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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Jhaelen" data-source="post: 5164296" data-attributes="member: 46713">Yep. To give an indication of the work involved:For my last 3e session I wanted to prepare an encounter using some of the Mindflayers of Thoon from MM5 and their associated constructs. I was aiming for a ECL14 encounter.Initially, I wanted to use three different kinds of mind flayers and two construct types. I quickly realized, though, it would be hell to direct them all in combat, so I boiled it down to the mind flayer clerics and the basic fighter constructs.Then I noticed the mind flayers didn't use the 3e psionic rules (*sigh*) and were terribly weak for their CR (cleric levels should really be non-associated for mind-flayers).So I ended up creating a new stat block for them including level 9 psionic powers and level 7 cleric spells. Between selecting feats and items, adjusting the stats for long-time buffs, thinking about general tactics, and writing short notes describing spell/power effects, this took me three hours.I'm pretty happy with the result but it really _is_ a lot of work. I do derive a certain amount of fun from 'optimizing' monster stat blocks, but I still dread doing large amounts of them, especially those involving various class levels.You really don't want to know how long it took me to create the weapon-of-legacy wielding CR14 noble salamander wizard/master specialist/abjurant champion I created as the BBEG for the session before that...The most fun for me is thinking about story hooks, plots & twists and cool settings. The work starts when I need to write down at least a couple of notes and outlines for the stuff.I have to do it, though, since we only meet to play every 3-4 weeks. Without some kind of notes I'd have forgotten everything we'd done in the last session...So, fun: thinking about stuff & optimizing stats; work: writing stuff down</blockquote>

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