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Message: <blockquote data-quote="TheDungeonMathster" data-source="post: 9425341" data-attributes="member: 7043203">Okay, I am a stat block nerd and have been designing and redesigning stat blocks for years. While I have some minor complaints about the new design, overall, I think it's a good change.Here are a few quick notes, along with some questions I am hoping someone in the community can help with:<ol> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">General Formatting Comments<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Capitalization: I like the standardization when it comes to capitalizing ability names, feature names, spells, Advantage, etc.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Non-Combat Stats: A lot of room can be saved by moving non-combat-related stats outside of the stat block. For the Ancient Green Dragon, for example, moving Persuasion, XP, Alignment, Languages, Amphibious, and Detect Magic would save room. While you might not think this would save room, as a DM for several decades I can attest to the benefit of streamlining stat blocks for high-CR creatures.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Redundant Features: Some people have already mentioned this, but there is no need to include Battle Ready. The stat block should have an Advantage notation on the Initiative bonus or include a flat additional bonus of +5. DM's need fewer dice rolls, so I vote for the flat +5 bonus.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Numerical Counts: This is very, very minor, but room can be saved by replacing words with numbers, when possible. That is, "three Rend attacks" can be replaced with "3 Rend attacks." This saves an entire line (in this case).</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Melee, Ranged, Spell Attack Rolls: The switch from Melee Weapon Attack to Melee Attack Roll saves some space, but more could have been done. I recommend replacing these with Melee Roll, Ranged Roll, and Melee Spell Roll or Ranged Spell Roll.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Reach: This should be its own inline subheading - "Reach:".</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">"Damage": The word "damage" on damage types should be removed.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Spell Descriptions: I like having stat blocks "self-contained." Therefore, I have a list of spell descriptions on a separate page (therefore, DMs can use or not use these depending on their experience, but the descriptions do not get in the way of the stat blocks).</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">AC<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Minor Quibble: I prefer the parenthetic armor type. In this case, something like "AC 21 (natural)." This is not as beneficial for the green dragon; however, it becomes important for creatures wearing armor. This way there is no need to include the armor on a list of "possessions" later. Moreover, having the armor type in the AC row allows for quick adjudication of spells like Heat Metal.</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Bloodied<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Minor Quibble: I would have preferred a Bloodied level on the same line as the HP.</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Initiative<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Very Minor Quibble: I think the Initiative data should be in the final line in this block; however, this is only to make room for armor types in the first row. It's not a major deal.</li> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Major Quibble: So, I need someone to explain to me how this creature has a +8 to Initiative. The Advantage on Initiative rolls from the Battle Ready ability should only add 5, and the Dex mod is +1. This equates to a +6 (if the Advantage bonus is included; +1 otherwise). This type of numerical mystery makes DMs and players feel like the designers are not playing by the same rules as everyone else.</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Ability Block<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Major Quibble: My issue here is not about the hotly contested design of this block - I am okay with it and, despite what others say, there are many spells which require you to know a creature's ability score. Thus, I am fine with including those; however, since saving throw modifiers are listed here, that's where my eye needs to be when looking at... well, making a saving throw. Hence, that is also where any modifications to saves should be listed. My stat blocks normally have an "Advantage vs..." below the ability scores and modifiers; however, in this case, it includes the Legendary Resistances trait.</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Condition/Damage Resistances and Immunities<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Major Quibble: Combining the Condition and Damage resistances and immunities will be overwhelming for a DM who is already overwhelmed with tracking a lot of other things in combat. These should be split apart as before.</li> </ul></li> <li data-xf-list-type="ol">Spells<ul> <li data-xf-list-type="ul">Major Quibble: All non-combat spells (or spells that are likely to never be cast during combat) should be moved outside the stat block.</li> </ul></li> </ol>[ATTACH=full]375283[/ATTACH]EDITI just thought about the initiative thing some more and I think they are making it possible for creatures to be proficient with Initiative. If this is the case, then the dragon's initiative would be +1 (dex) + 7 (PB) = +8, and if it has Advantage on Initiative, then a +5 would be given to the Passive Initiative (yielding a 23).</blockquote>

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