Did Monster Builder not update yet?

[fuzzlewump]

Changing powers and such to the new math is somewhat simple.. just change the damage to "none" and then back to whatever it was, and it recalculates the default value.

Does the new math increase damage? Decrease damage? Are average hit points effected? Is 100 xp of MM1 monster approx the same challenge of 100 xp of mm3 monster? If not.. Then .. Huh??

I've been using a 2x damage half hit points house rule for monsters if the damage was just increased with no trade off won't the challenge significantly increase?

I'm scared and confused!

 

[Scribble]

I'll also add, if I am not mistaken, it looks like some of the icons are either redesigned or stand out more. The impression I get is that the builder looks a bit more polished but that may just be me.

Yeah... Much more polished... Also at the top, did it always say

Content Builder Monsters:?

(Signs that we're going to see another tool added come gencon??? )

 

[Bold or Stupid]

Wow, the whole look is a bit slicker and I swear there now more option to add to powers (effects, hit, miss, after effect extra) I'd know more if my custom monsters had survived a computer crash...

I'm really happy how well it's transfered over all the old monsters, I just wish they had a recalculate button. Very happy with this.

 

[Markn]

Does the new math increase damage? Decrease damage? Are average hit points effected? Is 100 xp of MM1 monster approx the same challenge of 100 xp of mm3 monster? If not.. Then .. Huh??

I've been using a 2x damage half hit points house rule for monsters if the damage was just increased with no trade off won't the challenge significantly increase?

I'm scared and confused!

First, deep breath. Count to 10, then continue on.

Now, forget the whole XP thing, you are complicating it too much. A 5th level monster in MM1 is worth the same as a 5th level monster in MM3. XP does not change in any way, shape or form.

As for damage, it has increased substantially. HP have changed somewhat, and in most (maybe all) it has gone down. It likely means you can get rid of your house rule of half hit points, 2x damage.

Hope this helps.

 

[Bold or Stupid]

A MM1 monster reworked

For you reading pleasure a quick rework of Orcus' stats using the new math.

[sblock]

Orcus Level 33 Solo Brute (Leader)
Gargantuan elemental humanoid (demon) XP 155,000
HP 1220; Bloodied 610
AC 45; Fortitude 45; Reflex 43; Will 46
Speed 6, fly 4 (clumsy), teleport 0
Immune disease, poison, necrotic; Resist variable (3/encounter)
Saving Throws +5; Action Points 2
Initiative +22
Perception +28
Low-Light Vision, Darkvision
Traits
O Aura of Death (necrotic) • Aura 20
Enemies that enter or start their turns in the aura take 10 necrotic damage (20 necrotic damage while Orcus is bloodied).
O The Dead Rise • Aura 6
Enemies (including flying ones) treat the area within the aura as difficult terrain, and any dead creature within the aura at the start of Orcus’s turn (except those killed by the Wand of Orcus) rises as an abyssal ghoul myrmidon to fight at Orcus’s command.
Master of Undeath
At the start of Orcus’s turn, any creature killed by the Wand of Orcus that is still dead rises as a dread wraith under Orcus’s command.
Standard Actions
m Wand of Orcus (necrotic, weapon) • At-Will
Attack: Reach 4; +39 vs. AC
Hit: 4d12 + 5 damage plus 1d12 necrotic damage, and the target is weakened (save ends).
M Touch of Death (necrotic) • Recharge
Attack: Reach 4; +35 vs. Fortitude
Hit: The target is reduced to 0 hit points (resistance or immunity to necrotic damage does not apply).
Miss: The target takes necrotic damage equal to its bloodied value.
C Necrotic Burst (healing, necrotic) • Recharge
Attack: Close burst 10; +40 vs. Fortitude
Hit: 7d12 + 5 necrotic damage, and all undead in the burst regain 20 hit points.
Triggered Actions
M Tail Lash • At-Will
Attack (Immediate Interrupt): +38 vs. AC
Hit: 4d10 + 5 damage, and the target is stunned until the end of Orcus’s next turn and is knocked prone.
Skills Arcana +28, History +28, Intimidate +31, Religion +28
Str 35 (+28) Dex 22 (+22) Wis 25 (+23)
Con 33 (+27) Int 25 (+23) Cha 30 (+26)
Alignment chaotic evilLanguages Abyssal
Equipment wand of orcus

© 2010 Wizards of the Coast LLC, a subsidiary of Hasbro, Inc. All rights reserved. This formatted statistics block has been generated using the D&D Adventure Tools.

[/sblock]

 

[webrunner]

Does the new math increase damage? Decrease damage? Are average hit points effected? Is 100 xp of MM1 monster approx the same challenge of 100 xp of mm3 monster? If not.. Then .. Huh??

I've been using a 2x damage half hit points house rule for monsters if the damage was just increased with no trade off won't the challenge significantly increase?

I'm scared and confused!

I think the main chnages are:
Brutes get +2 attack, Soldiers get -2, and paragon+epic tier monsters have about 30-40% more damage as they were underperforming (some epic teir monsters were doing ten damage sometimes. Most epic teir characters would scoff at that)

 

[Merlin the Tuna]

Yeah, they've added contrast and cleaned up some of the icons to make the general look and feel a bit nicer. That's good, but I hope that they also cleaned up some of the memory leaks in the software; that's probably been the biggest issue for me so far.

It looks like they did a pretty good job of updating custom monsters, as well. A couple of abilities seem to have been dropped into a section in the stat block called "Other Powers," but that at least draws attention to it as something I'll need to fix.

All in all, it looks great. Lets hope the performance has improved as well.

Edit: Actually, I just noticed a couple errors.

• You can no longer search for just a power. While in the reference list, you can drag powers over from a monster you're already looking at, but if you're just hunting for the perfect Lightning attack for your custom monster, you can no longer search without an existing monster in mind.
• When sending a custom Immediate power to the holding pen, the Trigger is not copied over with it.
• When copying powers from the holding pen to a monster being edited, Immediate Reactions become Immediate Interrupts.
• The values on Recharge powers frequently get dropped
• Looking more, I think that the damage values on a couple of my custom monsters has been messed with.

My initial verdict is that you should back up any custom monsters you intend to use in the near future before updating -- you'll want to be able to reference the previous version since mistakes can be erratic. In one case I had a modified Hell Hound's Bite attack be renamed Fire Shield and his Fire Shield aura disappear, for example. If you're working from a stock monster in the updated monster builder (and do note that not all of the stock monsters converted properly), be sure to copy it as an image and paste it in MSPaint or similar for your reference, since sending it to the holding pen will cause some of the information to be lost.

Also, it looks like the app still gorges itself on memory the longer you leave it open. It's a pity, since that makes it way less useful on the netbook that I actually try to game with.

I don't want to give the impression of being grumpy about the update -- it's certainly a step forward -- but like so many go-lives, there are no shortage of bugs. Be wary.

 

[ArcaneSpringboard]

I'm not seeing where the new math has been included in this. At least not the damage listed in the errata.

I've even started a blank monster, made it a soldier, moved the level to 20, added an attack, made it 'normal' damage...and it's only 3d6+8 damage for a normal at-will. It should be 3d8+15.

Changed the Eldar Blue Dragon Gore...to normal normal...3d6+10 for a Level 20. Interesting. Still not what it should be though.

Perhaps it's a bug?

 

[Drawback]

The printout... Does it NOT TAKE AN ENTIRE PAGE LIKE BEFORE OR IS IT JUST ME?!?

I seem to be able to copy/paste monsters in powerpoint as before but they don't take as much space as before!

 

[Aegeri]

As for damage, it has increased substantially. HP have changed somewhat, and in most (maybe all) it has gone down. It likely means you can get rid of your house rule of half hit points, 2x damage.

They have not changed HP at all actually. The increased damage results in lower level monsters being more effective, as opposed to having to use higher level monsters for the same thing. The net effect is faster and far more violent combats.