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<blockquote data-quote="talien" data-source="post: 3474987" data-attributes="member: 3285">So every time I DM an adventure, I convert all the monsters to the new format that's debuted in the more recent books, through eTools.&nbsp; And every time I do it, I find a lot of errors.&nbsp; It's possible (heck, likely) eTools is wrong.&nbsp; It's also possible there's a staggering amount of inconsistencies in creating D&amp;D critters that most people can't do without electronic assistance.&nbsp; Speaking as someone who now cringes when he looks at anything he wrote for D20, the dizzying number of options practically requires a degree in some cases.But that's not why I'm posting.&nbsp; I've discovered that since I can make a kobold a 20thlevel fighter, just about any monster's CR can be adjusted to match the party.&nbsp; On more than one occassion I've boosted monster HD/levels to match the party's higher level.&nbsp; But things are starting to blend.First of all, as I advance some of these monsters, their size increases.&nbsp; Not always, mind you, but sometimes.&nbsp; It seems pretty arbitrary.&nbsp; Why should some monsters be larger at 10 HD when others aren't?&nbsp; This means that my minis quickly become inaccurate, and man that bugs men when my minis aren't accurate.Second, monsters start to look the same as you advance them.&nbsp; How many variant oozes are there?&nbsp; Can't I make most of them with templates?&nbsp; How many draconic/reptilian races are there?&nbsp; Can't I just advance lizardfolk or given them a half-dragon template to match those other races?In other words, the more I tinker with monsters, the more I'm convinced that monsters shouldn't HAVE a HD.&nbsp; Even the reverse can be true...lower HD monsters who are &quot;immature&quot; versions of the full HD critter.&nbsp; So why have starting HD at all?I'm not sure if anyone else feels this way, but the more monsters I convert, the more they're starting to look the same, especially now that the PCs are clearing 10th level.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="talien, post: 3474987, member: 3285"] So every time I DM an adventure, I convert all the monsters to the new format that's debuted in the more recent books, through eTools. And every time I do it, I find a lot of errors. It's possible (heck, likely) eTools is wrong. It's also possible there's a staggering amount of inconsistencies in creating D&D critters that most people can't do without electronic assistance. Speaking as someone who now cringes when he looks at anything he wrote for D20, the dizzying number of options practically requires a degree in some cases. But that's not why I'm posting. I've discovered that since I can make a kobold a 20thlevel fighter, just about any monster's CR can be adjusted to match the party. On more than one occassion I've boosted monster HD/levels to match the party's higher level. But things are starting to blend. First of all, as I advance some of these monsters, their size increases. Not always, mind you, but sometimes. It seems pretty arbitrary. Why should some monsters be larger at 10 HD when others aren't? This means that my minis quickly become inaccurate, and man that bugs men when my minis aren't accurate. Second, monsters start to look the same as you advance them. How many variant oozes are there? Can't I make most of them with templates? How many draconic/reptilian races are there? Can't I just advance lizardfolk or given them a half-dragon template to match those other races? In other words, the more I tinker with monsters, the more I'm convinced that monsters shouldn't HAVE a HD. Even the reverse can be true...lower HD monsters who are "immature" versions of the full HD critter. So why have starting HD at all? I'm not sure if anyone else feels this way, but the more monsters I convert, the more they're starting to look the same, especially now that the PCs are clearing 10th level. [/QUOTE]

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