MCDM monster book “Flee Mortals!” KS is live!

[dave2008]

When talking about 4E, Matt's often asked why he doesn't support it with MCDM releases. He's basically said it's hard enough supporting the biggest living RPG in the world, supporting a dead game, especially one as...widely disliked...as 4E would be impossible. His designs, especially action-oriented monsters, are clearly trying to split the difference. Bring the cool of 4E monster design into 5E. It's great stuff.

I actually think action oriented and legendary monsters are better designs than 4e monsters. However, WotC hasn't tapped the full potential of Legendary Monsters, let alone regular monsters

 

[overgeeked]

I actually think action oriented and legendary monsters are better designs than 4e monsters.

In some ways yes, in others no. But that’s preferences.

However, WotC hasn't tapped the full potential of Legendary Monsters, let alone regular monsters

That’s an understatement. A sack of hit points with multiattack and one thematic thing that’s wildly underpowered seems to be the limit of their regular monster design.

 

[dave2008]

In some ways yes, in others no. But that’s preferences.

Sure. It is interesting that later 4e solos previewed 5e legendary monsters with with "instinctive" actions. In general the problem that 4e solos had was they just had one turn. Villian Actions and Legendary Actions solve this problem. Then it is just a matter of giving them interesting things to do. From the preview it looks like Matt's monsters have that covered, and later WotC designs are better too, but many of the MM designs could use some work.

That’s an understatement. A sack of hit points with multiattack and one thematic thing that’s wildly underpowered seems to be the limit of their regular monster design.

To be honest, that describes a lot of 4e monsters too, except without multiattack! Many 4e monsters had 1 interesting thing and that was it. I think people have a bit of rose colored glasses when it comes to 4e monsters and forget that majority of them were nothing special really.

 

[Arilyn]

I will probably back this as I love monster books; however, I am a bit put-off by the funding goal of $600,000. IMO, the funding goal should be the break even goal and I have a hard time believing they need $600K to break even.

I'm thinking for the art budget? Colville pays fair wages and this is going to be a big book with a lot of art.

 

[DEFCON 1]

That’s an understatement. A sack of hit points with multiattack and one thematic thing that’s wildly underpowered seems to be the limit of their regular monster design.

I've always suspected / assumed that was WotC wanting to keep things much more on the casual / newer player side of the line to make sure they have the furthest reach to all players... knowing full well there would be other designers / companies willing to take on the biggest task of making more complexity for those tables that want it, even though the audience is going to be smaller. As @Morrus, Kobold Press and MCDM are doing.

The only downside to this of course being those players who want more complexity but still have a bugaboo about using anything "not official". Those that think that anything not made by WotC is therefore not playtested and unbalanced... so they just sit on their hands waiting for WotC to get around to it rather than using something already made that would serve their purposes.

 

[sterndisgust]

My understanding (which I'm happy to be corrected on if truth says otherwise) is that MCDM pays very well for a TTRPG company, and from the streams on Matt's Twitch I've caught he is quite proud of that fact and wants to maintain their standard. So 600k as the base goal, especially considering the current printing and shipping landscape, passes the smell test for me.

 

[Morrus]

The only downside to this of course being those players who want more complexity but still have a bugaboo about using anything "not official". Those that think that anything not made by WotC is therefore not playtested and unbalanced... so they just sit on their hands waiting for WotC to get around to it rather than using something already made that would serve their purposes.

Speaking for those of us producing that content, that doesn't really matter. There are easily enough folks who don't feel that way to support a whole bunch of small companies. And WoTC is great at recruiting new players, some of whom end up buying from us.

 

[Weiley31]

September 2023? Wowzers, that's a long one. Are theirs normally that long?

Almost ALL Kickstarters take a long donkey time to finish/fulfill. It's one of my main complaints with backing stuff on Kickstarter lately. Probably one of the main reasons why I kinda want to stop doing Kickstarter backings.

Not as bad as when you order something from Limited Run Games though....

 

[darjr]

I've always suspected / assumed that was WotC wanting to keep things much more on the casual / newer player side of the line to make sure they have the furthest reach to all players... knowing full well there would be other designers / companies willing to take on the biggest task of making more complexity for those tables that want it, even though the audience is going to be smaller. As @Morrus, Kobold Press and MCDM are doing.

The only downside to this of course being those players who want more complexity but still have a bugaboo about using anything "not official". Those that think that anything not made by WotC is therefore not playtested and unbalanced... so they just sit on their hands waiting for WotC to get around to it rather than using something already made that would serve their purposes.

Yes. I LIKE 5e monsters, this being one reason.

also 5e gets its cake and can eat it too.

i want these mcdm ones too.

 

[Morrus]

Almost ALL Kickstarters take a long donkey time to finish/fulfill.

Ahem!