How would you go about preparing the stats you would need?
What format would you use for the actual game session?
How much prep time would you estimate you would need to stat each encounter or creature?
I always create full stat-blocks for customized monsters I use. If necessary, I do this in several steps, saving the intermediate results for later use (e.g. first apply a template, then advance hd, then add class levels).
If I use standard monsters, I only create a mini-statblock including initiative (which I pre-roll), hp, and equipment/treasure.
For important encounters I also write up some round-by-round tactics.
I'd also like to note that since our group only meets every 3-4 weeks, I've got tons of prep time, so I don't actually mind that preparing an adventure takes a lot of time. E.g. I finished preparing the current adventure in November and we're still not even half-way through it.
Scenario 1:The leader of the derro is a 13th-level wizard-necromancer. Exploring the stronghold with him is his inner circle of twenty or so 8-12th level henchmen of various classes - warriors, rogues, and casters (of all types).
Ugh. I hate high-level npc spellcasters, and especially wizards. I've done this only twice, so far and both times it took me about five days, spending 1-2 hours each day collecting interesting spells, feats, items, etc.
I'd only create two stat-blocks for the derro henchman but I'd create them to be dual-purpose: I've recently done this for a duergar adventure in which I used three stat-blocks with alternate selections of equipment, feats and powers.
I also probably wouldn't use pure spellcasters. I'd start with a common baseline-statblock using something like a level 4 fighter. I'd also select long-term buffs for at least half of their spells and assume they've already been cast.
I'd say this would take me 3-4 hours depending on the variety of spells I'm striving for.
Scenario 2: The PCs have been tracking the operations of a band of assassins led by a particularly cunning wererat bugbear. He is a level Ftr 2/Rog 5 that fights with 2 kukris.
For lycanthropes I only create a stat-block for the hybrid-form. If it comes to a fight, it's only that form that will matter.
Since most feats are predetermined by picking a two-weapon fighter, this would take me about an hour.
Scenario 3: Your demon-hunting, planar-hopping campaign is coming to a close. The final battle will be a solo battle against the Demon Queen, a 24-HD Huge Marilith. Since it is a solo boss fight, you want to give the marilith an AOE tail sweep attack that can knock down opponents.
Well, I'd _never_ do a solo battle like this. I'd always include minions, typically picking the kind that a Marilith can summon.
Assuming I would actually use her solo: Advancing HD is relatively straightforward. I'd take a few liberties to grant her a few ways to use swift and/or immediate actions. I might also modify her list of spell-like abilities (and assume most of them had already been cast).
I almost never customize monsters by giving them new ways to attack. But I guess, I'd look at the way a dragon's tail attack works and adapt it.
Since this is supposed to be a campaign's climax I would probably spend more time than usual to get her just right. Otherwise I'd say this would take me 1-2 hours.
What is your general feeling on monster and NPC customization in the 3ed system?
Very flexible, but also very time-intensive.
Do you tend to use creatures "out of the book" or do you customize?
For important encounters I almost always customize them. These days I only use standard monsters as minions or for random encounters.
What short cuts do you use that makes your preparation easier and faster?
Apart from reusing stat-blocks (and encounters) I've already created, nothing, really.
What other types of preparation do you absolutely dread when getting ready for a session?
Hmm. As I already mentioned, I hate preparing anything with large spell lists. Even if it's just a bunch of spell-like abilities, I have to look up the spell descriptions beforehand to get an idea about how to use them effectively.
Something I also don't like is preparing complicated encounter areas. If I have a poster map that is close to what I'm looking for I'll take that instead. Fiddling with tiles or drawing on my dry-erase battlemap wastes too much time if done during a session and it's difficult to do this beforehand, since my players may surprise me by going somewhere unexpected.
