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Message: <blockquote data-quote="AndrewRogue" data-source="post: 4106132" data-attributes="member: 60448">Goodie. Now the problem here for me is that, given prep time, a good chunk of it is devoted to coming up with the possibilities and basic plots that will be running around that session. Generally speaking, my PCs have this uncanny knack to leap between loyally following plot hooks and then shooting completely off the rails and taking things in an unexpected direction from moment to moment. While it is possible to actually fully plan out sessions for myself, I generally find it to be relatively ineffectual since it often leaves me with a few hours of time wasted a week because the PCs decided to go another direction.Which, in part, is why I have no issue with this type of monster design. While I do have pretty fair "winging it" abilities (admittedly, I flop sometimes or I plan in advance sometimes), it can be difficult, especially in a system based around somewhat tight numerical balancing. As such, I am highly appreciative when a book provides me a nice set of prewritten monsters, especially humanoids, so that I don't have to whip out a large series of books to toss one together right quick/design it completely ad hoc.While I do not have an issue creating monsters on the fly (and, indeed, will often take time to fully stat out bosses), I do sometimes get buried when I'm playing. I'll have stuff going on in the game IMs, the main chat and be a bit distracted by real life. While I can still DM (fairly decently I might add) under those conditions, having to toss together new monsters under those conditions is irritating at best, last straw at worst. Thus, the 4th Ed model appeals to me: when I need some throwaways and still want to make an interesting combat, I can just open the book to one page and have a full monster waiting for me.</blockquote>

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