How we make custom monsters (Episode 272)

How we make custom monsters (Episode 272)

Author: Tabletop Journeys April 17, 2026 Duration: 15:58

Ever stare at a blank stat block and wonder where to even start? In this episode of Dr. Homebrew, we pull back the curtain on the monster-building framework we use here at Tabletop Journeys. It's a rules-first, narrative-driven system we've refined across dozens of NPCs, published adventures, and card decks.


Whether you're crafting a terrifying custom beast or a compelling villain NPC, this episode breaks down our full process step by step. We cover everything from how Challenge Rating (CR) anchors the entire stat block, to feature points as a spendable currency, to how we handle spellcasting differently from the official Monster Manual and why we made those calls.


We even walk through a brand new NPC, Arwir Echagüe (CR4, undead, and very hard to read 👀), to show you exactly how it all comes together in practice.


🔑 Topics covered in this episode:

Why CR is the foundation of every stat block we build

Feature points, the hidden currency that balances your monsters

Why we put spells directly into the action economy (and why it matters at the table)

A full live walkthrough of a CR4 NPC stat block


Shoutouts to the incredible work of Teos Abadía, Mike Shea, and Tom Dunn that helped shape our process


💬 We want to hear from YOU! Drop a comment and let us know: Are we getting it right? Would you want access to the full ruleset? Interested in a Foundry module? Tell us below!


And remember:

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🔗 Links & Resources mentioned in the episode:


Tao Sabadia & Mike Shea: https://slyflourish.com/lazy_5e_monster_building_resource_document.html

Tom Dunn: https://tomedunn.github.io/the-finished-book/monsters/monster-manual-2024/


🧭 Tabletop Journeys Links:

Patreon: patreon.com/ttjourneys

Bluesky: @ttjourneys.bsky.social

Facebook: www.facebook.com/ttjourneys

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@ttjourneys

Website: https://ttjourneys.com/

Email: podcast@ttjourneys.com


#DnD #DungeonsAndDragons #DrHomebrew #TabletopJourneys #TTRPG #HomebrewMonsters #DungeonMaster #DMTips #StatBlock #DnD5e #HomebrewDnD #TableTopRPG #MonsterDesign #ChallengeRating #DMsGuild #FoundryVTT #NPC #RPG #TabletopGaming #DnDCommunity


Three longtime friends, with a combined century of experience around the gaming table, invite you into their ongoing conversation. Tabletop Journeys is a podcast born from decades of shared history, not just as gamers but as people who have spent a lifetime thinking deeply about the worlds we create together. You’ll hear the easy, often hilarious dynamic of a group that has played in and run every kind of tabletop and live-action roleplaying game imaginable. Their discussions are the kind that usually happen late at night, after the dice are put away, where ideas get pulled apart, rebuilt, and passionately debated. Each episode feels like pulling up a chair in one of those living rooms, listening in as they dissect everything from game mechanics and storytelling techniques to the unexpected life lessons found in collaborative imagination. It’s less a formal review show and more a chronicle of a lifelong journey through games, packed with the kind of insight and friendly argument that only comes from truly knowing your fellow travelers. Tune into this podcast for a natural, deep, and often very funny exploration of why we play.
Author: Language: en-us Episodes: 100

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