name

Tiny/Small/Medium/Large/Huge/Gargantuan aberration/beast/celestial/construct/dragon/elemental/fey/fiend/giant/humanoid/monstrosity/ooze/plant/undead, lawful good/neutral good/chaotic good/lawful neutral/neutral/chaotic neutral/lawful evil/neutral evil/chaotic evil/unaligned Armor Class X (padded armor/leather armor/studded leather/hide armor/chain shirt/scale mail/breastplate/half plate/ring mail/chain mail/splint/plate/natural armor) Hit Points X (XdX) Speed X ft. STR DEX CON INT WIS CHA X (+/-X) X (+/-X) X (+/-X) X (+/-X) X (+/-X) X (+/-X) Saving Throws Str +X, Dex +X, Con +X, Wis +X, Int +X, Cha +X Senses Passive Perception X Languages &mdask; Challenge X (X XP) Feature Name. Feature description. Spellcasting. The (creature name) is a Xst-level spellcaster. His/her/it's spellcasting ability is Wisdom/Intelligence/Charisma (spell save DC X, +X to hit with spell attacks). The (creature name) knows the following spells: Cantrips (At will): spell name, spell name 1st-level (X slots): spell name 2nd-level (X slots): spell name Innate Spellcasting. The (creature name)'s innate spellcasting ability is Wisdom/Intelligence/Charisma (spell save DC 13, +X to hit with spell attacks). The (creature name) can innately cast the following spells, requiring no material components: At will: spell name, spell name X/day each: spell name, spell name (Self only) Swarm. The swarm can occupy another creature's space and vice versa, and the swarm can move through any opening large enough for a (size of creatures in swarm) (creature). The swarm can't regain hit points or gain temporary hit points. ACTIONS Melee Attack. Melee Weapon Attack: +X to hit, reach X ft., one target. Hit: X (XdX + X) damagetype damage. Ranged Attack. Ranged Weapon Attack: +X to hit, range X/X ft., one target. Hit: X (XdX + X) damagetype damage. Throwing Weapon. Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +X to hit, reach X ft. or ranged X/X ft., one target. Hit: X (XdX + X) damagetype damage. Miscellaneous Action. Action description. REACTIONS Reaction Name. Reaction description. LEGENDARY ACTIONS The (creature name) can take X legendary actions, choosing from the options below. Only one legendary action option can be used at a time and only at the end of another creature's turn. The (creature name) regains spent legendary actions at the start of its turn. Legendary Action. Action description.

Write a description for your creature here.

Formatting is based off 5e Monster Manual. Oportet (talk) 19:31, 11 December 2016 (MST)

Documentation of Parameters

At the time of this edit, the following is a complete list of all parameters this template supports. Any derived effects, other than display-exact-text-as-entered, are commented.

{{5e Creature
|size= <!-- Any text here puts page in Category:{{{type}}} Size. If this line is excluded, size defaults to "Medium. -->
|type= <!-- Any text here puts page in Category:{{{type}}} Type.  If this line is excluded, type defaults to "monstrosity". -->
|race= <!-- Any text here puts page in Category:{{{race}}} Tag -->
|swarm= <!-- Any text here puts page in Category:Swarm -->
|alignment= <!-- If this line is excluded, alignment defaults to either "any alignment" or "unaligned" based on int  -->
|ac= <!-- If this and {{{armor}}} are left blank or are excluded, it defaults to a value of 10 + Dexterity modifier -->
|armor=
|speed= <!-- If this is left blank, it defaults to "30 ft." -->

|cr= <!-- Optionally used to display XP value, add proficiency bonus to saving throws, and add proficiency bonus to skills -->
|xp= <!-- If left blank, {{{xp}}} will default to the appropriate Challenge Rating entered in {{{cr}}}. It is needed to display "10 XP" for a CR 0 creature with combat capabilities, but is otherwise redundant. -->

<!-- The following 6 parameters are for ability scores.  Each should be a whole number between 1 and 30 inclusive.  If any of these lines are excluded, the ability score defaults to 10.  If (strmod/dexmod/conmod/intmod/wismod/chamod) are unused, ability score modifiers are calculated and displayed based on these parameters.  Many other optional parameters are dependent on these 6 parameters. -->
|str=
|dex=
|con=
|int=
|wis=
|cha=

<!-- The following 6 parameters are used for ability score modifiers, but are redundant. If one is left blank, the template automatically calculates the modifier based on the needed parameters (str/dex/con/int/wis/cha). -->
|strmod=
|dexmod=
|conmod=
|intmod=
|wismod=
|chamod=

|hd= <!-- Fill in the creature's number of hit dice.  If this value is filled, the "Hit Points" line will auto-fill with values or hit points and dice as appropriate to the creature.  It relies on needed parameters (size/con). -->

<!-- The following 2 parameters are redundant.  They can be used to calculate hp manually in lieu of using the "hd" parameter. -->
|hp=
|hpdice=

<!-- The following 6 parameters will display saving throw bonuses if they are used.  The bonuses are calculated based on needed parameters (str/dex/con/int/wis/cha/cr).  Only those that filled used will display.  (Delete the line, or just delete "yes", if the creature is not proficient in that saving throw.) -->
|strsave=yes
|dexsave=yes
|consave=yes
|intsave=yes
|wissave=yes
|chasave=yes
|saves= <!-- Instead of the previous 6 parameters, this can be used for entering Saving Throws manually. -->

|di=<!--Damage immunity. Relevant line is omitted if this is deleted or left blank.-->
|ci=<!--Condition immunity. Relevant line is omitted if this is deleted or left blank.-->
|dr=<!--Damage resistance. Relevant line is omitted if left blank.-->
|dv=<!--Damage vulnerability. Relevant line is omitted if left blank.-->

|senses=<!--If deleted or left blank, "passive [[5e SRD:Perception Skill|Perception]] X" will be displayed.  X is the appropriate value based on optional parameters (wis/cr/perception). -->

|languages=<!--If deleted or left blank, will default to ";&mdash" -->

<!-- The following 18 parameters calculate and display skill proficiencies as appropriate.  
If a parameter is left blank or unused (just delete the entire line), the skill will not display on the page.
If a parameter is filled with "yes", as they all are below, then the skill will be displayed using its appropriate ability modifier and proficiency bonus.  This is based on parameters (str/dex/con/int/wis/cha/cr).
If a parameter is filled with text other than "yes", then that text will be listed after the appropriate skill.  For example, entering for stealth "+6 (+16 using pass without trace)" will result in "Stealth +6 (+16 pass without trace)". -->
|acrobatics=yes
|animalhandling=yes
|arcana=yes
|athletics=yes
|deception=yes
|history=yes
|intimidation=yes
|investigation=yes
|insight=yes
|medicine=yes
|nature=yes
|perception=yes
|performance=yes
|persuasion=yes
|religion=yes
|sleightofhand=yes
|stealth=yes
|survival=yes
|skills= <!--Any text here will override the previous 18 parameters. Should usually be unused, but can be used for entering skills manually.  If this parameter and the preceding 18 parameters are left blank, the "Skills" line will not appear on the page. -->

|tools= <!-- If deleted or left blank, relevant line is omitted -->
|proficiency= <!-- Used to display a proficiency bonus, presumably one not derived from Challenge Rating.  Its use is intended only for player-character statblocks. If deleted or left blank, relevant line is omitted. -->
|features=
|actions=<!-- If deleted or left blank, relevant section is omitted -->
|reactions=<!-- If deleted or left blank, relevant section is omitted -->
|legendary=<!-- If deleted or left blank, relevant section is omitted -->
|description=

|nocategory= <!--This should NOT be used for normal purposes.  Any text here will cause the template to not categorize the page.  This should be used for documentation purposes, such as on this talk page.-->
}}

The preceding documentation is up-to-date as of this signing. — Guy (talk | edits) 06:03, 2 March 2017 (MST)

Since lots of users search for templates' documentation, I included it on the page. --Green Dragon (talk) 16:38, 16 May 2017 (UTC)

Improving the template

Please let me know if you can think of ways this template can be improved. — Guy (talk | edits) 02:29, 1 March 2017 (MST)

To clarify, I added the proficiency and tools fields to support using the template to make PC character statblocks (so not recommended for monster statblocks) Marasmusine (talk) 09:18, 1 March 2017 (MST)

As a test, I created a simple page (that I didn't post), and the passive Perception came up as 10, even though the creature had a negative Wisdom modifier. Passive Perception is equal to 10 + the creature's Wisdom (Perception) modifier, even if that modifier is negative (not 10 + proficiency bonus). Also, CR 0 can be either 0 XP or 10 XP, not only 0 (depending on the combat ability of the creature). Also, I noticed a bug where if a creature is proficient in a skill and still has a penalty, it is listed as "+-(penalty)". I also found that if a creature has a penalty to hit points thanks to a negative Constitution modifier, it omits the spaces between the number of hit dice and the penalty. SirSprinkles (talk) 16:24, 1 March 2017 (MST)

Thanks for catching those problems. Clearly, I should have tested it more thoroughly before edited the preload. The problems you mentioned should be resolved now, with one exception. I don't think there is anything else I can do about 0 XP versus 10 XP. The best fix is just using "|xp=10". Using the xp parameter will overwrite any automatic XP calculation. (It's been that way since I added automatic XP calculation, though.)

Here's a more thorough explanation of fixes. This is here for future reference.

"The passive Perception came up as 10, even though the creature had a negative Wisdom modifier."

• Passive Perception auto-calculation was not working because {{{wisdom|}}} was used in place of {{{wis|}}}. This could have caused many other problems, as it treated wisdom score as always being 10.

"Also, CR 0 can be either 0 XP or 10 XP, not only 0 (depending on the combat ability of the creature)."

• I did realize this, but there's not much I can do that will make it function more elegantly. I chose "0" XP over "10" XP as I guessed it would be more common. However, if "|xp=10" is used, it will overwrite the auto-calculated value.

"I noticed a bug where if a creature is proficient in a skill and still has a penalty, it is listed as "+-(penalty)"

• This is a known bug, and it applied it saves as well. I did realize it and document it — but I could have been more clear in my documentation, especially in the preload itself.
• That said, I was able to fix the bug. Guess I just didn't try hard enough you pointed it out.

"I also found that if a creature has a penalty to hit points thanks to a negative Constitution modifier, it omits the spaces between the number of hit dice and the penalty."

• Fixed. Template:Negative was created so negative numbers can be properly spaced within expressions in this template. E.g., "-20" becomes "- 20", but "20" still remains as "20".

Finally, although it's arguably not a bug, I fixed another potential problem with hit points. When using {{{hd}}}: If a creature has for example d4 hit dice and a Con mod of -3, it would end up with a negative amount of hit points listed. From now on, any negative value for auto-calculated hp will instead become 1, thanks to the newly-created Template:LessThan1Becomes1.

This time I'll leave editing the preload, and the decisions involved, up to someone with more experience here. I mean, I've only been registered for about a week. — Guy (talk | edits) 06:03, 2 March 2017 (MST)

There also needs to be a seperate |shapechanger=y/n parameter like on the ritual spells. See also Talk:5e Creatures#Shapechanger. Just give me the word and I will open up this page so you can implement this if you would prefer. --Green Dragon (talk) 09:51, 17 May 2017 (UTC)

The page was only locked for anonymous users, so I went ahead and edited that in accordingly. The only hiccup is that shapechanger will always come after the race, even though they should be alphabetical. For example, it will appear as (yuan-ti, shapechanger) instead of (shapechanger, yuan-ti) as it would in the Monster Manual. I added the parameter 'racemanual so it can be used to override the race and ritual tags in these instances. E.g., using the following would cause the previous example to display correctly:

|racemanual=shapechanger, yuan-ti

Using the racemanual parameter requires you to manually categorize it though. In this case that would be Category:Shapechanger Tag and Category:Yuan-Ti Tag. - Guy (talk) 15:34, 17 May 2017 (UTC)

I’d be bold but fear I’d mess up the preload/template somehow. The race category should be tag instead. BigShotFancyMan (talk) 10:45, 5 May 2018 (MDT)

I know it's been 3 years since this talk page has been touched, but I seem to have found another issue with this template regarding CRs above 30. As this revision shows, with 31+ CRs, adding +X for skills fail to properly add spaces or linked skill names. I haven't run into this issue with saves, or with skills for creatures with traditional CRs. It's not the most critical fix in the world, but as this page is rightfully admins-only, and reading the raw text of most templates makes my eyes bleed, I would love if someone could fix this.--Ref3rence (talk) 15:44, 28 June 2021 (MDT)

I have found yet another niche problem! Even when a custom modifier and saving throw bonus is entered, saving throw bonuses generate as an error if the score it's tied to is above 30, as seen in this page. I really hope this gets resolved soon.--Ref3rence (talk) 10:14, 29 June 2021 (MDT)

A possible fix would be to edit Template:Abilitymod to include information past official content. While it wouldn't necessarily follow "official rules", said rules make it clear than mod=score-10/2, and this wiki is intended to facilitate homebrew content. If this course of action is taken, a change up to at least 60 would be preferable.--Ref3rence (talk) 10:50, 29 June 2021 (MDT)

And while I'm at it, a way to manually set the profmod field to a specific value would be nice.--Ref3rence (talk) 10:52, 29 June 2021 (MDT)

Found another! Setting the perception field to yes or +X generates the bonus under proficiencies correctly, but causes an error in the autogenerated passive Perception.--Ref3rence (talk) 13:31, 21 August 2021 (MDT)

Skills broken?

Giving "yes" as a field to a skill gives an error "Expression error: Unexpected < operator.Expression error: Unexpected < operator.". Marasmusine (talk) 11:05, 29 January 2023 (MST)

This was probably caused by not having the CR defined in the template, which causes {{profmod}} to return an error. I've made a small edit to profmod that fixes this, and hopefully doesn't cause any other issues. — Geodude (talk | contribs | email)‎‎ . . 21:20, 29 January 2023 (MST)

It seems like it's decided to give everything a +2 proficiency bonus. SirSprinkles (talk) 01:45, 31 January 2023 (MST)

I’ve temporarily reverted the change and I’ll poke at it more when I get off work tonight. — Geodude (talk | contribs | email)‎‎ . . 10:24, 31 January 2023 (MST)

Try it now. — Geodude (talk | contribs | email)‎‎ . . 20:30, 31 January 2023 (MST)

Yes, that worked, thanks. Now it only shows an error if you haven't put in the ability score values, but I haven't noticed that happen yet. Marasmusine (talk) 02:19, 1 February 2023 (MST)

I Skills

I've noticed that Insight is listed after Intimidation and Investigation when it should come first in alphabetical order. SirSprinkles (talk) 13:49, 4 February 2023 (MST)

Oh, true. That seems like it would be easy to fix if I could edit the page. - Guy 07:30, 20 March 2023 (MDT)

Oh, Geodude already did it. Off I go. - Guy 07:32, 20 March 2023 (MDT)