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General Tabletop Discussion
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5e Creature Collection Question
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<blockquote data-quote="Blue" data-source="post: 7588088" data-attributes="member: 20564"><p>My favorite monster book from any D&D / d20 type game is the 13th Age Bestiary. A couple of the things that leap out at me:</p><p></p><p>Most monsters are collections. The start with a good piece of art (in a consistent style across the book) and at least 1/4 page general write up, more often 1/2-1 page. It doesn't need art for each entry</p><p></p><p>The write-up is written in an evocative style, often dropping little hooks and details that a DM can incorporate into their world, connections to other monsters, etc.</p><p></p><p>As a side note, B&W line art can be good. If it's good quality and consistent in style that's good enough for me.</p><p></p><p>They include variations across a number of levels so I can keep them relevant without having to write them out of the story. And that the leader from an encounter in their early levels can be the cannon fodder in an adventure a bunch of levels later.</p><p></p><p>The stat blocks are short, starting with a short evocative description of the specific variation. Every single one has an unusual ability that will strongly flavor the encounter. Every. Single. One.</p><p></p><p>(They also often have a 13th Age thing called a "Nastier Special", which are optional special abilities to represent a more unique, dangerous version.)</p><p></p><p>After the stat blocks there's a section or more that just fleshes them out. Names, things they horde, things found in their pockets|stomach, their lairs. And almost always often a Building Battles section and an Adventure Hooks section.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Blue, post: 7588088, member: 20564"] My favorite monster book from any D&D / d20 type game is the 13th Age Bestiary. A couple of the things that leap out at me: Most monsters are collections. The start with a good piece of art (in a consistent style across the book) and at least 1/4 page general write up, more often 1/2-1 page. It doesn't need art for each entry The write-up is written in an evocative style, often dropping little hooks and details that a DM can incorporate into their world, connections to other monsters, etc. As a side note, B&W line art can be good. If it's good quality and consistent in style that's good enough for me. They include variations across a number of levels so I can keep them relevant without having to write them out of the story. And that the leader from an encounter in their early levels can be the cannon fodder in an adventure a bunch of levels later. The stat blocks are short, starting with a short evocative description of the specific variation. Every single one has an unusual ability that will strongly flavor the encounter. Every. Single. One. (They also often have a 13th Age thing called a "Nastier Special", which are optional special abilities to represent a more unique, dangerous version.) After the stat blocks there's a section or more that just fleshes them out. Names, things they horde, things found in their pockets|stomach, their lairs. And almost always often a Building Battles section and an Adventure Hooks section. [/QUOTE]
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