[3.5] New Monster Stat Format [Archive] - Wizards Community

[3.5] New Monster Stat Format [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
Tetsubo
08-19-07, 04:38 PM I've heard people complain about the new monster stat format since it was first announced. Why? I never even really noticed a difference. Is it that hard to understand a monster write-up if the stats are juggled around a tad?
Garonak
08-20-07, 04:47 AM The new stat block is easier to use in combat, but it takes some time getting used to and in the meanwhile it slows things down. I'm sure that as people get more and more used to it the complains will lessen (but not disappear, since people will always complain). I'm not quite used to it yet myself, but I'm getting there.
Xiuhcoatl
08-20-07, 08:27 AM It does not provide information in areas easy to locate for DMs that wish to do more than merely 'run' the monster.

It does not include HD breakdowns, for a while it did not include AC breakdowns, and Special Qualities and Special Attacks are in multiple places, scattered about. Furthermore, it has duplicate information.

Add that to an aesthetically unpleasing design, and you've got a failure as far as a monster format is concerned.
ZeronHitaro
08-20-07, 09:33 AM It does not provide information in areas easy to locate for DMs that wish to do more than merely 'run' the monster.

It does not include HD breakdowns, for a while it did not include AC breakdowns, and Special Qualities and Special Attacks are in multiple places, scattered about. Furthermore, it has duplicate information.

Add that to an aesthetically unpleasing design, and you've got a failure as far as a monster format is concerned.

That pretty much hits the nail right on the head.

It's good for lazy or casual who want to put no effort into modifying their creatures and just throw them out on the table as is, which I've done on a few of my games where I've flat out told the players "It's improv night."

However for those of us who like to go back, add templates, subtypes, increase HD for a stronger challenge, ect, this new template is a waste of time.

It's like taking a math class and having the teacher say: "Okay kids, here's an equation 3248 () 2934 () 293 () 23211 () = 29301295383912. Figure out which symbols are needed to make the equation work."

Side Note: Those are random numbers. Don't try solving it.

Sure you can reverse engineer the problem but it takes a very long time and is a general pain in the padding to do so.
lord_zack
08-20-07, 11:09 AM Modifying creatures in the new stat block is a problem, yes, but a minor one in my opinion. It takes slightly longer, but the statblock is much superior when in combat, and that's what really matters.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
Tetsubo 08-19-07, 04:38 PM	I've heard people complain about the new monster stat format since it was first announced. Why? I never even really noticed a difference. Is it that hard to understand a monster write-up if the stats are juggled around a tad?
Garonak 08-20-07, 04:47 AM	The new stat block is easier to use in combat, but it takes some time getting used to and in the meanwhile it slows things down. I'm sure that as people get more and more used to it the complains will lessen (but not disappear, since people will always complain). I'm not quite used to it yet myself, but I'm getting there.
Xiuhcoatl 08-20-07, 08:27 AM	It does not provide information in areas easy to locate for DMs that wish to do more than merely 'run' the monster. It does not include HD breakdowns, for a while it did not include AC breakdowns, and Special Qualities and Special Attacks are in multiple places, scattered about. Furthermore, it has duplicate information. Add that to an aesthetically unpleasing design, and you've got a failure as far as a monster format is concerned.
ZeronHitaro 08-20-07, 09:33 AM	It does not provide information in areas easy to locate for DMs that wish to do more than merely 'run' the monster. It does not include HD breakdowns, for a while it did not include AC breakdowns, and Special Qualities and Special Attacks are in multiple places, scattered about. Furthermore, it has duplicate information. Add that to an aesthetically unpleasing design, and you've got a failure as far as a monster format is concerned. That pretty much hits the nail right on the head. It's good for lazy or casual who want to put no effort into modifying their creatures and just throw them out on the table as is, which I've done on a few of my games where I've flat out told the players "It's improv night." However for those of us who like to go back, add templates, subtypes, increase HD for a stronger challenge, ect, this new template is a waste of time. It's like taking a math class and having the teacher say: "Okay kids, here's an equation 3248 () 2934 () 293 () 23211 () = 29301295383912. Figure out which symbols are needed to make the equation work." Side Note: Those are random numbers. Don't try solving it. Sure you can reverse engineer the problem but it takes a very long time and is a general pain in the padding to do so.
lord_zack 08-20-07, 11:09 AM	Modifying creatures in the new stat block is a problem, yes, but a minor one in my opinion. It takes slightly longer, but the statblock is much superior when in combat, and that's what really matters.