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Message: <blockquote data-quote="ShinHakkaider" data-source="post: 5320402" data-attributes="member: 9213">Like you said it comes down to individual style. I like to prep before hand. It makes it easier to have a framework to improvise from when I have to do it.RE: Monster Builder, listen if I cant set up an encounter without using a proprietary tool that I have to pay for monthly then I dont want to be bothered. I have no problem using PDF's and cutting and pasting in Word. I have no problem with something like HeroLab for character creation. But the mere fact that you're bringing up Monster Builder here is kinda killing your argument. Especially since all of this happened right at the beginning of 4E's run. I dont even remember if Monster Builder was even running then. Not to mention that I wasn't sure if I was going to continue playing / running 4E. They already got me for the 4E gift set, why am I giving them more money monthly to try the game? Setting up and converting an adventure from one edition to 4E is not as simple as hand waving if you want to retain the feel AND structure of the original source material. If so much flat out had waving is required then as I said before what's the purpose of converting the adventure in the first place. Listen I see you're trying to "win" the argument by insinuating that I'm some kind of inflexible DM. There is however a middle ground. I like things codified so that I know how much I can bend things one way or the other. when the inherent structure of something is SO different and is really to much of a hassle to balance? It's not going to work to use. For me at least. You're fine with flying by the seat of your pants but if I'm trying to replicate an experience and I'm finding that using the new rules it's a pain in the ass to do? Then I'm gonna jettison the rules and stick with whatever ruleset closest to what works for me. The first encounter in the Kobold Lair takes place just out side of the lair proper. 8 kobolds jump out of trees to attack the party.Is this an Encounter Level 1 for 5 players? Then I have 500XP in an encounter budget to work with. Do I use Kobold Minions (25XP) then instead of 8 kobolds am I using 20 of them? Am I using 4 Minions (100XP) and maybe 4 Kobold Skirmishers (400XP)? There's the pit trap near the entrance to consider which is also part of that encounter area. A false floor Pit trap is (100Xp) so more minions and fewer Skirmishers? or lower the amount of minons for a tougher encounter with more Skirmishers? It's been suggested by the designers that you actually combine some encounter areas. So do I combine the 8 kobolds and the pit trap with the 6 more kobolds in the Guard Room area? Seems simple to you and yes I actually reworked the Kobold Lair for 4E. But some of the other lairs were going to be a disaster and resemble NOTHING like the original encounters if I was keeping with the 4E Encounter balance method. With the CR method I know it was a guestimate at best and was used to having a little leeway. But 4E was a new system at the time and highly touted for it's balance in encounters so I was using the rules as written when the game first came out. To replicate encounters from pre-existing sources it was a pain. To create from scratch? Pretty easy. But this goes back to the crux of my point. With 4E I'm not able to use pre-existing material from older editions easily. You can be dismissive of it if you want to but I'm not talking out of the side of my neck here. I've ACTUALLY TRIED TO DO IT. and it sucked.</blockquote>

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