MMIV Art Gallery...the hell?

[Pants]

*insert standard whine reply here*

Okay, I actually have a different whine here than the usuals that seem to be going around. The monster names are just getting more and more boring. What happened to all the unpronouncable names from 1 and 2e? Those were cool

Now we get 'magerippers' and 'joystealers'... Oh well.

I thought the art was pretty good actually.

 

[EricNoah]

Now we get 'magerippers' and 'joystealers'... Oh well.

You must have misread. I'm pretty sure it was 'mage-joyers' and 'ripstealers.'

 

[arscott]

Second the reference to the Menace Manual--A mash up of a Monster Collection and NPC collection can be a really great book, if done right.

And as for the Art (and descriptive labels thereof) being an insufficient preview for the book, remember that they did post the table of contents earlier.

 

[Dragonbait]

I don't know what to say.. I actually have mixed feelings on this book. Normally, I grab every monster book I can. More toys for me to use. I know me, I know I'll be buying this book, but I'll do it with a grimace. Was there a call in the community for race/class combos in the new MM? I was really hoping to see more creatures than what WoTC presented. I loved MM3 (in fact, I liked all of the MMs), and loved how they presented weaker/stronger versions of the monsters, and they tried to provide a wide range of critter types. I hope we are only seeing a fraction of the creatures that will be presented in the book, like the OP brought up.

Edit: Some of the new monsters are intriguing to me, nonetheless. Oddly enough some of the elf-creatures are sparking my interest, the moonlight somethingorother seems interesting. I'll need to see what they are and what they really do before I say for sure.

 

[Kishin]

I'm a fan of the Balhannoth, and the Zern Bladethrall looks absolutely stunning.

I can't understand why they'd skimp on some monsters, having never done so before. The only two answers I can come up with are both ludicrous: 1) Certain monsters don't have artwork (That would be almost unthinkable) and 2) This is some sort of lame marketing ploy designed to move more units and totally violate the standard of good faith established by making every piece of artwork in every previous sourcebook available in a gallery.

I sincerely hope this is just a temporary situation, and we'll see the rest soon enough.

 

[doktorziplok]

Second the reference to the Menace Manual--A mash up of a Monster Collection and NPC collection can be a really great book, if done right.

this is something i've been thinking about lately. a sort of "complete npc." a book for the lazy dm or dm/player looking for a jumping off point. it would be really easy to do as a community project (provided there was a format/layout standard).

 

[Nalfeshnee]

games workshop were thinking straight when they decided to get rid of wayne england...
of all the MM books, this seems by far the worst to me, both in terms of written content and pictoral content. it seems as though all my favourate artists never last long with WotC and crappy second choices seem to be filling the pages of their books more commonly with every book (though im glad that the fiendish codex looks to have some good pics... check out orcus fighting demogorgon! wow!).

though on a rules point of view, ithink the idea of templated and classed creatures (like the drow, gnolls, orcs etc) are a good idea... but not in a MONSTER MANUAL. and too many dragons... this year of the dragon thing is beginning to get to me.Races of the Dragon was the worst 'Races of' book imho by far, and i think dragon afficionados have enough classes, feats, spells and monsters to keep them happy. for a long time.

 

[EricNoah]

this is something i've been thinking about lately. a sort of "complete npc." a book for the lazy dm or dm/player looking for a jumping off point. it would be really easy to do as a community project (provided there was a format/layout standard).

This may be what you're thinking of. http://d20npcs.wikia.com/wiki/Main_Page

 

[Seeten]

(though im glad that the fiendish codex looks to have some good pics... check out orcus fighting demogorgon! wow!).

Too bad you can insert your level 6 PC's into that Demogorgon v Orcus picture, and have them stomping a mudhole in them.

 

[Turjan]

You must have misread. I'm pretty sure it was 'mage-joyers' and 'ripstealers.'

No, I think you are mistaken. That was from the preview of MM V.