Anyone else not too fond of the new stat block setup?

[Olgar Shiverstone]

I haven't really gotten used to it, though I 'll admit that in theory it should be easier to use. I must just be too familiar with the old format.

 

[Ghost2020]

That's what I meant, the HP boxes and how some of the new encounter info/stat block is arranged in the new WotC adventures.

I think it takes up more space. Frankly, I would almost prefer the name of creature...HP and page from which book it's on. I bought the Monster books to reference, I don't necessarily need the stats again , it's convenient, but a waste of space.

 

[Lonely Tylenol]

Same here. I wouldn't dream of writing in my books.

I used to have a player several years ago who would use typ-ex (correctional fluid) to go through and update his books with the errata! :\

I think that some of us have developed the notion that books are sacrosanct. Myself, I was given a really trite and loopy religous paperback as an Xmas gift by a priest about a decade ago. While I wouldn't mind reading a well-written and thoughtful book on religion, this one is garbage. But I can't bring myself to throw it out, because I can't destroy a book--even one I don't think is worth reading. I suppose I could drop it off at a used bookstore, but I don't think they'd try to sell it, because it's such a shoddy piece of prose.

The most I can do to my game books is put post-it notes in, because that doesn't damage the book itself.

edit: on topic, I happen to like the DMGII/Dungeon Magazine-style statblocks. They're easy to use in play, but complex enough that I'm not left looking things up too often.

 

[MerricB]

That's what I meant, the HP boxes and how some of the new encounter info/stat block is arranged in the new WotC adventures.

I think it takes up more space. Frankly, I would almost prefer the name of creature...HP and page from which book it's on. I bought the Monster books to reference, I don't necessarily need the stats again , it's convenient, but a waste of space.

Hmm - convenience is actually the point. I was running a Dungeon magazine adventure the other day, and I had stat-blocks on two (non-facing) pages of the magazine, plus two different pages of the Monster Manual to reference. That wasn't fun. I was spending all my time flipping between different pages when trying to work out what was going on.

When you have basic creatures like goblins, then the statblock really isn't adding much convenience. When you have complicated creatures like devils, then you really notice the difference.

Pulling open an encounter completely at random from Expedition to Castle Ravenloft, I find an encounter with 2 wraiths, 2 ghasts and 1 spectre. I can definitely say that it'd be much easier to run with all the statblocks on the same page. Flipping through XCR, there aren't many (if any) encounters that are against one MM creature...

Note that XCR doesn't have boxes for HP; that's only in the introductory products (Basic Game, as diaglo notes, and Scourge).

Cheers!

 

[ShinHakkaider]

OR (look away, Nikosandros and Dragonlancer ) - I highlight the portions of the stat block in the adventure (or wherever) that are most needed to be noticed in game play. . .

Yeah, I'm with you on this one. RPG adventures are utilites and are meant to be used so writing in them has been typical since my Basic D&D days.
It's one of the reason why I like PDF adventures.

 

[ShinHakkaider]

Hmm - convenience is actually the point. I was running a Dungeon magazine adventure the other day, and I had stat-blocks on two (non-facing) pages of the magazine, plus two different pages of the Monster Manual to reference. That wasn't fun. I was spending all my time flipping between different pages when trying to work out what was going on.

When you have basic creatures like goblins, then the statblock really isn't adding much convenience. When you have complicated creatures like devils, then you really notice the difference.

Pulling open an encounter completely at random from Expedition to Castle Ravenloft, I find an encounter with 2 wraiths, 2 ghasts and 1 spectre. I can definitely say that it'd be much easier to run with all the statblocks on the same page. Flipping through XCR, there aren't many (if any) encounters that are against one MM creature...

Note that XCR doesn't have boxes for HP; that's only in the introductory products (Basic Game, as diaglo notes, and Scourge).

Cheers!

I'm in agreement with Merric here. When running an adventure I care about convenience and page flipping drives me NUTS. So much so that sometimes I either use monster cards or recopy the entire statblock onto another piece of paper.

Also, I dont see a problem with the blocks for hit points thing. It really is such a petty, petty thing to make a fuss over. The product is quite obviously aimed at beginning DM's, but even if that wasnt the case is it killing you to look at the 6 boxes and then just write the number 6 on a separate piece of paper to keep track of hit points?

 

[Wycen]

I've seen the stat block that they have in MM III/IV, but not the new adventure format. Is there any easy place to see it?

Here you go: http://www.wizards.com/default.asp?x=dnd/ex/20061115a

 

[Arnwyn]

Big hater of the new stat block format, here. I've had ample experience with it thanks to Dungeon (just to nip any nonsensical "you haven't tried it then" posts in the bud), and I've discovered they're not that great.

What I find to be unacceptable, though, are 'generic' monster stats in that format (ie. those found in MMs). The new format makes them absolutely brutal to advance, thanks to completely missing information (see Endur's post, below, for an example) and the long-winded format itself. Something that took a bunch of time for DMs is even made longer - for marginal time savings during play. Thanks a lot for adding more prep time for DMs, WotC.

I'm glad others might like the format (just to kill any "well, I like it" responses).

PLEASE FIX THE HIT DICE IN THE NEW STAT BLOCKS!

I'm fine with hit points: 34 (Hit Dice 4d12 +8),
but not hit points: 34 (Hit Dice 4)

If I get hit points: 34 (Hit Dice 4) and I want to re-roll the hit points, I don't know what type dice to roll or what modifiers to use.

You, sir, are absolutely right. It's also more time-consuming when advancing monsters and/or adding prestige classes.

 

[Endur]

You, sir, are absolutely right. It's also more time-consuming when advancing monsters and/or adding prestige classes.

True, advancing monsters, changing templates, etc. is where I run into most of the problems with the new format. If they would just show the hit dice type and the modifiers, it would fix everything.

 

[Ghost2020]

The examples are all fine and dandy as long as the HP remain in the low teens. What happens when I have a monster with 85 HP? 85 Freakin' boxes? Screw that noise.