How important is stat accuracy to you?

[Mercule]

I don't think it's the author's familiarity with the system (or lack thereof) that causes errors in WotC products. All of the WotC designers I know, freelance or staff, are extremely well-versed in the rules. Where the problem exists is in the publishing process itself.

Regardless of the root cause, it is extremely frustrating and offputting for the consumer. I will also say that, though WotC isn't perfect, they tend to have fewer (or, at least, less egregious) errors and slapdashery than many 3rd party publishers. At least, IME.

I will say, though, that Malhavoc and Necromancer do seem to be above the median, too.

 

[moritheil]

Do accurate stats play a big part in your game? Also, do you download the official Wizards errata? I know a lot of DMs that don't bother. What are your thoughts?

As you said, a skill point here and there doesn't make a difference. What truly irks me is when a monster is presented as incredibly powerful but is actually terrible in combat as written, or vice versa. As long as this disparity does not exist, I am generally happy.

 

[Klaus]

I haven't seen the Cooper's Corrected Creature Codex by Dog Soul Publishing before today. John Cooper is the best stat guru I've seen on 3e, and I have a lot of respect for his eye for detail. This product line has me wondering, how important is stat accuracy to everyone?

A skill point here or there isn't going to kill a monster and make it jump up a bunch of CRs. As a publisher when we produce a product we go through great lengths to make sure everything is accurate and I feel like we do a solid job. As a DM I don't really check over skill points or anything like that too closely before running an encounter.

Do accurate stats play a big part in your game? Also, do you download the official Wizards errata? I know a lot of DMs that don't bother. What are your thoughts?

For the current book prices, the stat blocks'd BETTER be accurate. Anything else is like paying for an incomplete product.

Say you buy a desk. You pay money for the desk. When you get home and assemble the desk, you find out that the drawers don't fit their holes in the desk. They're a bit too large, and keep scraping at the sides of the desk. Wouldn't you call the store or the manufactorer and complain about the problem?

The same thing applies to RPG books. If the manufacturer sells you a product and, as it turns out, there are problems with the product (however immaterial "bad math" can be, since the rules are basically mathematical simulations), shouldn't you complain/get a correction?

 

[blargney the second]

I think there are three factors that determine the importance of statblock accuracy: (with examples highest to lowest)
1) Type of book (monster manual > adventure > splatbook)
2) Type of creature/character (new monster > modified monster > NPC)
3) Magnitude of error (combat stats > significant non-combat stats > skills/minutia)

I can honestly say that I'm not remotely worried about the skills of splatbook NPCs (I often fudge those a bit anyway). The combat stats of a new monster, on the other hand...
-blarg

 

[w_earle_wheeler]

It matters to me.

I don't check every single stat block for accuracy. But when I advance a creature or add class levels to a creature, errors in the original stat block can turn game prep into a nightmare.

 

[Yalius]

Hard for me to think of anything that matters less to me. Number of skill points, attack bonuses, hit points, whatever. If it's about in the ballpark for what I want in my game, it's good enough. I'll probably make a few changes, anyways.

Far as I'm concerned, Rule 0 is just as useful for writers as it is for DMs. Throw the stats together, make it so it feels right, that's a heck of a lot more important than getting everything perfectly mechanically "correct" according to the RAW.

 

[Mighty Halfling]

Skill points and Hit Points? No big deal.
Attack bonuses, Damage ranges, Feats and AC? Big deal.
I also think all that stuff should be combined to make the character concept make sense. Unless it's an all-fighting NPC, I expect to see a few feats and skill points going to mundane things like Profession, Knowledge and Skill Focus.

 

[JVisgaitis]

Say you buy a desk. You pay money for the desk. When you get home and assemble the desk, you find out that the drawers don't fit their holes in the desk. They're a bit too large, and keep scraping at the sides of the desk. Wouldn't you call the store or the manufactorer and complain about the problem?

Yeah, but that is something that is VERY significant. Comparing a desk where the drawers don't fit to a statblock that is missing a couple ranks is a HUGE difference. The renders the desk unusable. Almost everyone who posted here so far said its not a big deal as long as their aren't a lot of mistakes so I think this example is far too extreme and doesn't relate to the situation at all.

If the manufacturer sells you a product and, as it turns out, there are problems with the product (however immaterial "bad math" can be, since the rules are basically mathematical simulations), shouldn't you complain/get a correction?

You most certainly are entitled to a product that has the stats done 100% accurately and doesn't have a single editing error. Realistically, that is never going to happen, but that is not the reason for this discussion. I agree, products should be as error free as possible and should have eratta done for them.

My intention of the post was me being curious how many people really care about minor statblocks errors and such as I don't mess around with those myself. It seems like a lot of people's responses echo those concerns and because of this, I wouldn't be surprised if this really isn't a top priority over at Wizards.

 

[Desdichado]

I can think of few things that matter less to me that stat block accuracy. I've learned to avoid John Cooper's reviews because they are 1) very long, and 2) very irrelevent to me, for the most part. I honestly can't even imagine the frame of mind that leads one to check statblocks for accuracy.

I mean, no offense to those who do--I just totally and completely cannot see the point of it, and it would never occur to me to do that.

 

[Voadam]

The worse the errors the less likely I am to use a monster/spell etc.

There are statblocks in Encyclopedia of Demons and Devils I & II, for example, that I don't even try and fix, I just use the descriptive texts in there. I'm glad I have them, but I'm also glad I only paid $2 for each of these $30 hardcovers with terrible mechanics.

I download and have used errata, for instance the changes to righteous might impacted my game because it gets used all the time by the party fighter/cleric. I really appreciate having pdfs updated so I don't have to cross reference and everything is in one source.