Gen Con: Slavicsek says core books will continue to be published, other tidbits

[Rex Blunder]

Added some minor less-newsy stuff that we remembered from the seminar, including less races than 3e, minis releases are continuing but being spaced out more, etc.

http://blogofholding.com/?p=803

 

[ArcaneSpringboard]

Yeah, you pretty much have that. I always predicted the MV monsters would be differently named variations. Whatever the possible reasons are for wanting to keep existing monsters around, there ARE reasons, so its simple enough to just add more new types.

You know, I think the main monsters when people think about 'updating them' are the Chromatic Dragons, the other solos, and perhaps the giants.

Otherwise they're either less common or popular or, as is the case for the Heroic tier monsters, don't actually need to be altered.

 

[doctorhook]

You know, I think the main monsters when people think about 'updating them' are the Chromatic Dragons, the other solos, and perhaps the giants.

Otherwise they're either less common or popular or, as is the case for the Heroic tier monsters, don't actually need to be altered.

Don't forget Demons and Devils, and the most broken creatures, the Purple Worm and the Dracolich.

 

[ArcaneSpringboard]

Nods on the devils and demons...but those are pretty popular too. But the Purple Worm and Dracolich I included in the 'solos' part.

 

[AbdulAlhazred]

You know, I think the main monsters when people think about 'updating them' are the Chromatic Dragons, the other solos, and perhaps the giants.

Otherwise they're either less common or popular or, as is the case for the Heroic tier monsters, don't actually need to be altered.

Well, there perhaps are some monsters who's names are SO iconic that it doesn't make much sense to create a new version under a variation of the name. I would consider the chromatic dragons to be the main ones that fall into that category, and possibly some of the unique capstone solos like Orcus.

I guess one answer is that dragons actually work pretty well for the most part, even the MM1 ones. Draconomicon and other resources give you a LOT of room to customize them as well. I look at it like this: A low level dragon works pretty well OOTB; A higher level dragon SHOULD be customized anyway. Most adult dragons are pretty good as-is and you might use them OOTB but they're the ones that probably could use a refresh the most. The Ancient and Elder dragons you'd be wasting time using without customization no matter what, they're just too plot significant.

Stuff like Dracoliches and Purple Worms I think can be safely given versions with slightly different names, a "Purple Worm Devourer" or whatnot will be fine. I think giants fall into the same category, they already have a couple varieties in the MM and in fact MM2/3 have already added new variations.

As for things like Orcus, well, perhaps there will be some specific books that reimagine some of these types eventually. Orcus has already gotten one face lift in his module appearance.

 

[Nikosandros]

Don't forget Demons and Devils, and the most broken creatures, the Purple Worm and the Dracolich.

Perhaps WotC might issue errata for the most problematic monsters, especially some of the solos for which coming up with appropriate powers is harder, and leave the updating of more standard monsters to some automatic formulas.

 

[ExploderWizard]

I hope any reprints that are needed have the basic changes taken care of such as stealth, skill challenges, changed powers, etc. Otherwise a reprint may just cause more confusion and be more trouble than benefit.

 

[Raunalyn]

Some powers will be updated to make them slightly stronger/weaker with the essentials release. Example: Lightning Bolt will have a new keyword (evocation, which matters to essentials mages) and do half damage on a miss.

I would like to see some love for the Fireball. That spell is now completely useless, so it certainly could use similar treatment.

 

[Dr_Ruminahui]

Nods on the devils and demons...but those are pretty popular too. But the Purple Worm and Dracolich I included in the 'solos' part.

Wraiths could use some work too... though I'm not sure if they count as "iconic" or not.

 

[RHGreen]

The first part of the audio can be heard on The Tome Show.


The Tome Show » Blog Archive » Tome GenCon Special - Design and Dev Seminar Part 1