E6 SRD - community project

[Gilladian]

Monsters

The nice thing if we're thinking about a wiki for our presentation is that it doesn't matter how long a statblock is. We have no space limitations.

Although scrolling through it might be a pain during play, and for those who actually PRINT things, they'd have to decide what to print/edit out.

I wonder if there's a way to do a wiki page with "spoilers" so things could be opened out or closed up as the reader prefers. I guess it depends on what wiki software we end up using...

As far as selecting monsters for inclusion, I'd go with the idea of cutting off at CR 6 or maybe 8, and then "choosing to include" rather than exclude. Anyone can go back and add more if they don't have enough options. Weeding down even further becomes more problematic.

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

The nice thing if we're thinking about a wiki for our presentation is that it doesn't matter how long a statblock is. We have no space limitations.

Yeah, I'm not too worried about it for now. In the rtf bundle, que sera, sera; and the online offering will have all kinds of possibilities for changing the view (onscreen v print, etc), sblocking, popup definitions, and so on. We've got time to work that out.

As far as selecting monsters for inclusion, I'd go with the idea of cutting off at CR 6 or maybe 8, and then "choosing to include" rather than exclude. Anyone can go back and add more if they don't have enough options. Weeding down even further becomes more problematic.

The more I look over the monster list, the more I lean this way, as well. Even doing that, though, a lot of really good monsters (even entire subtypes) will have abilities based on 4th level spells or higher, or have actual caster levels beyond 6th. We'll have to consider how we're going to handle that: excluding those creatures, altering them to E6 standards, inlining the info in the statblocks, extending the special abilities glossary, or the like. I'll pull out a few illustrations of these sorts of things at some point this weekend.

So let's plan on chopping monsters above CR 6. But also take a look at the monster list to get an idea for several CR7-9, and a handful of higher level ones that might be appropriate in various roles in an E6 game, a dozen "favorites" or something.

BTW, feats: Any opinion on including the extra General feats in the baseline SRD, as per the list upthread (post#77)? They're technically not SRD, but they are bundled along with it.

 

[Gilladian]

BTW, feats: Any opinion on including the extra General feats in the baseline SRD, as per the list upthread (post#77)? They're technically not SRD, but they are bundled along with it.

Include 'em!

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

Right then. I'll hack together the feats files and get those posted this weekend for proofreading. And we may as well get started on chopping down the MonsterA-Z files, as well, using the same "dibs/proofread" system as before.

For now, just chop anything over CR6-- including secondary statblocks (eg, the scary troll hunter that's statted out in the Troll entry)-- and make some notes of what CR7-12ish ones you'd like to see included as well, so we can discuss those after and quickly add them back in when we're done. If there's any problems with tables or formatting, mention it in the comments so that can get fixed up during proofread.

BTW, if anyone looks at it, I've moved the file progress list in post#60 into post#2 with the others, just so they're all in one place.

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

file: Feats, Monster Feats

file: Feats and Monster Feats

status: awaiting proofread

comment:
Also including select [General] feats from OGC Epic, Psionics and Divine rules files. A few notes on individual feats, things to look over and comment on:

SRD Feats

- Improved Familiar: merged alignment & type/subtype familiar tables and truncated to CL6, plus some rewording to account for table merge.
- Leadership: truncated to Leadership Score 14, and 2nd-level followers, plus rewording as needed. Would really like feedback on these mods.
- Maximize Spell, Widen Spell: not very useful in strict E6, but retained
- Forge Ring: removed, replaced with Stoughton's Wondrous Rings

Stoughton's E6 feats

- Wondrous Rings: reworded to almost exact text of Forge Ring
- Restoration, Stone to Flesh: reworded from Stoughton's original; inlined (approx) spell text. Would really like feedback on this one.
- Ability Training, Ability Advancement: reworded from Stoughton's original text.

Feat Moves and Additions

- moved following feats from Feats.rtf to MonsterFeats.rtf for being too high-level:
[sblock]Stunning Fist
Improved Precise Shot
Greater Two-Weapon Fighting
Greater Weapon Focus
Greater Weapon Specialization
Craft Rod
Craft Staff
Quicken Spell [/sblock]
- added following feats from Divine and Psionics rules to Feats.rtf:[sblock]
FEATS FROM WotC OGC DIVINE RULES

Blindsight, 5ft
Energy Substitution
Extra Music
Eyes in the Back of Your Head
Fleet of Foot
Hold the Line
Jack of All Trades
Knock-Down
Persistent Spell
Plant Control
Plant defiance
Power Critical
Reach Spell
Repeat Spell
Sacred Spell
Sharp-Shooting
Subdual Substitution
Superior Expertise

FEATS FROM WotC OGC PSIONIC RULES

Deadly Precision
Greater Manyshot
Mind over Body
Open Minded
Rapid Metabolism
Reckless Offense
Sidestep Charge //made this one [General], since it didn't have any specific [Psionic] reference
Stand Still[/sblock]- added following feats from Epic rules to MonsterFeats.rtf:[sblock]
FEATS FROM WotC OGC EPIC RULES

Improved Flyby Attack
Improved Multiattack
Improved Multiweapon Fighting
Greater Multiweapon Fighting[/sblock]

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

file: Monsters Intro-A

file: Monsters Intro-A

status: in progress

comment:

 

[Animal]

first of all, let me hand epic kudos to you guys. this project will be of much use for many people across the globe, like myself.
secondly, seeing that you've recently tackled the monster manual, i'd like to note that a lot of higher level monsters might probably need a complete overhaul. for example, i can't imagine a D&D game without such BBEGs as liches or vampires. but they seem to be too high level for E6 campaigns. how shall you deal with such monsters? also, some generic monsters (invisible stalker, ogre mage, hill giant) will turn out pretty epic in E6, almost godlike. should they be toned down a bit?

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

first of all, let me hand epic kudos to you guys. this project will be of much use for many people across the globe, like myself.
secondly, seeing that you've recently tackled the monster manual, i'd like to note that a lot of higher level monsters might probably need a complete overhaul. for example, i can't imagine a D&D game without such BBEGs as liches or vampires. but they seem to be too high level for E6 campaigns. how shall you deal with such monsters? also, some generic monsters (invisible stalker, ogre mage, hill giant) will turn out pretty epic in E6, almost godlike. should they be toned down a bit?

You're definitely right on all counts. We're still trying to figure these kinds of questions out, at the moment. Basically, the first pass will be a straight chop at CR6, plus add in a few more that "feel" appropriate-- just for the sake of making progress and getting to a working rough draft. But I've noted that even those low-ish level ones will have lots of little headaches to consider (nymphs are Drd7 casters; all archons have Greater Teleport; erinyes have Trueseeing; etc); these issues will be considered in the second pass.

But really we're not going to be toning anything down, per se, as that requires a lot of deviation from existing SRD stats (which we're trying to adhere to as closely as possible). Instead, we'll simply exclude monsters (etc), and leave it to the reader to power things up to taste. If anything, we'll just end up doing one or more of the following:
- just keep the dinkiest monsters around, and inline whatever explanatory text is necessary (eg, SLAs);
- do some very minimal "E6 conversion" on a very few creatures (eg, maybe restrict the nymph's 4th level spell slot to metamagicked spells);
- add some words on advancing lesser monsters to be more epic (or suggest substitutes);
- simply point to other sources (or build an appendix) for more killer monsters, and provide guidance on tweaking them for E6.

Also keep in mind that we're hoping this is just the beginning. Right now, we're only working on the most restrictive SRD-- a fundamental baseline that most E6 games have in common. Eventually, though, we hope to make that bundle of ugly RTF files the core of a broader system around which a community website could be built, likely along the lines of a wiki. At that point, it will ideally turn into a "buffet" of options, as appealing to "grim'n'gritty" E6ers, as to high-power "superheroic" E6ers.

Moreover, the baseline SRD rtfs will give an easier starting point for folks interested in creating out-of-the-box game products: instead of hacking the full SRD down to size, they can focus on tinkering rules, selecting/modifying their own selection of monsters, spell and items, uilding up their own rule system, and so on.

Time will tell, of course.

And please feel free to pop in at any time and jump into the conversation, grab a file to proofread, offer some opinions, give technical suggestions, or whatever. The more folks joining in, the merrier!

 

[Animal]

actually i'd very much like to help. not sure how though.
and looks like most of the monster feats are off limits for E6 monsters. i'm not sure i understand how the proofreading works, but i just highlighted the prerequisites that apparently can't be reached by E6 monsters and characters.
View attachment MonsterFeats.rtf

 

[Theo R Cwithin]

Ah! Now that's useful... This will make a good reference for weeding out monsters and later removing unused feats. Thanks!


If you'd like to help, right now we're just taking monster files and chopping out everything above CR6; we'll re-add higher ones (and remove problematic lower-level ones, if any) later. You could just grab a "MonstersA-Z" file and start chopping; or look through the SRD monsters and choose a handful of CR7+ monsters that seem appropriate to E6 with little or no modification (remember, PCs are restricted to BAB+6 because they're restricted to 6 levels... but monsters don't have that limitation on BAB from racial HD! ). The single most important thing to remember is that the point of this first "Phase 0" of the project is to keep as close to the existing SRD as possible, with few changes; cutting material is usually preferable to changing material.

You can take a look at the references in post#1 to see what info is being used as the baseline; and the master progress-report lists in post#2, to see generally what needs to be done (That list is usually close to correct-- I try to keep it up-to-date-- but also double check the last page or two of the thread to make sure no one's already working on it).

Proofing is pretty simple: Sprinkled throughout the thread you'll see notes in dark green like "awaiting proofread" or something. If you find one that hasn't been addressed (again, check post#2 or followup posts), basically look over the file, and make a post like:

file: blahblah
status: done (in bright green, so people can see it) (or "awaiting proofread", if you made a lot of changes and want another look)
comments: any changes or comments you made, or a note that all is well.

And if you made changes, attach the new file to your post; or just note the problems and ask someone else to make changes; or something. It might also be helpful to @ mention the person who originally edited the file, so y'all can sort out any discrepancies or differences of opinion should they arise.

If you'd like to make a first round edit, just claim "dibs" by making a post like:

file: blahblah
status: dibs/in progress (in light blue, so people can see it)
comment: usually empty, but you could also make a note of what youre doing if it takes several days, or something.

When you're done, make another post (or update the same post, if no/few other posts have been made since you chose a file), but change the status to "proofread please" (in dark green again, so people can see it). Hopefully, someone will see it, proof it, and either update or 'bless' it; feel free to @ mention me or pm, and I'll take a look if no one else does.

Ugh, that sounds horribly confusing! There are lots of examples upthread of how it works, maybe that will help.

And if you dont want to venture into the mess with the files, just sticking your head in, double-checking the proofed files, making comments and asking quesions, offering opinions when questions go out, or the like is also extremely helpful. You can always post your thoughts, PM me and/or whoever's responsible for a given file, or whatever. It's all pretty informal-- and hopefully the first phase will be done in a couple weeks anyway.