MM2 Rant

[Painfully]

I'd like to point to a few examples of absolute uncreative desparation by those who put together the MM2.

Chaos Roc: A Roc. Add massive HD and a 20th level color spray ability.

Corollax: A very small chaos roc perfect for a pet. (Possibly useful for a player)

Leviathan: Biggie-sized fish.

Megalodon: Biggie-sized shark.

Megapede: Biggie-sized centipede.

Ocean Strider: Biggie-sized sea elves.

Psurlon: Biggie-sized worm. A freakin WORM! At least they didn't try to dress it up with colors. Oh, wait!

Teratomorph: The blob, in technicolor.

And finally, the Wyste: Biggie-sized leeches.

It's not that I don't appreciate some of the better critters in MM2, but that it really appears very strongly that they "filled the gaps" with absolute crud, which makes me upset and feel that I've spent far too much for far too little.

 

[CRGreathouse]

I've noticed this a lot in this thread. And I don't want this to seem like I'm picking on Grazzt with this, he just happened to make me think of it. Many people seem to give this book higher props just becasue they redo creatures that came out 20 years ago. Is that the case? Do people really just want to see updates of all the monsters in the old edition books still on their selves?

You're not alone. I feel just the same way.

 

[ColonelHardisson]

See, I also don't get why updating monsters from earlier editions is such a bad thing. To me, and I'm not exaggerating, this is akin to complaining that they updated the PC classes. If they aren't in the new edition, what's wrong with statting them for it?

 

[Aaron2]

I've noticed this a lot in this thread. And I don't want this to seem like I'm picking on Grazzt with this, he just happened to make me think of it. Many people seem to give this book higher props just becasue they redo creatures that came out 20 years ago. Is that the case? Do people really just want to see updates of all the monsters in the old edition books still on their selves?

Personally, I've been more excited about the new stuff instead of the recycled ideas.

If forced to make a choice, I'd rather have a book that's 100% conversions than 100% new stuff. With a converted monster, it already has history in the game world (at least in some of the player's minds).

Aaron

 

[kenjib]

I'd like to point to a few examples of absolute uncreative desparation by those who put together the MM2.

Just goes to show that different folks like different things. I like the Corollax (reminds me of a Clark Ashton Smith story), Megaladon, and Leviathan (come on, this is archetypal in the biggest way!). The wyste, teratomorph, and psurlon are all great for campaigns with a little bit of an HP Lovecraft edge.

The megapede is too similar to the collosal centipede in the appendix of the monster manual, but otherwise I would have liked it. I don't like the chaos roc or ocean strider either. The only reason I don't like the ocean strider, however, is the physical appearance (it looks pretty silly to me). That's easily changed.

This book is great for mid-high level games that put more story and build up around each individual creature encounter rather than a dungeon crawl with numerous subsequent encounters. This seems to be the MM2's strong point.

I am also glad they are "rehashing" monsters. I think they found an exactly perfect balance between old and new creatures. Furthermore, the Tome of Horrors coming out soon is easily a majority rehash, but many people are looking forward to that very eagerly.

 

[Xarlen]

The Corollax is one of my favorite critters FROM it! I made an NPC Cansin wizard with a Corollax familiar. She's a serious fun NPC to RP, and the party loved her familiar.

 

[Kai Lord]

The Corollax is one of my favorite critters FROM it! I made an NPC Cansin wizard with a Corollax familiar. She's a serious fun NPC to RP, and the party loved her familiar.

Yeah, Cansin are sweet. I played a CN Cansin druid for a couple of sessions. I determined that when his human mother was pregnant she became tainted by a Chaos Beast which resulted in my character's state. It was fun going hog wild with chaotic tendencies.

 

[TroyXavier]

I like the MM2 but I tend to like any good Monster book.

 

[Grazzt]

Furthermore, the Tome of Horrors coming out soon is easily a majority rehash, but many people are looking forward to that very eagerly.

"Majority rehash?" Technically the MM and PHB are rehashes as well.

 

[Dragongirl]

Can never have too many critters or too many spells, rehash or no.