Advice on Monster Manual [Archive] - Wizards Community

Advice on Monster Manual [Archive] - Wizards Community

Post/Author/DateTime Post
TVLLestatTVL
05-26-07, 12:32 AM I have had the MM for 3.0 for quite some time. And I wanted to ask is it worth getting MM 3.5? What are the differences in content? I know there are a few monsters that I wish were just in 3.0 such as the bone devil and the like. Just wanted to know how much more content and what content changes are different than 3.0
sensestaker
05-26-07, 12:43 AM Biggest differance is upgrades in devils, demons and celestials. I bought it just for them. Most of the races and monsters they added already appeared in other books (even some other MM's)
Morwen
05-26-07, 12:50 AM And, compared to the 3.0 version, there's changes to a variety of game mechanics:
- Monster's feat acquisition now follow the same rules as for PCs (feats at 1st HD, 3rd HD and every 3 HD thereafter).
- Damage Reduction has been altered (no longer can a heavily-enough enchanted magic weapon overcome all types of DR; you actually need an Adamantine weapon to overcome DR/adamantine). Many creatures that used to have DR/+X have received specific DRs instead, such as cold iron, chaotic, evil, silver, and so on.
- Some monster types have received new traits/features. Constructs, for instance, receive bonus hit points for size.
- Several monsters had revisions done to their available spell-like abilities. Those monsters were felt to have way too many options available to them for the DM to be able to run them effectively, so they've cut back on the amount of different SLAs those monsters have.
TVLLestatTVL
05-26-07, 01:05 AM I also have MM 4 and I like the descriptions it gives for each monster. Such as how a PC can use some monsters ex: clockwork steed. And giving some example random encounters for some monsters. Do they have such examples in MM 3.5?
TVLLestatTVL
05-26-07, 01:09 AM Also I noticed that in some random encounters it shows what I assume is EL encounters? Like it will say (EL 14) and it has an encounter of a black dragon, and some other creatures obviously stronger than a 14 lvl party. So I'm guessing that's an epic lvl encounter? And what's the difference between just a party being at 14 and an epic encounter that's 14?
Morwen
05-26-07, 01:34 AM I also have MM 4 and I like the descriptions it gives for each monster. Such as how a PC can use some monsters ex: clockwork steed. And giving some example random encounters for some monsters. Do they have such examples in MM 3.5?

Yes, some monsters in the 3.5 MM have tactics examples.

Also I noticed that in some random encounters it shows what I assume is EL encounters? Like it will say (EL 14) and it has an encounter of a black dragon, and some other creatures obviously stronger than a 14 lvl party. So I'm guessing that's an epic lvl encounter? And what's the difference between just a party being at 14 and an epic encounter that's 14?

An EL 14 encounter is an encounter meant to be faced by a party of 4 14th-level characters, with the party spending approximately 20-25% of its resources to overcome that encounter.
TVLLestatTVL
05-26-07, 02:01 AM But a black dragon has a CR above 14 alone in some age categories. Plus the cohorts it describes. Am I missing something?
Morwen
05-26-07, 04:21 PM But a black dragon has a CR above 14 alone in some age categories. Plus the cohorts it describes. Am I missing something?

The encounter should mention the dragon's age category.

For instance, the EL 14 encounter for Bluespawn Godslayer includes a young adult Blue Dragon (CR 11) and 3 Bluespawn Godslayers (CR 10 each).
TVLLestatTVL
05-26-07, 07:39 PM The encounter should mention the dragon's age category.

For instance, the EL 14 encounter for Bluespawn Godslayer includes a young adult Blue Dragon (CR 11) and 3 Bluespawn Godslayers (CR 10 each).

I don't think it did the one I remembered. I could be wrong so take that with a grain of salt. I'm only just a portion of the way through MM 4. Nothing I couldn't figure out myself though. Let's say I want a lesser encounter i'd just reduce the age category of said black dragon. Or raise it for a harder encounter. D&D's site has an online tool you can add two monsters CR to get the CR rating for that encounter. So assuming it doesn't state I think that's a solution.

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
TVLLestatTVL 05-26-07, 12:32 AM	I have had the MM for 3.0 for quite some time. And I wanted to ask is it worth getting MM 3.5? What are the differences in content? I know there are a few monsters that I wish were just in 3.0 such as the bone devil and the like. Just wanted to know how much more content and what content changes are different than 3.0
sensestaker 05-26-07, 12:43 AM	Biggest differance is upgrades in devils, demons and celestials. I bought it just for them. Most of the races and monsters they added already appeared in other books (even some other MM's)
Morwen 05-26-07, 12:50 AM	And, compared to the 3.0 version, there's changes to a variety of game mechanics: - Monster's feat acquisition now follow the same rules as for PCs (feats at 1st HD, 3rd HD and every 3 HD thereafter). - Damage Reduction has been altered (no longer can a heavily-enough enchanted magic weapon overcome all types of DR; you actually need an Adamantine weapon to overcome DR/adamantine). Many creatures that used to have DR/+X have received specific DRs instead, such as cold iron, chaotic, evil, silver, and so on. - Some monster types have received new traits/features. Constructs, for instance, receive bonus hit points for size. - Several monsters had revisions done to their available spell-like abilities. Those monsters were felt to have way too many options available to them for the DM to be able to run them effectively, so they've cut back on the amount of different SLAs those monsters have.
TVLLestatTVL 05-26-07, 01:05 AM	I also have MM 4 and I like the descriptions it gives for each monster. Such as how a PC can use some monsters ex: clockwork steed. And giving some example random encounters for some monsters. Do they have such examples in MM 3.5?
TVLLestatTVL 05-26-07, 01:09 AM	Also I noticed that in some random encounters it shows what I assume is EL encounters? Like it will say (EL 14) and it has an encounter of a black dragon, and some other creatures obviously stronger than a 14 lvl party. So I'm guessing that's an epic lvl encounter? And what's the difference between just a party being at 14 and an epic encounter that's 14?
Morwen 05-26-07, 01:34 AM	I also have MM 4 and I like the descriptions it gives for each monster. Such as how a PC can use some monsters ex: clockwork steed. And giving some example random encounters for some monsters. Do they have such examples in MM 3.5? Yes, some monsters in the 3.5 MM have tactics examples. Also I noticed that in some random encounters it shows what I assume is EL encounters? Like it will say (EL 14) and it has an encounter of a black dragon, and some other creatures obviously stronger than a 14 lvl party. So I'm guessing that's an epic lvl encounter? And what's the difference between just a party being at 14 and an epic encounter that's 14? An EL 14 encounter is an encounter meant to be faced by a party of 4 14th-level characters, with the party spending approximately 20-25% of its resources to overcome that encounter.
TVLLestatTVL 05-26-07, 02:01 AM	But a black dragon has a CR above 14 alone in some age categories. Plus the cohorts it describes. Am I missing something?
Morwen 05-26-07, 04:21 PM	But a black dragon has a CR above 14 alone in some age categories. Plus the cohorts it describes. Am I missing something? The encounter should mention the dragon's age category. For instance, the EL 14 encounter for Bluespawn Godslayer includes a young adult Blue Dragon (CR 11) and 3 Bluespawn Godslayers (CR 10 each).
TVLLestatTVL 05-26-07, 07:39 PM	The encounter should mention the dragon's age category. For instance, the EL 14 encounter for Bluespawn Godslayer includes a young adult Blue Dragon (CR 11) and 3 Bluespawn Godslayers (CR 10 each). I don't think it did the one I remembered. I could be wrong so take that with a grain of salt. I'm only just a portion of the way through MM 4. Nothing I couldn't figure out myself though. Let's say I want a lesser encounter i'd just reduce the age category of said black dragon. Or raise it for a harder encounter. D&D's site has an online tool you can add two monsters CR to get the CR rating for that encounter. So assuming it doesn't state I think that's a solution.