MM1 updated?

[Otterscrubber]

I've been away from 4e for awhile and was curious if MM1 has been updated in any of the new books that have been released. As far as I'm concerned the MM1 is outdated and useless from a statistics perspective. The monsters do not pose a challenge to PCs as written. However there are TONS of good monsters in there that need to be updated. Has this been done? If so where to do I get it?

 

[mneme]

Monster Vault had a lot of updated monsters from MM1. But as always, the most up to date stuff can be found on Compendium.

 

[Ajar]

WotC hasn't updated it.

 

[TerraDave]

Monster Vault had a lot of updated monsters from MM1. But as always, the most up to date stuff can be found on Compendium.

It looks like they might start updating other ones through the DDI/Dragon/Dungeon, starting in June.

 

[Otterscrubber]

That's all well and good, but I'd like to be able to play D&D without a computer. I hope they make a good reprint. Too many good things in MM1 to let go to waste. Even if its' just an Essentials style paperback. In fact I like the compact paperbacks.

 

[Havrik Stoneskimmer]

I disagree that the MM1 monsters pose no challenge. My players almost lost a battle recently, in large part because they were taking enormous damage from a pair of hobgoblin archers that they just couldn't manage to reach.

Monster Vault updated a lot of the traditional "core" monsters that were in MM1. Otherwise you can always tweak the attack and damage numbers using the updated expected numbers found in the DMG errata. Or you can give them terrain or positional advantages (like my archers had). Or just don't worry about it and use them as written. I find it hard to predict which monsters will give my players trouble in any particular combat. Sometimes the MV ones don't give them nearly as many problems as the ones from MM1 or MM2.

 

[OnlineDM]

That's all well and good, but I'd like to be able to play D&D without a computer. I hope they make a good reprint. Too many good things in MM1 to let go to waste. Even if its' just an Essentials style paperback. In fact I like the compact paperbacks.

Then you want Monster Vault. It's not a straight reprint of the monsters from MM1, but it has a lot of the same monsters that show up in MM1 (goblins, kobolds, zombies, dragons, etc.) but they are newer versions that use updated monster math and present a much better challenge to even-level characters. It's a great book, it's a paperback format... I think it's exactly what you're looking for.

 

[renau1g]

That's all well and good, but I'd like to be able to play D&D without a computer. I hope they make a good reprint. Too many good things in MM1 to let go to waste. Even if its' just an Essentials style paperback. In fact I like the compact paperbacks.

You can of course copy and paste from the magazine/compendium to a word processing program and print out. You could put them in a binder like the old 2e binder.

 

[Jhaelen]

That's all well and good, but I'd like to be able to play D&D without a computer.

You totally can. It's really easy for about 98% of the MM1 monsters to update their stats to use the new math. Since standard damage is now always just (level + 8), you can do the math in your head; or use a damage progression table.

Regarding the rest: That's the high level solo monsters that cannot be easily fixed by upping their damage. Myself, I tend to 'steal' powers from similar monsters in newer books, like MM3, Dark Sun or the Monster Vault.

 

[Mengu]

That's all well and good, but I'd like to be able to play D&D without a computer.

Why would you want to play D&D without a computer as an aid? Publishing books is a waste of paper and resources at this point. Electronic format is cheaper on production costs, logistically quicker to publish, more accessible, easier to update, easier to search and find what you need. Why not get with the technology?

If you fear somehow the computer is going to impact your FTF gaming experience, you don't need a computer in your gaming area at all. Only have to use the computer for prep work and print your materials. But if you want to save on printing, there is nothing wrong with sticking the picture of a dragon on the back of your laptop or iPad cover, and setting it up as your DM screen either.