Let's simplify a monster stat block!

[Shawn_Kehoe]

Hi!

The WotC folks have indicated that simpler stat blocks are a big goal of 4th Edition ... to that end, I've copied the stat block format from a recent Dungeon to look for where it could be trimmed.

[Basics]
<Monster Name>
<Alignment> <Size> <Creature Type>
Init: X
Senses: <vision etc> Spot +X Listen +X

[Defenses]
AC: X touch Y flat-footed Z
hp: X (Y HD)
<Immunities>
<Resistances>
Fort +X Ref +Y Will +Z

[Combat]
Spd X ft. <Alternate movement rates>
Melee <Weapon +X to hit, Y damage> <Additional Weapons>
Ranged <As Melee>
Space Z ft.
Reach Y ft.
Base Atk: +X
Grp: +Y
Atk Options: <Insert special attacks here>
Combat Gear: <If any>

[Other]
Abilities <STR A DEX B CON C INT D WIS E CHA F>
Special Qualities: <Insert Special Qualities here>
Feats: <Insert Feats>
Skills: <Insert Skill Modifiers>
Possessions: <Anything that Combat Gear doesn't handle>

Some ideas on what could go or be altered:

Flatfooted / Touch AC: One AC is better than three, thanks! Flatfooted AC shouldn't need a separate entry. A quick method to determine Flatfooted AC would not only reduce the stat blocks, but save time when a flatfooted creature has lots of buffs which aren't included in their stat block or character sheet.

Skills & Feats: Mearls has indicated that 4th Edition is treating monsters AS monsters, and not worrying if the monster builds follow the same rules as PCs. I'm guessing that monsters will no longer have a fixed number of skill ranks or feats based on hit die. Really, 3.5 designers were already getting around that rule with bonus feats and racial skill bonuses - this just means they won't need to explicitly state it.

Init: May no longer be needed, if all monsters use a single initiative roll in a combat.

Abilities: Usually, the monster's ability scores are only required for poison or spells like chill touch. Personally, I think they are worth keeping.

Hit Dice: Just assign the creature a number of hit points and be done with it. The only time that Hit Dice are relevant in D&D is when certain magical effects are played which high-HD creatures are immune to. Change those spells and abilities from a Hit Die threshold to a Hit Point threshold and we can slash Hit Dice from the stat block.

Thoughts?

 

[Yair]

I don't see how you can reasonably reduce this statblock much. The entries are just useful.

Touch AC should be seperated from normal AC if armor is going to affect AC, and I think it will. The flat-footed condition is cool, IMO - you could replace it with a flat bonus, for example, but I think losing Dex has a very different feel and is more appropriate. So I don't see an improvement there.

Skill bonuses need to be there even if their calculation isn't - there's just no need for the DM to do this on his own each time. This includes the need for Ability Scores, else you need to list ALL the skills and their bonuses... (and Ability Scores are needed for other things, too).

Feats are tight little rule packages the DM can be assumed to be familiar with. I don't think it would be wise to take that away. It's easier on the DM for the entry to list "Penetrating Shot" as a feat than to have the monster have the special ability "Penetrating Shot", which he then needs to look up. That said, feats already incorporated into the stats (e.g. Skill Focus) need not be listed, feats that are complex to use are better avoided, and the number of feats the DM is assumed to remember should be kept small (still, the ones in the PH make a pretty minimal list...).

Init shouldn't be scrapped IMO. It adds a difference to characters. So it needs an entry.

Hit Dice aren't a bother. I list my monsters as, say, "HP: 21 (5 HD)" - that's not much of a bother. What needs to go is the details ("3d8+4+2d6+4") - that's something no one uses and takes up a lot of space.



Creature Type may be getting the axe. Perhaps replaced by "role", however.

Alignment may be ommitted if it has no mechanical significance.

Size might be redundant. It's already figured into the AC, the Space/Reach, the Grapple, and so on. What remains that isn't taking it into account? Still, I think it aids and doesn't take too much space on the sheet.

Immunity is a concept that should go away. But the effect would still be there, in the form of high Resistance or save bonuses. So you don't really gain much.

Base attack should be moved to below, not be in the main combat block, IMO. But it's still needed for the off-chance you'll need to use it in combat instead of the main entries (Grapple, and the creature's Ranged & Melee weapons).