A weird idea...

[Morrus]

This is probably a silly idea.

So we know in 4E that a nature/arcana/religion/what-have-you check can reveal certain info about a monster depending on what you roll, the three landmarks being DC 15, 20 and 25; and each provides certain specific information.

What if you took a different approach? This wouldn't work for all mosters, of course.

DC 15 - you can look up the monster in the 1E Monster Manual
DC 20 - you can look up the monster in the 3E Monster Manual (would this be closer to the 4E version?)
DC25 - you can look it up in the 4E Monster Manual

With the former two, the character knows his information is vague and unreliable, but he's able to recall a basic idea of what the monster is and the type of things it does. In the last case, he knows in detail what a standard monster of that type is, although he won't know any changes or individualisation you've made.

Dunno. Too silly?

 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Actually does sound like a cool idea in theory. It would be interesting to try out i'm curious as to wether it would actually work or if the info from the previous edditions would be more then the players should be gettting.

for example if something has the same weaknesses consistantly, does the spacific variations on the weaknes through ut the editions really matter that much?

 

[Protagonist]

You really shouldn't use this to find out about Eladrin and Archons

 

[Morrus]

Actually does sound like a cool idea in theory. It would be interesting to try out i'm curious as to wether it would actually work or if the info from the previous edditions would be more then the players should be gettting.

for example if something has the same weaknesses consistantly, does the spacific variations on the weaknes through ut the editions really matter that much?

Maybe it would kind of balance out though? Sometimes you'd get too much info, other times the info would be so wrong as to be useless. You'd know the risk, though. The only guarantee of accurate information is at DC 25.

But yeah, it's probably likely to be more problematical than useful.

 

[Sir Osis of Liver]

Maybe it would kind of balance out though? Sometimes you'd get too much info, other times the info would be so wrong as to be useless. You'd know the risk, though. The only guarantee of accurate information is at DC 25.

But yeah, it's probably likely to be more problematical than useful.

i think it's worth trying, it would certainly be a more fun and interesting way to dole out info on mosters. Of course the real problem, IMO is getting the appriote books together. My 1e stuff is very much buried in my very much full storeroom.