Moster Manual priority

[AbdulAlhazred]

I disagree about elites. Many MM1 elites are terrible. They have double the hit points but no extra attacks, and their defenses tend to be too high, too.

Yeah, they're a real mixed bag. There are a good number of standard monsters that don't work all that well either. Many lurkers for instance. Lower level MM1 monsters mostly DO work OK, though better with the tweaks. Once you get into mid-paragon things get a lot more variable.

 

[S'mon]

Monster Vault is the best of the monster books and has lots of familiar critters, though not all - I looked in vain for eg Hell Hounds and Ettercaps, which are back in Monster Manual.

I like Monster Manual II, its monsters are better designed than in MM (which often feel like monster pinatas - too many hp, too little threat). MM2 has lots of humans, which suits my game. MM2 also has relatively little crossover with MV. MM3 has cool monsters, but few are familiar, some are new variants on MM.

MV: Nentir Vale has lots of heroic tier humanoids. Lots of fluff, it's designed more for scenario building than for pulling out stats ad hoc. Eg it has lots of Brigand stats, but when I wanted a human brigand leader on Saturday I couldn't find any, just Shadar-Kai, Werewolves & such exotics. I ended up using the MV Human Dualist, which worked well IMO.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

I can't find the hell hound at all, and had to design my own. It's not in the MM1, that's for sure.

 

[Scribble]

I can't find the hell hound at all, and had to design my own. It's not in the MM1, that's for sure.

Page 160... maybe your pages got stuck together? Or you looked up hell instead of hound.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Page 160... maybe your pages got stuck together? Or you looked up hell instead of hound.

Blargh. I saw the wild hunt hound recently too. How'd I miss that?

 

[UnknownAtThisTime]

If I were buying I'd buy in this order: (Assuming all three tiers of play)

Monster Vault I
Monster Manual III
Dark Sun Creature Catalog
Monster Vault Nentir Vale
MMI
MMII

If you want mostly heroic monsters, put both Monster Vaults at the top.

Full quote for truth. This is exactly what I would suggest and prioritize (excepting that I have no context for Dark Sun and would therefore remove it from my own list.)

 

[Scribble]

Blargh. I saw the wild hunt hound recently too. How'd I miss that?

It's ok... It happens to everyone at some point...

Full quote for truth. This is exactly what I would suggest and prioritize (excepting that I have no context for Dark Sun and would therefore remove it from my own list.)

The DS catalog is pretty awesome though even if you're not planning to play in the DS setting.

 

[jshaft37]

If you want or need to use a monster from Any of the Pre-MM3 books, I'd suggest applying the "New Math" to the monster, which will make it at least less grindy, in my opinion.

That math can be found here: http://www.wizards.com/dnd/files/UpdateDMG.pdf

Or here's another "quick" reference: Monster Manual 3 on a business card Blog of Holding

 

[UnknownAtThisTime]

The DS catalog is pretty awesome though even if you're not planning to play in the DS setting.

I believe it.

 

[wlmartin]

Hi

While I was ordering my monster manual books I read some comments about how wizard got better and better with each manual thus I decided to go for the 3rd volume but as I recall from the 3rd ed, most familliar criters were always in the 1st volume. Could you please describe how the books differ from one another in terms of designe concept and which should I buy first including the 'monster vault' and the 'threats to the nentir valley'?

PS: I am unable to go to the local gaming shop and look at whats inside because there are no D&D 4E players or books in my town or probably even state.

MM1 is the best one to go with
MM2 is fun and gives you some monsters that arent included in MM1 as well as some updates for monsters
MM3 (as MM2)

MM2 and MM3 are add-ons, really you need MM stand alone and then buy more, don't buy MM2 or MM3 and then buy more