WotC Considering NPC Stat Format Change

Satyrn · Mar 8, 2019

TheBanjoNerd said:
[MENTION=6801204]Satyrn[/MENTION] I don't think anyone is saying we need to go back to the arcane way that attack damage was written. I've been DM'ing 5e since it was released and I use essentially the same stat block [MENTION=6799753]lowkey13[/MENTION] presented because it gets all of the relevant information across quickly and concisely. I don't need to know what an NPC's bonds and flaws are when it comes to combat.

I know. I just couldn't resist the opportunity to make a joke.

lowkey13 · Mar 8, 2019

*Deleted by user*

lkj · Mar 8, 2019

I really don't think they are talking about changing the statblock. This is specifically about the parenthetical text included in the text. Such text would not be a replacement of the statblock.

AD

Prakriti · Mar 8, 2019

lowkey13 said:
I don't know. I want it even more arcane. Arcaner? ARCANEST!

4 Paladin Killers (AC -10; MV 36”; HD 32; hp 4 x 200; #AT 5; D 9-37/10-37/9-53/15-56/11-87; SA x3 damage v. LG; SD 99% magic resistance)

Ah, the good old days when the book told you an attack's damage range (9-53) and expected you to figure out what dice+modifiers were needed to get that result. That is one thing I definitely don't miss from AD&D.

Mercule · Mar 8, 2019

lowkey13 said:
Is it weird that I was just thinking about how I missed the short stat blocks of 1e?

"4 Bull Thistles (AC 6; MV 9”; HD 4; hp 4 x 24; #AT 3; D 2-8/2-8/3-13; SD 25% magic resistance)"

(Source: EX1)

You aren't wrong, but it isn't exactly right, either. In AD&D, that was all you really needed. No skills or anything like that. DR was pretty simple, too. 5E is a bit more complex, with most things wanting at least the six stats and a couple of skills, in addition to the AC/HP/attacks.

Also, there's a major difference in that the AD&D "sentence" made use of caps and abbreviations in a way that helped guide the eye. The 5E sample is just a run-on sentence that sucks to scan.

Now, if they use the "sentence" block for in-line reference in adventures (as in, "This room has 4 Bull Thistles (AC 6...)"), and include a book/page reference number (or DDB link) for details, I might be fine with that. I've noticed that some of the existing adventures left some of that out and it is sometimes a pain to remember on the fly ("oh, crap, I thought they'd take a left, so that's what I reread last night").

For any meaningful amount of info, though, I prefer some sort of tabular layout.

Mercule · Mar 8, 2019

Merudo said:
People need to keep in mind that WotC does not write primarily with DMs in mind.

WotC is writing for all the people who buy an adventure book, read it for pleasure, and then never run the adventure.

From what I seen from other DM buddies a good 80% of books are never run - they are simply read for entertainment.

As a result, books tend to be organized poorly and important information tend to be spread out through paragraphs of text.

Wait... That's a thing?

I mean, I've bought adventures that I've never run, and that were still enjoyable to read, but I always read them with my "GM's eye", which means looking for the stat blocks, etc.

I can accept that there are folks that buy adventures with no intent of running (or looting) them, but I'd still expect them to care about the game mechanics stuff, at least enough to be able to follow along. Otherwise, my brain kinda hurts.

Wrathamon · Mar 8, 2019

Osgood said:
Maybe I'm getting too old for this s#!$ but I think having to read a whole sentence to express what should be a few words and abbreviations is a terrible idea. Walls of text are a pain to read through when at the table, so having a parenthetical with the stats to catch the eyes makes things a little easier. That complete sentence may make your grade school grammar teacher happy, but it's not doing anything for the DM.

Imagine if they tried this with monster stat blocks...
The Ogre is a large-sized chaotic evil giant, possessed of a prodigious strength score of 19, a sub-par dexterity score of 8, an impressive 16 constitution. It's limited mental capabilities include an Intelligence score of 5 and wisdom and charisma scores of 7; the ogre speaks the Common and Giant languages. Thanks to its hide armor the ogre has an armor class of 11, but what it lacks in defense, it makes up for in health as its 7d10+21 hit dice provide it with an average of 59 hit points. Additionally the ogre has a speed of 40 feet per round, the ability to see in darkness to a range of 60 feet, and a passive perception score of 8.
The ogre can use a greatclub to make melee weapon attacks, which have a +6 bonus to hit, a reach of 5 feet, and may affect one target, dealing 2d8+4 points of bludgeoning damage, for an average of 13 points. As a ranged attack the ogre can hurl javelins to a range of 30 feet, or 120 feet with disadvantage on the attack roll. The javelin has a +6 bonus to hit, and deals 2d6+4 points of piercing damage on a hit, which averages to 11 points of damage. The javelin can also be used to make a melee attack with a reach of 5 feet, with the same attack bonuses and damage. Characters who defeat this level 2 challenge earn 450 experience points.

Can't wait!

I'm with morrus, I actually understand completely what this ogre can do and why its impressive. I would say bold the "game mechanics" and this would be amazing for new players. I get that its not a quick reference sheet. I can see original npc block being on a quick reference card.

Good Job btw!

Doctor Futurity · Mar 8, 2019

I would find this inconvenient at the table while GMing, but then I remembered I am burned out on D&D and am taking a hiatus, and I never run their modules anyway, so I guess I don't care. (Okay I'm sounding negative I admit. I would care....I have seen other publishers try a "chatty stat block" format and it's really hard to parse out at a moment's notice at the game table).

lyle.spade · Mar 8, 2019

GlassJaw said:
Solution looking for a problem.

Spot on.

CubicsRube · Mar 8, 2019

For stat blocks I prefer bullet points because:

They are easy to read
Can be referenced in game at a glance
Give me the relevant points in the fastest way possible
Look neat and organised on a page

WotC Considering NPC Stat Format Change

Satyrn

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Prakriti

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Mercule

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