Monster Manual Layout/Organization: What do you prefer...

[Ketherian]

I'm OK with a category that only contains 1 monster; so while I chose the "All categories or nothing" option, I prefer a version of the categories with extras option.

BTW - Multiple indicies are your friend. Having a list of : all monsters alphabetically, by category, and by alternate categories (like terrain type, level of encounter, whatever) - are always appreciated in a monster book.

- Edited for basic english.

 

[steeldragons]

But, yes, I do think that D&D should at least offer the electronic tools as an alternative option, and in the case of the MM it's likely to be the preferred option for everything except actual at-the-table use.

-snip-

But something I most definitely should have mentioned in my previous post: whatever format is chosen, the designers really need to include one or more really good indices. Indeed, for monster books beyond the first, they should really include both an index to that specific book and a master index of all monster books to date.

Yes, I can definitely agree with and endorse all of this.

 

[steeldragons]

multiple indicies are your friend. Having listing that include all monsters alphabetically, by category, and then by alternate categories (like terrain type, level of encounter, whatever) - are always appreciated.

OO! Good points. Yes, I'm definitely down with that too.

 

[GX.Sigma]

By all means, explicate what you're looking for/talking about. Please! Or tell me if I'm getting it...
...Am I close?

What I'm saying is, why does the main body need to be alphabetical at all? I could see something like:

Chapter 1: The Overworld

• Men
• Demi-Humans
• Humanoids
• Animals
• Giants
• Dragons
• etc.

Chapter 2: The Underworld

• Oozes
• Undead
• Beholders and Beholderkin
• etc.

Chapter 3: Other Planes

• Inner Planes
  • Elementals, paraelementals, quasielementals
  • Genies and Genasi
  • etc.
• Outer Planes
  • Planes of Law
    • Angels
    • Devils
    • Archons
    • Modrons
    • etc.
  • Planes of Chaos
    • Eladrins
    • Demons
    • Slaadi
    • etc.
  • Planes of Conflict
    • Neutral fiends
    • Neutral celestials
    • Stuff from the Outlands
    • Assorted Cagers (in my dreams, lol)
    • etc.

 

[steeldragons]

What I'm saying is, why does the main body need to be alphabetical at all? I could see something like:
-snip-

Ooooooo. Me not likey. Not at all. Sorry. No offense intended.

Can someone explain for me WHEN "alphabetical order" became passe or somehow "inconvenient"? How it became NOT the automatic way someone would approach searching for something?

What IS that?! And how does that NOT encourage putting things where you don't think or know they would be?! It seems almost comePLETEly anti-intuitive.

 

[Super Pony]

Not sure if it really counts as an explanation or opinion. BUT to me, looking monsters up alphabetically is something that can be handled by an index (as can looking monsters up by challenge, terrain, type, etc) rather than overarching book layout/design. Indexes are fewer pages to flip, give you exact direction, etc. READING through a monster book alphabetically is dull and uninspiring, to me. The Warhammer Fantasy Roleplay 2nd Editon's "Old World Bestiary" is one of, if not THE, favorite monster books that I own. It is organized into categories (Undead, Greenskins, etc). What I like best about it is that the front of the book is entirely ecology and flair along with "what is known" to a commoner, an educated person or an expert on the subject of that particular monster. Then the game stats are organized in their own chapter. It was a brilliant book that I hope other people will resurrect, in format, for another monster book in any other game. I'd buy the heck out of it...even if the monsters were crap it'd still be an easy read .

 

[GX.Sigma]

Can someone explain for me WHEN "alphabetical order" became passe or somehow "inconvenient"? How it became NOT the automatic way someone would approach searching for something?

Alphabetical order is very useful. That's why the index exists. If you know what monster you're looking for, you look it up on the index and turn to that page.

If you DON'T know exactly what monster you're looking for, you flip through the book. Thus, the book should be laid out in such a way as to make it easy for people to find a monster (or be inspired, or just for pleasure reading). Having githzerai right next to golems doesn't help those people.

 

[steeldragons]

Having githzerai right next to golems doesn't help those people.

Why not?! Are you looking for githzerai or golems?! If you're looking for either, doesn't it make sense they'd be found where you'd first look...which would be under "G"?

 

[GX.Sigma]

Why not?! Are you looking for githzerai or golems?! If you're looking for either, doesn't it make sense they'd be found where you'd first look...which would be under "G"?

If I'm looking for Golems, I'll look for "G" on the index, see what page golems are on, and turn to that page. Then if I want githzerai, I'll look for "G" on the index, see what page githzerai are on, and turn to that page. I'm unlikely to need both at once, so why put them in the same part of the book? It would be more useful to put githzerai right next to slaadi and chaos beasts.

 

[Razjah]

What I'm saying is, why does the main body need to be alphabetical at all? I could see something like:

Chapter 1: The Overworld

• Men
• Demi-Humans
• Humanoids
• Animals
• Giants
• Dragons
• etc.

<Snip for length>

I would love the book set up this way as long as there were multiple indices and a good table of contents. I'm a big fan of the Gnome Stew books Eureka and Masks with their multiple indices.

It would look something like this:
Table of Content) Creature Type listed
Index 1) Alphabetically
Index 2) Terrain Type, creatures then listed alphabetically under each terrain
Index 3) Challenge Rating (or equivalent), creatures then listed alphabetically under each CR
Appendix 1) creature type break down:
Dragon
-Dragon, Chromatic
--Blue
--Black
--Green
--Red
--White

EDIT: I voted all categories since it seems the closest to what I would like to see.