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<blockquote data-quote="Jedi_Solo" data-source="post: 3677854" data-attributes="member: 40245">I like the idea of stripping down the monsters.&nbsp; We've had combats last more than five rounds but we've also had combats last only three rounds (and I'm sure there have been some shorter than that but those are very few and far between).&nbsp; I'd hazard a guess that five or six rounds is where our average length would end up.Uncluttering the stat block of &quot;extra&quot; abilities may not be the most effective way to go in the long run; but I'm willing to bet that it is a faster and easier way to go so it would make a good first target.But even the article comments that while 'most' of the critters are there to die horribly, some of them need to be recurring villain types.&nbsp; I see no problem with giving a critter a couple of Out Of Combat abilities.&nbsp; I see no reason why a critter can't Read Magic at Will, but I don't want that along with 6 other abilities that won't do much in combat while it's trying to slaughter the PCs.I played in high level combat that lasted hours (in real time).&nbsp; Having the DM not have to look in a different book to see what an ability does only to say &quot;well, that's stupid&quot; and then look for something else will cut down on that time.</blockquote>

[QUOTE="Jedi_Solo, post: 3677854, member: 40245"] I like the idea of stripping down the monsters. We've had combats last more than five rounds but we've also had combats last only three rounds (and I'm sure there have been some shorter than that but those are very few and far between). I'd hazard a guess that five or six rounds is where our average length would end up. Uncluttering the stat block of "extra" abilities may not be the most effective way to go in the long run; but I'm willing to bet that it is a faster and easier way to go so it would make a good first target. But even the article comments that while 'most' of the critters are there to die horribly, some of them need to be recurring villain types. I see no problem with giving a critter a couple of Out Of Combat abilities. I see no reason why a critter can't Read Magic at Will, but I don't want that along with 6 other abilities that won't do much in combat while it's trying to slaughter the PCs. I played in high level combat that lasted hours (in real time). Having the DM not have to look in a different book to see what an ability does only to say "well, that's stupid" and then look for something else will cut down on that time. [/QUOTE]

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