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Monster Design in D&D Next
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<blockquote data-quote="Li Shenron" data-source="post: 5942279" data-attributes="member: 1465"><p>It's been mentioned already that currently monsters are far from finished, but I agree with your sentiment.</p><p></p><p>Personally I've always liked richly detailed monsters, with abilities that extend beyond combat. I remember I even defended a long time ago the presence of <em>Read Magic</em> at will in the 3.0 Balor's description <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite7" alt=":p" title="Stick out tongue :p" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":p" /></p><p></p><p>Out-of-combat stats and abilities aren't generally useful to monsters, with the important exception of stealth and perception, and maybe sense motive (which are still used for the non-combat version or phase of an encounter). But they really help defining the nature, role in the world, and "feel" of a monster IMHO! Plus, they are needed by those groups which allow monsters as PC or at least as mercenaries/allies NPC.</p><p></p><p>It's totally understandable that the average group would find such non-combat abilities a waste of paper... but still I'd really like to have them for the purposes above. The best thing that can happen, is that they design an excellent <strong>monster description format</strong> where all the non-combat stuff is nicely placed so that it doesn't disturb those who don't want to bother with it.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Li Shenron, post: 5942279, member: 1465"] It's been mentioned already that currently monsters are far from finished, but I agree with your sentiment. Personally I've always liked richly detailed monsters, with abilities that extend beyond combat. I remember I even defended a long time ago the presence of [I]Read Magic[/I] at will in the 3.0 Balor's description :p Out-of-combat stats and abilities aren't generally useful to monsters, with the important exception of stealth and perception, and maybe sense motive (which are still used for the non-combat version or phase of an encounter). But they really help defining the nature, role in the world, and "feel" of a monster IMHO! Plus, they are needed by those groups which allow monsters as PC or at least as mercenaries/allies NPC. It's totally understandable that the average group would find such non-combat abilities a waste of paper... but still I'd really like to have them for the purposes above. The best thing that can happen, is that they design an excellent [B]monster description format[/B] where all the non-combat stuff is nicely placed so that it doesn't disturb those who don't want to bother with it. [/QUOTE]
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