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Message: <blockquote data-quote="Nork" data-source="post: 4034099" data-attributes="member: 59879">I'll agree with that I think 3e is the culprit in terms of conditioning people into thinking that humanoid monsters must be built with rules for PCs, and by extension, anything a humanoid monster can do a player can do.I'm glad that 4e is dropping this mindset, because I think it is wrong in purely practical terms.If your making a Bugbear Crippler, you want a monster with a cool move.  No more no less.You can either make a game system where you have to pull out a pile of rule books and go through a monster creation system that claims to be balanced, and then 'do taxes' until you you massage it until it does all the things you want it to (and may do other things you DON'T want it to, as a result of getting to your goal via the construction system).Or you can just say: Guess what.  When a Bugbear Crippler hits a target in a situation that would qualify as a sneak attack, take 1 point of dex damage (but not sneak attack damage, as they don't have sneak attack).  Just because.I think the latter mechanic is better, because the purpose of having a monster is to have an interesting and balanced fight.  The purpose of the monster is not to be in compliance with the construction rules of the system.  Therefore it follows that any construction rules that impede making a monster fun and balanced, ought to be ignored.I'll admit I'm biased though.  I've always totally ignored the monster rules since 1e.  I can remember the first time I had a goblin throw a fireball at my players.  They threw a fit about how 'goblins are not wizards'.  To which I responded, dude I told you he was wearing a robe, holding a staff, and he told you to sod off and stop bothering him or he was going to fry you.  Not my fault you didn't believe it could happen since it wasn't in the Monster Manual.So the idea of a Bugbear Strangler that jumps out from behind a tapestry, strangles someone, and then uses them as a human shield while the players go 'he did WHAT?!?'  'He isn't allowed to do that!'  Has a great deal of appeal to me, since it is exactly how I always did things.</blockquote>

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