Do you prefer Monster statistics in an adventure's text or at the end

pogre · Jun 15, 2004

Howdy!

If you use adventure modules - do you prefer the NPC and Monster's stats near the text where they are mentioned or in an appendix in the back? If you care to elaborate on why that would be great too.

Silveras · Jun 15, 2004

I did not vote, because my response would be "both".

I would prefer a short stat block in the text near its "normal" location, with a matching lookup stat block in the summary list.

Crothian · Jun 15, 2004

I like them with the encounter, saves on page flipping.

But what would be best is to havea pull out section with the stat blocks in it. THat way the module can be opened and the stat blocks can be used easily with out taking up room.

pogre · Jun 15, 2004

Silveras said:
I did not vote, because my response would be "both".

I would prefer a short stat block in the text near its "normal" location, with a matching lookup stat block in the summary list.

Why? How does the short summary stat block help? If that's all you need why would you want the larger stat block in the back? I am trying to gain insight into people's playing (DMing really) styles - not attacking your position

Hypersmurf · Jun 15, 2004

Crothian said:
I like them with the encounter, saves on page flipping.

But what would be best is to havea pull out section with the stat blocks in it. THat way the module can be opened and the stat blocks can be used easily with out taking up room.

Yup - agree on both points

PostIt flags help... but flipping gets old pretty fast

-Hyp.

Gort · Jun 15, 2004

Yeah, have them near where they're gonna be used, so I don't have to keep two pages ready.

Of course, if it's just an MM monster, I'm okay with just a page reference.

vtaltos · Jun 15, 2004

I gotta go with Crothian on this one. Page flipping kills.

Elder-Basilisk · Jun 15, 2004

It depends what range of levels the adventure covers. If it's an adventure written to support 1st through 14th level characters for instance, I think having the statblocks in the back is the only reasonable way to do it. If the adventure is written to support a party of a single, set level, then it's more convenient to have the statblocks in the adventure.

However, as Crothian expressed, the best of all worlds would be to have a pullout section with the stats on it. . . well, actually, the best of all possible worlds would be to have pre-printed 3x5 initiative cards with all the statblocks printed on them and room to record changes in their hit points (and other commonly changing things like AC and attack and damage bonusses--you'd need something a little bit more like the cards that come with the D&D minis sets than like a standard statblock.

pogre · Jun 15, 2004

Elder-Basilisk said:
However, as Crothian expressed, the best of all worlds would be to have a pullout section with the stats on it. . . well, actually, the best of all possible worlds would be to have pre-printed 3x5 initiative cards with all the statblocks printed on them and room to record changes in their hit points (and other commonly changing things like AC and attack and damage bonusses--you'd need something a little bit more like the cards that come with the D&D minis sets than like a standard statblock.

Cool Idea. Yoink!

Gnarlo · Jun 15, 2004

I do something much like E-B, with combat sheets drawn up for each room and encounter listing all the pertinent info such as AC, HP, attacks, etc., plus a list of potential strategies, information known about the area (my players are big into interrogation of prisoners), etc. It's all part of my getting familiar with the module.