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General Tabletop Discussion
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In Search of "the" Ideal Monster Presentation
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<blockquote data-quote="Lanefan" data-source="post: 9168321" data-attributes="member: 29398"><p>I was assuming just 5e; conversion isn't that hard to anything other than 4e.</p><p></p><p>Yikes - that's even more than I thought! <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>The stats for a lot of monsters wouldn't be more than a couple of lines of text, assuming extraneous information is left out. But the 5e format is inefficient. A hypothetical example of a functional short stat block (using probably inaccurate numbers):</p><p></p><p><strong>Goblin</strong> (small humanoid): HD 1/2; AC 11 or by armour; att. 1; dmg. by weapon; SQ* darkvision 30'; St 8, Dx 12, Co 10, In 8, Wi 8, Ch 6.</p><p></p><p>That's all I want to see in the stat block book for a standard Goblin. The Str-Dex-etc. numbers are a suggested average and might even be left off. For 5e, maybe toss in the CR as well, if that system is to be kept. Separately statted would be Goblin Chieftain, Goblin Shaman, and maybe Goblin Archer. I can get a whole lot of those on a page. <img src="data:image/gif;base64,R0lGODlhAQABAIAAAAAAAP///yH5BAEAAAAALAAAAAABAAEAAAIBRAA7" class="smilie smilie--sprite smilie--sprite1" alt=":)" title="Smile :)" loading="lazy" data-shortname=":)" /></p><p></p><p>And sure, some of the more complex monsters will take more space, but even an Aboleth or a Beholder can be written up in under half a page if you stick to the facts and keep it short.</p><p></p><p>* - SQ = "Special Quality(ies)", as opposed to SA Special Attack(s) or SD Special Defense(s).</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="Lanefan, post: 9168321, member: 29398"] I was assuming just 5e; conversion isn't that hard to anything other than 4e. Yikes - that's even more than I thought! :) The stats for a lot of monsters wouldn't be more than a couple of lines of text, assuming extraneous information is left out. But the 5e format is inefficient. A hypothetical example of a functional short stat block (using probably inaccurate numbers): [B]Goblin[/B] (small humanoid): HD 1/2; AC 11 or by armour; att. 1; dmg. by weapon; SQ* darkvision 30'; St 8, Dx 12, Co 10, In 8, Wi 8, Ch 6. That's all I want to see in the stat block book for a standard Goblin. The Str-Dex-etc. numbers are a suggested average and might even be left off. For 5e, maybe toss in the CR as well, if that system is to be kept. Separately statted would be Goblin Chieftain, Goblin Shaman, and maybe Goblin Archer. I can get a whole lot of those on a page. :) And sure, some of the more complex monsters will take more space, but even an Aboleth or a Beholder can be written up in under half a page if you stick to the facts and keep it short. * - SQ = "Special Quality(ies)", as opposed to SA Special Attack(s) or SD Special Defense(s). [/QUOTE]
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