How would you like the Monsterous Manual organized

[HeavenShallBurn]

This is partially mechanics based but:

I'd like to see monsters organized into groups by monster type (or whatever mechanic replaces that). Each group separated by a bright divider page, each one different, so that it's easy to tell when you've fanned the pages into the next group. Within the group monsters should have their entries alphabetically because in general people seem to find information faster in that format.

I'd stick the index in the front rather than the back so you can open the manual skim through the index and go straight to the appropriate entry a little more quickly than opening the book from the back and fanning through the pages in reverse. I'd also put a page mark that was visible on the side of the pages when the book was closed in a different color for each section. It would help going straight to the appropriate section and reduce hunting without even looking at the index. (I know I've seen a monster book that did this and it did help but I can't remember which one it was.)

EDIT:

By size, I want to know what fits in a 3ft tall Kobold warren.

The Monster Manual should include two pictures for each entry, a full color picture of the monster itself, and a simple black and white silhouette size-comparison image using an ordinary human as a measure of scale. There's a book that did this, Denizens of Avadnu, really helped with the problem of getting a feel for just how big a monster really is.

 

[Quartz]

EDIT:
The Monster Manual should include two pictures for each entry, a full color picture of the monster itself, and a simple black and white silhouette size-comparison image using an ordinary human as a measure of scale. There's a book that did this, Denizens of Avadnu, really helped with the problem of getting a feel for just how big a monster really is.

First done in Sandy Petersen's Field Guide to the Cthulhu Mythos, IIRC. Very useful.

 

[howandwhy99]

MMI 3.5 was a near perfect organization of a Monster Manual. Judging by MM2-MM5's layouts, there will be very little change.

One thing I have heard folks complaining about were charts listing monsters by ecology/environment. Maybe they just didn't realize all of these are in the DMG?

So maybe those need to go in the MM? Personally, I'd rather have the pages saved for Monsters and the DMG used by DMs.


EDIT:
Damn it, Imperialus, I was there for your .sig quote. That's not how it went at all! I voted for OD&D even as my own campaign suggestion was voted down (no elves).

Of course it 1 vs 5 against OD&D

And the resulting campaign was about as ridiculous as quoted.

 

[WyzardWhately]

This is partially mechanics based but:

I'd like to see monsters organized into groups by monster type (or whatever mechanic replaces that). Each group separated by a bright divider page, each one different, so that it's easy to tell when you've fanned the pages into the next group. Within the group monsters should have their entries alphabetically because in general people seem to find information faster in that format.

This is exactly what I was going to suggest. "Today is undead, tomorrow is humanoids, Friday is planar beings..." This would make my life as a DM so much easier.

 

[delericho]

Awesome indices in the front (or back, I guess) arranged by level, environment, etc.

The entries themselves alphabetically.

Another vote for this.

 

[Keldryn]

The 4e Monster Manual(s) should have one monster per page, all on looseleaf sheets in a 3-ring binder, so that you can organize them however you like -- alphabetically, by type, whatever.

Think about it: wouldn't that be the best solution ever?

 

[Reynard]

The 4e Monster Manual(s) should have one monster per page, all on looseleaf sheets in a 3-ring binder, so that you can organize them however you like -- alphabetically, by type, whatever.

Think about it: wouldn't that be the best solution ever?

It sure didn't work out too well last time they did that, so i doubt it'd work for 4e.

 

[Jhaelen]

The 4e Monster Manual(s) should have one monster per page, all on looseleaf sheets in a 3-ring binder, so that you can organize them however you like -- alphabetically, by type, whatever.

Think about it: wouldn't that be the best solution ever?

Nope. It comes with a CD with a database including all monsters from the MM including those from earlier MMs. You can search, sort and filter database entries, then edit and print the results in different formats.

P.S.: Unfortunately, that's not what they'll do. Instead the book will contain a key you can enter in their D&D Insider website to do all of the above online.

 

[Moon-Lancer]

the index alphabetical, but i want the monsters themselves to be organized by terrain, and then within each terrain, by level. This way i can look at the front of each terrain section and find the level 1 critters and so on. I guess i could live with alphabetical within each terrain.

 

[JVisgaitis]

There's a book that did this, Denizens of Avadnu, really helped with the problem of getting a feel for just how big a monster really is.

No, that wasn't us. We wanted to do that, but didn't have time. I think you are referring to the equally awesome Monsternomicon by Privateer Press.