Pathfinder 1E Consolidating monster types further

[Remathilis]

We could consolidate it all into two categories!

* Living
* Not

It would make picking a favored enemy very easy.

 

[Minicol]

I don't agree at all.

 

[Tovec]

I don't agree at all.

With whom/which?

 

[VelvetViolet]

I don't agree at all.

Can you explain why, beyond "because it's traditional"?

Here's the dragon subtype. Most existing dragons are magical beasts with the dragon subtype, while half-dragons retain their type but gain the dragon subtype. They don't need all their saves, skill points and HD to be interesting.
Dragon Subtype: A dragon is a reptile-like creature, usually winged, with magical or unusual abilities. Dragons have darkvision 60 feet, low-light vision, immunity to magic sleep effects and paralysis effects, and treat Appraise, Bluff, Climb, Craft, Diplomacy, Fly, Heal, Intimidate, Knowledge (all), Linguistics, Perception, Sense Motive, Spellcraft, Stealth, Survival, Swim, and Use Magic Device as class skills.

The vermin subtype is likewise simple and easy to implement. The "downside" is that vermin now have good reflex saves, but I don't find that much of a problem (since many bugs give you trouble squashing them).
Vermin Subtype: This animal subtype includes insects, arachnids, other arthropods, worms, and similar invertebrates. Vermin have darkvision 60 feet and most vermin are Mindless: No Intelligence score, and immunity to all mind-affecting effects (charms, compulsions, morale effects, patterns, and phantasms).

A creature with a subtype is considered both that subtype and a creature of its normal type for the purpose of spells, abilities, and effects that affect those types.

 

[Minicol]

Because I don't think this adds anything : it makes less options for customization for your creature IMO.
Plus : Giants used to be their own type, and it was fine by me, even if somewhat crappy. Now they are humanoids, and all matter of lousy spells like charm person can get them. It makes them even less powerful than they were to begin with.

 

[VelvetViolet]

Because I don't think this adds anything : it makes less options for customization for your creature IMO.
Plus : Giants used to be their own type, and it was fine by me, even if somewhat crappy. Now they are humanoids, and all matter of lousy spells like charm person can get them. It makes them even less powerful than they were to begin with.

Under consolidation the extra types are changed into subtypes of existing types that retain their old traits, retaining customization. Concerns about charm person can be assuaged by specifically adding immunities to such spells.

The divide between, say, humanoid and monstrous humanoid is quite arbitrary. Races like ratfolk and gnolls are humanoids, but humbaba, which would make sense as giants, are monstrous humanoids. Aside from immunity to certain low-level mind-affecting spells, monstrous humanoids only differ from humanoids by having roughly 2 more skill points per HD, one more hit point per HD and a quarter more BAB per HD, which (if by making it a humanoid subtype you are also removing its die type and base attack bonus, which you don't have to do) can be approximated by increasing its now humanoid HD by a third. This article explains what changes like this would be used for consolidating types.