How will the monster changes affect the realms? [Archive] - Wizards Community

How will the monster changes affect the realms? [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Derren S.
01-18-08, 07:37 AM I made a similar thread (some time ago) about the new PC races and how they will affect the realms.
Now its time to look beyond the PCs. How will the new and changed monsters affect the realms?

I am aware that so far not much is know except for two big changes.

Devils & Demons will get completely reorganized. Devils -> humanoid, Demons -> monsterous.

Dragons will loose their inborn alignment (good red dragon? Not that exceptional) and two dragon species get replaced (Brass and Bronze with Iron and Adamantine, although it is probably that those two dragons will be added later to the game). Also, dragons will loose their inborn spellcasting.

How do you think this will affect the realms? Or should the FR still use the old versions of this monsters and not the 4E core ones?
Lord Karsus
01-19-08, 02:16 AM Or should the FR still use the old versions of this monsters and not the 4E core ones?

-Personally, I think that this should be the case.

-A lot of things that happen/go on in the Realms are dependent on the rules at the time. Changing things because rules change invalidate them. The biggest example is Narbondel, in Menzoberranzan. With Drow having Darkvision, and not Infravision, it invalidates the reason Narbondel exists. They can't see the heat rising through the spire, and disappearing anymore, so what's the point of it?

-Having a 'Forgotten Realms', an 'Eberron', a 'Dragonlance', a 'Ravenloft', and so on, version of everything- Orcs, Drow, Elves, Dwarves, Thri-Keen, and so on takes up a lot of space, but it makes sure that there is maximum setting integrity. A good way to do this could be having sidebars on all monsters/races like the 'In the Realms', 'In Eberron' sidebars, that have optional rules that these campaign settings use.
Khaelieth
01-19-08, 07:39 PM Believe the dragons you thought were gone, are just coming later.
Derren S.
01-19-08, 07:45 PM Believe the dragons you thought were gone, are just coming later.

They might come later but in the FRCS they will probably not be present.
Suin Bahhar
01-19-08, 08:04 PM Dragons without spells is a bad change for DM's and lore. But I like it nonetheless. Dragons feel more powerfull when seen during teeth and claw actions. Minor spellcasting can be added by a DM if he wants the creature to have picked up some arcane lore. I think the removal of the strict alignment segregation between the colors is a very good move storytelling wise.
MarkusTay63
01-20-08, 02:07 AM Giants are getting abilities tied to the Elements, which is kinda cool. Although there is lots of lore on them in FR, they are rarely used IG - basically they have just become pert of the history of the world.

Thats why changing them doesn't really bother established lore too much.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Derren S. 01-18-08, 07:37 AM	I made a similar thread (some time ago) about the new PC races and how they will affect the realms. Now its time to look beyond the PCs. How will the new and changed monsters affect the realms? I am aware that so far not much is know except for two big changes. Devils & Demons will get completely reorganized. Devils -> humanoid, Demons -> monsterous. Dragons will loose their inborn alignment (good red dragon? Not that exceptional) and two dragon species get replaced (Brass and Bronze with Iron and Adamantine, although it is probably that those two dragons will be added later to the game). Also, dragons will loose their inborn spellcasting. How do you think this will affect the realms? Or should the FR still use the old versions of this monsters and not the 4E core ones?
Lord Karsus 01-19-08, 02:16 AM	Or should the FR still use the old versions of this monsters and not the 4E core ones? -Personally, I think that this should be the case. -A lot of things that happen/go on in the Realms are dependent on the rules at the time. Changing things because rules change invalidate them. The biggest example is Narbondel, in Menzoberranzan. With Drow having Darkvision, and not Infravision, it invalidates the reason Narbondel exists. They can't see the heat rising through the spire, and disappearing anymore, so what's the point of it? -Having a 'Forgotten Realms', an 'Eberron', a 'Dragonlance', a 'Ravenloft', and so on, version of everything- Orcs, Drow, Elves, Dwarves, Thri-Keen, and so on takes up a lot of space, but it makes sure that there is maximum setting integrity. A good way to do this could be having sidebars on all monsters/races like the 'In the Realms', 'In Eberron' sidebars, that have optional rules that these campaign settings use.
Khaelieth 01-19-08, 07:39 PM	Believe the dragons you thought were gone, are just coming later.
Derren S. 01-19-08, 07:45 PM	Believe the dragons you thought were gone, are just coming later. They might come later but in the FRCS they will probably not be present.
Suin Bahhar 01-19-08, 08:04 PM	Dragons without spells is a bad change for DM's and lore. But I like it nonetheless. Dragons feel more powerfull when seen during teeth and claw actions. Minor spellcasting can be added by a DM if he wants the creature to have picked up some arcane lore. I think the removal of the strict alignment segregation between the colors is a very good move storytelling wise.
MarkusTay63 01-20-08, 02:07 AM	Giants are getting abilities tied to the Elements, which is kinda cool. Although there is lots of lore on them in FR, they are rarely used IG - basically they have just become pert of the history of the world. Thats why changing them doesn't really bother established lore too much.