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<blockquote data-quote="Quickleaf" data-source="post: 9383489" data-attributes="member: 20323">I don't want to put words in your mouth, Zaukrie, but when I read the Sphinx of Wonder statblock that you posted, Dave, my first thought was: Why is this a stat block as opposed to a one-to-two-sentence blurb about &quot;here's what this familiar/companion&quot; gives you?It's a lot of layout/design/white space/words for too little payoff IMO. This is the sort of thing that's prevalent throughout 5e.At several points I've even used Sphinxes as an example of how &quot;one stat block fits all design&quot; works against creative design in that a list of riddles/trials better reflects how sphinxes are often used than a combat stat block.There's nothing wrong with stating a monster up, but I think there's a lot being lost with the highly-laid-out/highly-wordy version being used carelessly like a stamp / rote formula.I know that train has left the station, and that I'm in the minority in the 5e community, but even within the constraints of 5e there are little moves/improvements that can be made with a slight shift in design thinking.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Quickleaf, post: 9383489, member: 20323"] I don't want to put words in your mouth, Zaukrie, but when I read the Sphinx of Wonder statblock that you posted, Dave, my first thought was: Why is this a stat block as opposed to a one-to-two-sentence blurb about "here's what this familiar/companion" gives you? It's a lot of layout/design/white space/words for too little payoff IMO. This is the sort of thing that's prevalent throughout 5e. At several points I've even used Sphinxes as an example of how "one stat block fits all design" works against creative design in that a list of riddles/trials better reflects how sphinxes are often used than a combat stat block. There's nothing wrong with stating a monster up, but I think there's a lot being lost with the highly-laid-out/highly-wordy version being used carelessly like a stamp / rote formula. I know that train has left the station, and that I'm in the minority in the 5e community, but even within the constraints of 5e there are little moves/improvements that can be made with a slight shift in design thinking. [/QUOTE]

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