Dark Sun Creature Catalog and Monster Manual 3 - Downloaded from the Wizards Community, all coding removed by Solauren

Dark Sun Creature Catalog and Monster Manual 3

Post/Author/DateTime Post
#1
ascottbay
May 01, 2010 21:53:24 The Monster Manual 3 is coming out in June, and one of this month's articles is going to be a Design & Development called "New Monster Stat Block." I'm already wondering if this is going to be a significant or subtle change to the presentation of monsters.

I'm also wondering if this new presentation is going to be used for the Dark Sun Creature Catalog, since it's coming out later and probably went into editing after the MM3.

We don't have the details yet (the article doesn't come out until Thursday, May 20th) but do you think that as the first major "monster book" coming out after the MM3 it will/should have the new style? Do you think that this might set Dark Sun products too far apart from the other campaign settings, as it's already very unique thematically and is likely to introduce significant new mechanics?
#2
Pennarin
May 02, 2010 0:17:43 Bill already showed what the stat block looks like, in an earlier Dragon/Dungeon Magazine; abilities are grouped on what actions are necessary to use them, plus several subtler configurations. Contrary to the new monster stat block we experienced very late for 3.5e, which was somewhat confusing (remember, stat blocks were huge then), this change is early on for 4e and looks simpler and quite good.
#3
ascottbay
May 02, 2010 1:08:43 It sounds more like the "new" blocks are built with new guidelines rather than a full re-design, then. And, considering the crazy things Dark Sun monsters are likely to do, could be a good thing for us.
#4
603
May 02, 2010 13:50:21 Is the article on the new stat blocks available to non-DDI people? I'd hate to suddenly have everything scrambled around (or worse, laid out as a Traveller-style row of hexadecimal numbers) without any sort of guide to what everything looks like now.
#5
grehnhewe
May 02, 2010 13:56:59 I saw an example of the new stat block (sorry, I cannot remember where) It didn't look a lot different at all. I think it is an effort to slightly rearrange certain components so that items that are sometimes overlooked are done so less. I wonder, will they be making new stat blocks for all the creatures on the Adventure Tools?

I do not think the Dark Sun Creature Catalog will need different stat blocks to cater to any new game mechanics.
#6
totemensch
May 02, 2010 22:53:39 The April and Beyond article. Just scroll down till you get to the part of the article you want to see, bout half way I think.

Joe

Post/Author/DateTime	Post
#1 ascottbay May 01, 2010 21:53:24	The Monster Manual 3 is coming out in June, and one of this month's articles is going to be a Design & Development called "New Monster Stat Block." I'm already wondering if this is going to be a significant or subtle change to the presentation of monsters. I'm also wondering if this new presentation is going to be used for the Dark Sun Creature Catalog, since it's coming out later and probably went into editing after the MM3. We don't have the details yet (the article doesn't come out until Thursday, May 20th) but do you think that as the first major "monster book" coming out after the MM3 it will/should have the new style? Do you think that this might set Dark Sun products too far apart from the other campaign settings, as it's already very unique thematically and is likely to introduce significant new mechanics?
#2 Pennarin May 02, 2010 0:17:43	Bill already showed what the stat block looks like, in an earlier Dragon/Dungeon Magazine; abilities are grouped on what actions are necessary to use them, plus several subtler configurations. Contrary to the new monster stat block we experienced very late for 3.5e, which was somewhat confusing (remember, stat blocks were huge then), this change is early on for 4e and looks simpler and quite good.
#3 ascottbay May 02, 2010 1:08:43	It sounds more like the "new" blocks are built with new guidelines rather than a full re-design, then. And, considering the crazy things Dark Sun monsters are likely to do, could be a good thing for us.
#4 603 May 02, 2010 13:50:21	Is the article on the new stat blocks available to non-DDI people? I'd hate to suddenly have everything scrambled around (or worse, laid out as a Traveller-style row of hexadecimal numbers) without any sort of guide to what everything looks like now.
#5 grehnhewe May 02, 2010 13:56:59	I saw an example of the new stat block (sorry, I cannot remember where) It didn't look a lot different at all. I think it is an effort to slightly rearrange certain components so that items that are sometimes overlooked are done so less. I wonder, will they be making new stat blocks for all the creatures on the Adventure Tools? I do not think the Dark Sun Creature Catalog will need different stat blocks to cater to any new game mechanics.
#6 totemensch May 02, 2010 22:53:39	The April and Beyond article. Just scroll down till you get to the part of the article you want to see, bout half way I think. Joe