Changes in MM creatures - why?

[Technik4]

What do you mean by this? The stats listed say "1st level warrior" on 'em, for both regular dwarf and duergar.

As I expected, I am blind. The sad part is that I actually spent 2 minutes or so looking around for that statblock but couldnt find it in either MM. Weird, I see it now. As I expected, dwarves are worth CR 1/2 more than elves, just like every other humanoid.

Technik

 

[drnuncheon]

Hmm, the human(oid) halves are presumably roughly the same size as a regular human(oid) (judging by pictures, descriptions, etc.), yet those regular-sized arms and hands are mysteriously able to wield weapons beyond the reach of a normal human(oid). Ought to be a special quality of such races that restrict their weapons sizes, IMO.

Well, I'm not sure about driders - there being very few spiders approaching that size 'round these parts - but going by the picture, the centaur is either a normal-sized humanoid attached to a very small horse, or a very large humanoid (8' or so) attached to a regular-sized horse. Descriptions would indicate the latter.

J

 

[Desdichado]

That's getting personal, IMO. Insult veiled in "wit" or sarcasm is still just insult.

I don't know why you're quoting me along with hong, but my quote was certainly not an insult, merely an observation.

 

[Urbannen]

From Quasqueton:

I would have thought, of all creatures in the MM, the orc would have gotten only one change: skills - to fit and follow the standard rules. But now we have a completely different creature.

I agree with Quasqueton. Although I don't have a lot of problem with the changes themselves, I have a problem with the fact that they were made in 3.5. 3.5 should have been a revision - cleaning up stuff and fixing a few generally agreed upon problem areas. It should not have been a new edition, IMO. When you change a basic creature as presented in the MM, you are changing the edition of D&D. By all means, create a new "non-elite" stat array and change the armor and weapon of the archetypal orc for the 4th edition of D&D. But please call it such.

 

[Desdichado]

Actually, they're only changing the presentation of the orc. The orc itself, remains the same. To me, that is cleaning up and tweaking, not completely redoing as per a new edition.

 

[MeepoTheMighty]

The text in the DMG regarding ability scores for PC's hasn't changed to reflect this "non-elite array." In other words, it still tells you to subtract 10 or 11 from the stat in order to find the stat modifier. Does that mean that orcs PCs now have a +6 to strength?

 

[Knight Otu]

A few things regarding Technik4's otherwise well done post:

Elves:

-Not really sure how the standard Elf is the same CR as the standard Orc, because the Orc is about 10x more offensive (although similar hp).

A single warrior class level means a CR of 1/2. I can't say I'm happy with that, but that's how things work.

Grimlocks:

2 racial HD which gives 1 feat (Alertness) leaves me wondering where Track with a small b after it comes form. A racial bonus feat? It doesn't say.

Small b's denote racial bonus feats. Should be said somewhere...

Kobolds:

-Level Adjustment +0, but only thing going for them is speed, +1 Nat Armor, and +2 dex.

Should also have a few minor skill bonuses, including a +2 to Search, shouldn't it?

Kuo-Toa:

Also gives +8 racial swim bonus and can take 10 swimming even if distracted, etc.

Actually a standard ability from Swim speed that already existed in 3E. So it's not really a change.

 

[(Psi)SeveredHead]

Meepo

The text in the DMG regarding ability scores for PC's hasn't changed to reflect this "non-elite array." In other words, it still tells you to subtract 10 or 11 from the stat in order to find the stat modifier. Does that mean that orcs PCs now have a +6 to strength?

No. If you read the entire monster description, it says orcs have the following modifiers: +4 Str, -2 Int, -2 Wis, -2 Cha.

 

[Desdichado]

Like I said earlier, the orc actually hasn't changed at all. The presentation of such, however, has.

 

[d4]

to speak of a different monster...

anyone else notice that all 3.5 hydras are of the Lernean variety? (i.e., the ones where if you chop of a head, two grow back in its place.)

there doesn't seem to be any option for a hydra that doesn't regrow its heads.

on a brighter note, i'm glad they finally got rid of the awkward "Medium-size" phrasing. now critters can just be Medium Humanoids, Medium Animals, etc. i always found the transition from Small to Medium-size to Large jarring and irritating, as well as taking an extra 5 characters to type.