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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ruleslawyer" data-source="post: 2648941" data-attributes="member: 1757">Well, TSR did; this is essentially the 2e/Planescape conception of powers. At the risk of potentially taking this thread FURTHER off-topic (when it's already at 7 pages; whew!), I'd actually disagree with BOZ that skipping the stats is "throwing the baby out with the bath water." I simply think that it's not possible to generate a single set of archfiend (or deific) stats that'll satisfy everyone, or even a substantial majority, because everyone seems to have their own take on how the archfiends should be done. (F'rex, even though I have access to the Creature Catalog stats, the BoVD/Demonomicon stats, the Dicefreaks stats, and the alternate [powered-down] Dicefreaks stats, I use yet a FIFTH set of stats for the archfiends!) Since a set of stats for the archfiends already has seen official WotC printing in the BoVD (and semi-official printing in the Demonomicon), I'd suggest doing what I think DDG should have done in the first place with gods: Provide a 2-3 page discussion of various philosophies regarding archfiend power levels (should they be gods? Should they be "high-epic" threats? Should they be "low-epic" threats? and why) and a few example stats at various power levels (CR 20-30, CR 35-45, deific) for a sample archfiend or two (my votes are either for completely new ones, or for Asmodeus and Demogorgon, of course!). I'm one of those who tends to think that stat blocks often come at the expense of more immediately DM-useful information like new non-epic fiends, prestige classes, cults, magic items, spells, rituals, locations, etc. For instance, I find DDG and Faiths and Pantheons (I run an FR campaign) nearly useless; DDG got returned to Amazon in 5 days, whereas the spine on Faiths and Pantheons has barely been cracked (except for the excellent adventure location at the back!). It's not that I don't think that stats are useful; it's just that, for beings of such uniqueness and power, it's all too likely that DMs will want to customize their own stats anyway. In many ways, providing a sample god of each deific power category (greater, intermediate, lesser, demigod) with detailed design notes and suggestions for leveling them up or down would have made it EASIER for a DM like me to stat the FR pantheon than having all those premade stat blocks!</blockquote>

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