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<blockquote data-quote="Scurvy_Platypus" data-source="post: 4401552" data-attributes="member: 43283"><p>I ummmm... I hate to sound like some sort of negative jerk, but there has been some pretty good stuff done on monster math already...</p><p></p><p>Grim Tales Creature Creation:</p><p><a href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=18836&it=1" target="_blank">http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=18836&it=1</a></p><p></p><p>This is basically a slightly cleaned up "v5" of work done by "Upper_Krust", and also includes a handy Excel sheet to help with doing the calculations. Wulf Ratbane used it with Upper_Krust's permission.</p><p></p><p>He's done a v6, but apparently hasn't released it yet. His hope is to put it out in August:</p><p><a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showpost.php?p=4312675&postcount=275" target="_blank">http://www.enworld.org/forum/showpost.php?p=4312675&postcount=275</a></p><p>You could probably get the v5 document from him if you asked. In fact...</p><p><a href="http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?t=237036" target="_blank">http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?t=237036</a></p><p></p><p>Now, for something a bit funky...</p><p></p><p>Adamant Entertainment put out a nifty enough product called "Foe Factory: Modern":</p><p><a href="http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=51080" target="_blank">http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=51080</a></p><p></p><p>The idea behind it is simple NPC generation. It's geared for the Modern system obviously. As I understand it, the rules behind NPC generation/handling from Spycraft were the inspiration. Anyway, while they said they were going to put out a fantasy version after 4E was released, I went ahead and picked up Foe Factory: Modern. I figured a bird in hand was worth two in the bush.</p><p></p><p>It's a slick little product and looks pretty useful overall. What struck me as I was going through it though, was that they use CR modifiers to buff up the opponents. And one of the opponents they've got listed in the back as an example?</p><p></p><p>Zombie.</p><p></p><p>And I thought, "You know what? I bet this would be a halfway decent way of making monsters that can scale along a range, and simplify out some of that stupid statblock crap too."</p><p></p><p>So I've actually been slowly working on converting over some SRD monsters. The Foe Factory takes care of their base stats and stuff, and then the Creature Creation from Grim Tales gives the CR Modifier. I haven't had a chance to test it out yet, but I'm hoping to do so soon.</p><p></p><p>You might consider talking to Upper_Krust and Wulf Ratbane (Wulf did Grim Tales), as they seem to be _the_ fellows in regards to math, encounters, and that sort of thing.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Oooooh, I'm not quite so sure about that. Like I said, from what I've seen SW Saga is a lot closer to 3.x than 4E is. And Fantasy Concepts s15? That sucker is _huge_. I don't have 4E, so I really don't know what the rules look like. But Jason went to a lot of work to make sure his Fantasy Concepts pulled strictly from clear OGL sources, and he went to a lot of books to come up with it. I'll take a look at it when I get home, and see how many books he's got listed there.</p><p></p><p>I could be completely off base, but I think it might not be quite as easy as you're making out. *shrug*</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Random aside... Ryan Dancy did a review of 2nd Ed Warhammer Fantasy RPG that was... interesting...half a sec....</p><p><a href="http://www.gamingreport.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=1747" target="_blank">http://www.gamingreport.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=1747</a></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Perhaps things come full circle? <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Sounds interesting. Although from what I remember of the OGC declaration in Arcana Unearthed, there's an awful lot that Monte tried to lock down. You might have to do a fancy shuffle for some of those rule bits. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>I think it'd probably help. Keeps "feature creep" down, provides a bit of direction for where you're really wanting to go, and helps inform folks as to whether it's something they're interested in or not.</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>Maybe. Again, I kinda think it depends on what your goals are. I'll also note that there's folks that aren't wiki savvy and (for whatever reason) won't participate if that's the form of participation that's expected.</p><p></p><p>The other thing to consider as far as "participation" is concerned, is whom you're going to listen to in terms of suggestions/arguments/whatever.</p><p></p><p>For example, Paizo says they've had 25,000 unique downloads of their Pathfinder document. Groovy for them. They also note that "internet pundits" basically said they were wasting their time doing Pathfinder. Obviously, while the two aren't exactly mutually exclusive, there _is_ a discrepancy there. I'll note in passing that on the special features chunk of the first Ultimates dvd cartoon movie, Joe Quesada (running Marvel comics) mentioned how internet forums blasted Marvel up one side and down the other with what a lousy idea it was, how it would destroy Marvel, and so on. And it was Marvel's best selling series, far outperforming their hopes and expectations.</p><p></p><p>Ummm.... I'm not really making much of a point. Other than being wary of anyone's opinions, including of course mine. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite8" alt=":D" title="Big grin :D" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":D" /> Heck, you might want to toss mine straight out, I think I'm counted as one of those dirty "casual gamers" that's apparently a blight on the hobby (certainly a blight on the industry).</p><p></p><p></p><p></p><p>There's some nifty bits to it certainly. I happen to be in the camp of wishing they'd really tried pushing the envelope, and that Pathfinder is going to stay "too close" to core. But I'm still keeping half an eye on it anyway. Regardless, I wish 'em lots of luck and hope it works out for 'em.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Scurvy_Platypus, post: 4401552, member: 43283"] I ummmm... I hate to sound like some sort of negative jerk, but there has been some pretty good stuff done on monster math already... Grim Tales Creature Creation: [url]http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=18836&it=1[/url] This is basically a slightly cleaned up "v5" of work done by "Upper_Krust", and also includes a handy Excel sheet to help with doing the calculations. Wulf Ratbane used it with Upper_Krust's permission. He's done a v6, but apparently hasn't released it yet. His hope is to put it out in August: [url]http://www.enworld.org/forum/showpost.php?p=4312675&postcount=275[/url] You could probably get the v5 document from him if you asked. In fact... [url]http://www.enworld.org/forum/showthread.php?t=237036[/url] Now, for something a bit funky... Adamant Entertainment put out a nifty enough product called "Foe Factory: Modern": [url]http://www.rpgnow.com/product_info.php?products_id=51080[/url] The idea behind it is simple NPC generation. It's geared for the Modern system obviously. As I understand it, the rules behind NPC generation/handling from Spycraft were the inspiration. Anyway, while they said they were going to put out a fantasy version after 4E was released, I went ahead and picked up Foe Factory: Modern. I figured a bird in hand was worth two in the bush. It's a slick little product and looks pretty useful overall. What struck me as I was going through it though, was that they use CR modifiers to buff up the opponents. And one of the opponents they've got listed in the back as an example? Zombie. And I thought, "You know what? I bet this would be a halfway decent way of making monsters that can scale along a range, and simplify out some of that stupid statblock crap too." So I've actually been slowly working on converting over some SRD monsters. The Foe Factory takes care of their base stats and stuff, and then the Creature Creation from Grim Tales gives the CR Modifier. I haven't had a chance to test it out yet, but I'm hoping to do so soon. You might consider talking to Upper_Krust and Wulf Ratbane (Wulf did Grim Tales), as they seem to be _the_ fellows in regards to math, encounters, and that sort of thing. Oooooh, I'm not quite so sure about that. Like I said, from what I've seen SW Saga is a lot closer to 3.x than 4E is. And Fantasy Concepts s15? That sucker is _huge_. I don't have 4E, so I really don't know what the rules look like. But Jason went to a lot of work to make sure his Fantasy Concepts pulled strictly from clear OGL sources, and he went to a lot of books to come up with it. I'll take a look at it when I get home, and see how many books he's got listed there. I could be completely off base, but I think it might not be quite as easy as you're making out. *shrug* Random aside... Ryan Dancy did a review of 2nd Ed Warhammer Fantasy RPG that was... interesting...half a sec.... [url]http://www.gamingreport.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Reviews&file=index&req=showcontent&id=1747[/url] Perhaps things come full circle? :) Sounds interesting. Although from what I remember of the OGC declaration in Arcana Unearthed, there's an awful lot that Monte tried to lock down. You might have to do a fancy shuffle for some of those rule bits. :) I think it'd probably help. Keeps "feature creep" down, provides a bit of direction for where you're really wanting to go, and helps inform folks as to whether it's something they're interested in or not. Maybe. Again, I kinda think it depends on what your goals are. I'll also note that there's folks that aren't wiki savvy and (for whatever reason) won't participate if that's the form of participation that's expected. The other thing to consider as far as "participation" is concerned, is whom you're going to listen to in terms of suggestions/arguments/whatever. For example, Paizo says they've had 25,000 unique downloads of their Pathfinder document. Groovy for them. They also note that "internet pundits" basically said they were wasting their time doing Pathfinder. Obviously, while the two aren't exactly mutually exclusive, there _is_ a discrepancy there. I'll note in passing that on the special features chunk of the first Ultimates dvd cartoon movie, Joe Quesada (running Marvel comics) mentioned how internet forums blasted Marvel up one side and down the other with what a lousy idea it was, how it would destroy Marvel, and so on. And it was Marvel's best selling series, far outperforming their hopes and expectations. Ummm.... I'm not really making much of a point. Other than being wary of anyone's opinions, including of course mine. :D Heck, you might want to toss mine straight out, I think I'm counted as one of those dirty "casual gamers" that's apparently a blight on the hobby (certainly a blight on the industry). There's some nifty bits to it certainly. I happen to be in the camp of wishing they'd really tried pushing the envelope, and that Pathfinder is going to stay "too close" to core. But I'm still keeping half an eye on it anyway. Regardless, I wish 'em lots of luck and hope it works out for 'em. [/QUOTE]
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