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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Adso" data-source="post: 3834243" data-attributes="member: 6706">No, what I am saying is D&D (and just about any other roleplaying game) is ultimately a game of two masters. First and foremost, as the rules go, it is a game of combat. Much of any D&D game, and arguably the most interactive parts, take place within the scope of the combat encounter. You can deny this fact, but I personally think it is an exercise of just that…denial. Secondly it is a narrative exercise, a way for a DM to make a story with decision points (both obvious and obtuse). I think 3rd Edition may have erred too much for the benefit of the first master. 2nd Edition may have erred to much on the side of the other. I think we can have a good balance between the two.    Monsters have to work consistently in the first part of the game. And they need to work well in the second instance as well, but to figure you can always kill a bird with one stone (i.e. the stat block) is fallacy. Here's how I split it.Combat: Spined devils attack with 2 claw attacks +9 vs. AC each 2d4+4 and have a special Spike Rain attack. They fly, are skirmishers, and have 47 hp (bloodied 23)Story: Devils tend to be organized, when you fight one, you can bet more are close by. Sometimes they are gated into the fray by a variety of diabolical means. Devils tend to be skilled in the arcane arts. In particular, spine devils are wicked, take joy in the suffering of others, and laugh at pleas of mercy.Combat stats are about the minimum of absolutes, story deals with encounter, adventure, and campaign desig and gives the DM ideas and tools to make a well-themed encounter that gives tools for creating a D&D encounter that feels like a D&D encounter. I would not call that part handwaving…I would call it focused creativity. Handwaving is something more arbitrary...and I don't recommend it. Players will know (or can find out in the course of the game) what these creature are about, but can still be surprised (and thrilled, hopefully challenged) by each encounter with the creature in questions.</blockquote>

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